Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 9) — Despite the cancellation of the traditional Traslación for the third straight year, hundreds of thousands of devotees attended masses at the Quiapo Church for the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Monday.
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According to Quiapo Church Operation Center’s estimate as of 12 m.n., around 587,235 devotees have been at the Quiapo Church where in-person masses are held hourly. Around 122,710 devotees were at the Quirino Grandstand to pay their respects to the Black Nazarene for the “Pagpupugay,” which replaced the traditional “Pahalik” or kissing of the image of the Black Nazarene.
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As of Monday morning, the celebration of the feast was orderly, Manila Police District (MPD) PBGen Andre Dizon told CNN Philippines’ New Day.
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On Sunday night, 88,000 devotees took part in the “Walk of Faith” procession, which replaced the Traslación.
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The mass led by Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula at midnight of Jan. 9 at the Quirino Grandstand, meanwhile, was attended by almost 200,000 devotees, Nazareno 2023 Technical Working Group Alex Irasga said in another interview.
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“Considering there is no procession, there is no replica, no Pahalik, we noticed the devotees expressed their intense faith in spite of the lack of traditions in the celebrations,” he added.
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Dizon said more devotees are expected to flock to the Quiapo Church and the Quirino Grandstand on Monday, the culmination day of the Feast of the Black Nazarene.
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He said 5,000 MPD personnel were deployed since the start of the celebration to ensure safety of the public.
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