Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 7) — Despite the sweltering weather and thousands of churchgoers at Quiapo Church on Good Friday, authorities said that activities held have been generally peaceful, with no untoward incidents.
According to the Plaza Miranda Police Community Precinct, there were around 75,000 people at the Quiapo Church as of 3 p.m.
“So far, wala naman po kaming nakikitang nahihirapan dito. Usual po ‘yung ginagawa naming pagpapatrolya rito. Generally peaceful po. Matiwasay na matiwasay po kami rito,” precinct commander PCapt. Rowel Robles said.
[Translation: We don’t see anyone having trouble so far. We are doing the usual patrols. It is generally peaceful. We are very calm here.]
Some 1,000 devotees joined the procession of the replica of the Black Nazarene at around 5 p.m.
Quiapo Church spokesperson Fr. Earl Valdez said the procession went well despite the number of devotees being higher than that of last year’s.
“Itong prusisyon ng San Entierro, we can say that ano naman carried out well. Maikli lang naman ang ruta. Ang mga tao ay sumusunod naman. We were able to observe everything that we needed to,” Valdez said.
[Translation: This procession of San Entierro, we can say that it was carried out well. The route was short. The people followed. We were able to observe everything that we needed to.]
Earlier in the morning, roughly 11,000 people walked along the vicinity of Quiapo for the return of the yearly procession of the image of the Black Nazarene on Good Friday.
Quiapo Church will remain open to visitors for 24 hours.
