Quiapo Church: 1M devotees attended pahalik; 87 treated

At least one million devotees took part in this year's Pahalik for the Feast of the Black Nazarene at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila, the Quiapo Church said.

 

In its 9 a.m. update, the church said the one million were registered from the start of the Pahalik at 8 a.m. Thursday, to 7 a.m. Friday.

 

"Since the start of the Pahalik at 8 a.m. Thursday until 7 a.m. Friday, there is an approximate one million people in the crowd size," it said.

 

The church said it took 22 minutes to transfer the Nazarene's image from the altar to the andas - and an hour and 39 minutes to attach the rope due to "crowd surge."

 

It said the procession started at 8:09 a.m.

 

Meanwhile, the church authorities said hourly masses at the Quiapo Church started at 3 a.m., with some 300,000 people inside the church and its periphery from 3 to 7 a.m. Friday.

 

The Quiapo Church said at least 87 medical incidents in the area were reported as of 9 a.m., mostly foot wounds, bruises and ankle sprains. — Joel Locsin/RSJ, GMA News