Quiapo area crowd swells to 1.5 million for Traslacion

Another 300,000 people have arrived within the vicinity of the Quiapo Church and its nearby areas, making for 1.5 million people celebrating the Feast of the Black Nazarene as of 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Police crowd estimates said 1.5 million people have gathered in the area as the Quiapo Church folk hear yet another one of its hourly Masses.

But the crowd is visibly more relaxed at the Plaza Miranda as people take shelter from the afternoon heat or sit down on cardboard to rest.

The carriage carrying the image of the Black Nazarene was in front of the Sta. Cruz Church as of 2:13 p.m., according to an update from the Quiapo Church's official Facebook page.

The procession kicked off at the Quirino Grandstand before 5 a.m., earlier than its departure time in 2017.

National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Oscar Albayalde said they expect the procession back to Quiapo Church to last until midnight if it maintains its smooth flow. —KG, GMA News