Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 8) — Some 88,000 devotees took part in the “Walk of Faith” procession to celebrate the Feast of the Black Nazarene early Sunday morning, the Manila Police District (MPD) reported.
The procession started at 2 a.m. and the Catholic faithful walked for two hours from the Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church.
They brought with them candles and small images of the Black Nazarene.
The march replaced the traditional Traslacion — where millions of devotees usually flock to Manila to witness the transfer of the Black Nazarene from Luneta to Quiapo — as it is still suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of 3 p.m., the Quiapo Church Command Post recorded that a total of 142,027 people have been at the Quiapo Church since 12 a.m.
“Nakakagaan ng feeling,” devotee Doms Leda described the walk. “Napapatunayan na wala yung Nazareno, hindi siya nag-Traslacion, hindi siya lumabas, marami pa rin mga tao handa mag-Traslacion para sa Kanya.”
There were long lines at the grandstand as devotees participate in “Pagpupugay,” where they approach and touch the Black Nazarene, in lieu of the traditional “Pahalik.”
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC), on the other hand, reported it served 144 patients as of Sunday noon.
The PRC said 120 people availed their services for blood pressure monitoring while 24 were minor cases, including abrasion, chest pain, contusion, laceration, and abdominal pain.
It also transported one patient who went unconscious.
At the Quirino Grandstand, a total of 43,148 devotees were logged.
CNN Philippines correspondents Crissy Dimatulac and Paige Javier contributed to this report.
[Translation: I feel lighthearted. This just shows that even without the Black Nazarene, the image was not brought outside for the Traslacion, but many devotees are still ready to do it for Him.]
LOOK: Devotees gather at the Quirino Grandstand for the Black Nazarene vigil and mass by Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula at midnight. https://t.co/aKKwOvZDPQ
📸 Albert Bangayan, Francis Buenaventura/ CNN Philippines pic.twitter.com/xbTnlxfeIK
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) January 8, 2023
JonJon Dionisio, the president of Hijos del Nazareno MBBN who are in charge of protecting the Black Nazarene in the traditional Traslacion, shared the same view.
Dionisio told CNN Philippines’ Newsroom Weekend that Nazareno activities can still continue even without the usual procession.
“Siyempre po nalulungkot kami bilang hijos, matagal na po namin gustong ilabas ang poon, pero syempre iniisip rin po namin ang kapakanan ng ibang deboto dahil sa COVID-19,” he added.
[Translation: Of course, we’re sad as hijos because we had wanted to bring out the image for the longest time, but, of course, we are also thinking about the welfare of other devotees because of COVID-19.]
According to the Manila Police District, no untoward incident was reported during the walk and activities went smoothly and according to plan.
District Director PBGen. Andre Dizon said he believes that the traditional Traslacion could return next year.
“Kung bibigyan ako ng pagkakataon, kung kukunin ang aking opinion, I would agree na isama na po ‘yung image ng Black Nazarene,” Dizon said.
[Translation: If given the chance to share my opinion, I would agree that we should include the image of the Black Nazarene in the procession.]
Father Douglas Badong, parochial vicar of the Quiapo Church, said he was happy to see the devotees gather again at the grandstand.
“Hindi natin pwedeng biglain…so dahan-dahan, unti-unti. Ipagdasal natin na sana next year back to normal na tayo,” he said.
[Translation: We shouldn’t do it abruptly…so it must be gradual. Let’s pray that by next year we’ll be back to normal.]
Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula will preside over the Eucharistic celebration at the Quirino Grandstand at midnight of Jan. 9, the culmination day of the Feast of the Black Nazarene, with church officials expecting more devotees.
“‘Yun ang paanyaya namin para nga maipakita natin na hindi lang tayo basta prusisyon lang, kundi nakasentro ang ating debosyon sa banal na misa,” Badong said.
“Yun ngang tagline natin — wala ngang prusisyon pero tuloy ang selebrasyon,” he added.
[Translation: That’s our invitation to show that it’s not just the procession, but that our devotion is centered on the holy mass. That’s our tagline — there’s no procession but the celebration remains.]
