Schedule of road closures in Manila for Feast of the Black Nazarene

Some roads will be closed in Manila in preparation for the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Monday.

In an advisory, the Manila Public Information Office (PIO) informed the public on the impending road closures.

The following roads will be closed from January 6 to 9, from 10 p.m. onwards:

• Stretch of Independence Road

• Stretch of Katigbak Drive

• Stretch of South Drive

• Roxas Blvd. Northbound and Southbound (from Katigbak Drive to South Drive)

The following roads will be closed from January 7 to 9, from 7 p.m. onwards:

• Quezon Blvd Northbound and Southbound (from A. Mendoza/Fugoso to Quezon Bridge, straight to Padre Burgos Park 'n Ride)

• España Blvd Westbound and Eastbound (from P. Campa to A. Mendoza)

• Stretch of Evangelista St. (from Plaza San Juan to Recto Ave)

• Stretch of Raon St. (G. Puyat) (from Evangelista to Quezon Blvd.)

• Stretch of P. Paterno St. (from Quezon Blvd. to Evangelista)

• Stretch of Carriedo St. (from Rizal Ave. to Plaza San Juan)

• Stretch of C. Palanca St. (from McArthur Bridge to Quiapo Ilalim/Quinta Market straight to P. Casal)

• Stretch of Bustos St. (from Plaza Sta. Cruz to Rizal Ave)

• Northbound lane of Rizal Avenue (from Carriedo to Recto Ave)

• Northbound lane of McArthur Bridge

• Eastbound and Westbound lane of Recto Ave (from Rizal Ave to Nicanor Reyes St)

• Stretch of Nicanor Reyes St. (from España Blvd to Recto Ave)

“The public is advised to take alternative routes to point of destination as indicated,” it added.

READ: Schedule of activities for Nazareno 2023

The Feast of the Black Nazarene is celebrated every January 9, after a nine-day novena that starts on December 31.

It culminates in the Traslacion, a procession from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church that draws more than a million Filipinos from all over the country to Manila.

Since 2021, the Traslacion has been paused due to the pandemic. This year, said organizers, many of traditional activities will be conducted, except for the pahalik (the kissing of Black Nazarene image) and the pasanan (carrying).

Instead, the feast will include pagpupugay (viewing and touching) and a “walk of faith” procession, which is a parade without the Black Nazarene image—instead, organizers are asking devotees to bring their own small replicas or images of the Nazarene.

Masses will also be conducted in Quirino Grandstand on January 7, 2023 at 12:01 a.m. for devotees and 6 a.m. for administrators.

The pagpupugay will also be held in Quirino Grandstand in Luneta from January 7 to 9, 2023.

Another Mass will be held at the Quirino Grandstand followed by the “walk of faith procession”  and a vigil on January 8, 2023.

The walk of faith procession will start from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church on January 8, 2023 from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m.

On the day of the feast on January 9, 2023, another Mass will be conducted at the Quirino Grandstand. — Sherylin Untalan/BM, GMA Integrated News