Black Nazarene feast peaceful but social distancing violated in some areas, says NCRPO

As thousands of Catholic pilgrims flocked Quiapo, Manila for the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Saturday, devotees in some areas couldn't help but violate an important health protocol to keep the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 in check.

In an interview on Dobol B sa News TV, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) acting director Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr., however, said that the ongoing Feast of the Black Nazarene is generally peaceful.

“In terms of peace and order, wala naman kaming nare-receive na any grievous threat. Peaceful naman po at manageable,” Danao said.

However, he said that as devotees continued to arrive, the one-meter social distancing rule was barely being followed.

“Hindi lang po maiwasan na ‘yung violation ng minimum health standards at protocol ay medyo nava-violate po kaya naman sa ibang mga areas talagang sobrang nagdikit-dikit na,” Danao said.

The Manila Police District has estimated that the crowd along the two main streets leading to Quiapo Church is nearing half a million.

While social distancing rules were violated in some areas, it was observed in others.

WATCH: (As of 11:20 am) Pila ng mga deboto ng Poong Itim na Nazareno sa bahagi ng Quezon Blvd. tunnel. | via @luisitosantos03 pic.twitter.com/S8oSWrZaWa

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) January 9, 2021

Meanwhile, the NCRPO acting chief said that the number of people around the immediate vicinity of the church was almost 40,000 at the time of his radio interview.

“Hindi maiwasan dahil sa excitement... hindi maiwasan na merong nakakapag-violate,” Danao said.

The NCRPO acting chief said the police will be constantly reminding pilgrims to observe minimum health protocols all throughout the duration of the feast.

“So far wala naman naitala na [any untoward incident],” Danao said.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III appealed to devotees to observe health protocols.

"Ang mga deboto makisama na lang sa health protocol. 'Di susunod lahat pero kung susunod ang majority... Alam ko feeling deboto eh. Meron siyang thinking na tama naman which is God is in control. Ganu'n eh. Nadadaan lahat sa dasal," he said in a radio interview on Saturday.

The January 9 feast day of the Black Nazarene is traditionally attended by thousands of devotees who attend the Pahalik (kissing of the image) and the Mass at Quirino Grandstand in Luneta before the huge procession called Traslacion is held ending at Quiapo Church.

However, this year's Traslacion has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stay at home

The NCRPO acting chief also encouraged devotees to stay at home as much as possible and participate in virtual masses instead of going to Quiapo Church.

“Stay at home na lang po tayo... Hindi niyo rin naman mahahawakan si Poon dahil pinagbawalan ng simbahan na hawakan,” he said.

The Department of Health (DOH), likewise, urged pilgrims to stay at home.

“With circulating photos and reports of crowding in different areas around Quiapo, Secretary Francisco T. Duque III and the DOH reiterate the call for devotees to opt for the virtual masses and refrain from physically visiting Quiapo,” it said.

“Based on the report of Manila City Hall, photos of flocking were as of early this morning but authorities were quick to disperse said flocks and ensure strict implementation of physical distancing from outside of Quiapo church up until España Blvd and other roads,” it added.

Asked whether or not the Feast of the Black Nazarene is a “super-spreader” event, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said, “We won’t know until cases are identified and analyzed.”

Sotto however said it would be hard to stop devotees from coming to Quiapo Church.

"Kahit na pinagbawal, hindi sila maawat. Mahirap awatin 'yun. 'Pag ang devotion ng isang tao medyo mabigat, mabigat awatin 'yun. Magagalit pa sa inyo," he said. —MDM/KG, GMA News