100K Black Nazarene devotees attend Misa Mayor at Quirino Grandstand for start of feast

At least 100,000 Black Nazarene devotees trooped to Quirino Grandstand at Luneta Park in Manila for the Misa Mayor held at 12 a.m. on Monday.

The Misa Mayor, celebrated by Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula, marked the start of the annual Feast of the Black Nazarene on January 9, according to a report by Darlene Cay on GMA Integrated News' Unang Balita.

Among the devotees who were at the site were senior citizens, persons with disability, and children.

While many came from Metro Manila, there were others who arrived from provinces.

Roxas Boulevard, which was closed to traffic, became an area where devotees laid mats and put up tents. Some of them spent the weekend at the site.

Meanwhile, during the Misa Mayor, devotees were seen praying fervently.

In his homily, Cardinal Advincula said that although the traditional long procession Traslacion with the image of the Black Nazarene could not be held again this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jesus Christ leads the faithful in the procession of life. The Traslacion, held annually to commemorate the transfer of the Black Nazarene replica from Intramuros to the Quiapo Church back in 1767, and participated in by as much as 3 million devotees, has been canceled since 2020 due to the pandemic.

"Alam kong nalulungkot kayo dahil ikatlong taon na ngayon na hindi pa rin natin maidaraos ang prusisyon ng Traslacion. Gayunpaman, maranasan pa rin naman natin ang Panginoong Hesus na umaakay sa atin sa prusisyon ng buhay, sa Traslacion ng buhay," he said.

(I know you are sad that for the third year in a row, we could not hold the Traslacion procession. Even then, we still have the Lord Jesus guiding us in the procession of life, the Traslacion of life.)

"Ang Traslacion ay hindi lang taon-taon kundi araw-araw na karanasan sapagkat ang Mahal na Poong Hesus Nazareno ang Siyang nagpuprusisyon sa atin. Kaisa natin Siya upang makapag-Traslacion patungo sa tagumpay ng kaganapan ng buhay," Cardinal Advincula added.

(The Traslacion is not just every year but every day because our Beloved Black Nazarene is the one who leads the procession for us. We are one with Him in Traslacion toward victory in life.)

Devotees were happy to have been at the feast, with some of them citing the prayers offered to the Black Nazarene that were answered.

After the Mass, devotees fell in line for the resumption of the Pagpupugay or the viewing and touching of the image of the Black Nazarene.

The Pagpupugay took the place of the Pahalik or kissing of the image of the Black Nazarene, due to COVID-19 health protocols. Around 38,000 devotees gathered at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park (Luneta) on Sunday for the Pagpupugay.

The queue for the Pagpupugay on Monday snaked through the Quirino Grandstand grounds and reached Katigbak Drive as of 7 a.m.

Manila Police District director Police Brigadier General Andre Dizon told Unang Balita that they prepared for a crowd size that was seen before the pandemic, and thus authorities were adequately prepared for this year's crowd.

"'Yung pinagplanuhan kasi natin is 'yung pre-pandemic crowd. So 'yung naging crowd nitong Nazareno 2023, halos walang 50% doon sa dati na crowd," he said.

(We prepared for a pre-pandemic crowd. So the crowd for Nazareno 2023 is not even 50% of the pre-pandemic crowd.)

"It was because 'yung image ng Black Nazarene, 'yung de-karo, hindi natin natunghayan sa Traslacion," Dizon added.

(It was because the image of the Black Nazarene, the one on a carriage, was not brought out for the Traslacion.)

Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna then thanked the public for following protocols.

"Napakataimtim ang nangyaring pagdiriwang ng ating kapistahan ng Poong Nazareno. Kami ay nagpapapasalamat sa lahat ng ating mga kababayan na sumunod naman sa mga pinatupad natin nang sa gayon maayos natin nadiwang ang kapistahan ng Poong Nazareno," Lacuna said.

(The observance of the Feast of the Black Nazarene was sincere. We thank our countrymen who followed our protocols so we could hold the Feast of the Black Nazarene in an orderly manner.)

Crowd, security

In a separate interview on Unang Balita, Dizon said the crowd at the Quirino Grandstand thinned to 1,300 by 6:20 a.m.

Meanwhile the Walk of Faith held on Sunday in place of the Traslacion drew a crowd of less than 50,000, Dizon said.

"'Yung Walk of Faith naging organized and orderly dahil ang security preparation natin ay katulad ng sa pre-pandemic. So everywhere nakikita 'yung security forces kaya 'yung mga deboto maayos nilang naitawid ang ruta," he added.

(The Walk of Faith became organized and orderly because the security preparation was the same as pre-pandemic. So everywhere you can see security forces, thus devotees maintained order along the route.)

The Walk of Faith, held before dawn on Sunday, was participated in by priests and devotees. They walked from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church or the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene.

"Sa awa ng Diyos, 'yung buong ruta ng Walk of Faith, wala pong naitala na untoward incident. Nagkaroon lang ng ilang konting medical problem 'yung ilang devotees natin," Dizon said.

(By God's mercy, no untoward incident happened along the whole route of the Walk of Faith . There were just some devotees who had medical problems.)

The MPD director said 1,700 police personnel were deployed at the Quirino Grandstand on Monday. Meanwhile, 2,000 police officers were securing Quiapo Church and areas around it.

"Nasa 1,700 'yung police personnel na nasa paligid ng Quirino Grandstand... Nasa 2,000 'yung police personnel natin doon dahil every hour ang Misa ngayon sa Quiapo Church," Dizon said.

(The police personnel around Quirino Grandstand numbered 1,700... Meanwhile at the Quiapo Church, there are 2,000 police personnel because Masses will be held there every hour.)

"Sustained at consistent 'yung latag ng ating security personnel dahil hanggang ngayong hatinggabi ay tuloy-tuloy ang activities dito at wala tayong ina-anticipate bagkus kundi kung magkaroon lang ng inclement weather ngayong araw na ito," he added.

(Our security preparations have been sustained and consistent because the activities will continue until midnight tonight. We are not anticipating [any untoward incident] except if there will be inclement weather today.)

Philippine National Police chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said a total of 5,559 police personnel from the National Capital Region Police Office and 3,000 force multipliers were deployed for the Black Nazarene feast.

“These PNP units will be backed by quick response and tactical forces, crowd and traffic control units, and police medical teams in coordination with city authorities,” Azurin said in a press briefing.

He said they will ensure the closure of streets and airspaces that were declared no-flight zones.

“We remain confident and pray that this year’s celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene will be peaceful and orderly. We continue to ask for the cooperation of the public to make this happen,” Azurin said.

Several roads in Manila have been closed from January 6 to 9 for the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

Dizon urged devotees to go to Quiapo Church while the weather is fair, and to observe health protocols.

"Samantalahin natin 'yung ganda ng panahon na pumunta tayo sa Quiapo na dala pa rin natin ang ating mga protective equipment katulad ng face mask at saka hand sanitizer at huwag magdala ng life-sized na image [ng Nazareno], bagkus 'yung hand carried lang," he said.

(Take advantage of the fair weather to go to Quiapo and bring protective equipment such as face mask and hand sanitizer. Do not bring life-sized images [of the Black Nazarene]. Just the hand-carried ones will do.)

Fiesta Masses are being held every hour at Quiapo Church starting at 12 a.m. The last Mass will start at 11 p.m.

"Please be reminded also na sa Manila City ngayon ay liquor ban at gun ban pa rin," Dizon added.

(Please be reminded that a liquor ban and gun ban are in effect in Manila City today.)

Meanwhile, personnel of the Manila Department of Public Services have been going around Quirino Grandstand to pick up trash left by devotees.—KG/AOL, GMA Integrated News