Quiapo Church eyes return to old practices for 2024 Traslacion

The Quiapo Church is considering reinstating old practices for the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene next year, a church official said Wednesday.

According to Fr. Hans Magdurulang, Quiapo Church Spokesperson, among these is encasing the image of the Black Nazarene in a glass case, which he said was previously the traditional practice of the church.

“Hindi malaking pagbabago kundi pagpapanumbalik…To restore 'yun pong mga ginagawa naman natin dati na paraan ng pagdiriwang ng Nazareno, ng Traslacion,” Magdurulang said in an interview over dzBB’s Super Radyo.

(These are not significant changes but the restoration of old practices on how we celebrate the Nazareno.)

“Kung babalikan natin, may mga larawan din 'yan. Kung tatanungin natin 'yung mga senior devotees natin, maalala nila na noon po isinasagawa natin ang prusisyon ng Nazareno na nakikita ng maraming tao at 'yung Nazareno lang ang nasa ibabaw,” he said.

(If we look back at the previous practices, they will remember that only the image can be seen on the Andas. If we ask senior devotees, they will recall that during the procession that people could see the Nazareno is the only one on top.)

On Tuesday, Mariz Umali reported on “24 Oras” that the new Traslacion committee is planning to install a glass case around the over 400-year-old image.

By doing so, the committee is preparing to protect the image of the Black Nazarene from possible damage but leaving a portion of the cross exposed for those who wish to touch it.

Magdurulang said the new Andas would be unveiled “soon”.

“’Yung salamin, 'yun po ay isa sa mga magiging tulong natin para mapanatili natin ang imahen lamang ang makikita ng mga tao, ng mga deboto doon sa ibabaw ng Andas,” he added. 

(The glass case will help protect the image and help devotees to view it.)

The Traslacion on January 9 is an annual procession that draws millions of Filipino devotees from all over the country. The statue of the Black Nazarene is placed on display at the Quirino Grandstand before returning to the Quiapo Church. The event was canceled since 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The grand procession was last conducted in 2020 and ended after 16 hours, making it the fastest procession of the image of the Black Nazarene in recent memory.

Meanwhile, Magdurulang said several traditional practices will resume for next year’s celebration that includes the “Pahalik” (kissing the Black Nazarene image), the wiping of cloth and pulling the image via rope during the Traslacion.

“Ang atin pong taunan na sinisikap na gawin...para maisakatuparan, maging mas ligtas. Kagaya ng lagi naming sinasabi na tatlong hangarin ang ating pagdiriwang ng ating Nazareno -- ito ay maging banal, ligtas at maayos,” said  Magdurulang.

(We always maintain that our goal for the celebration every year is to keep it sacred, safe, and orderly.)

As part of the preparations. representatives of the Quiapo Church, police, and other government agencies conducted a walkthrough of the 2024 Traslacion earlier this month.—Sundy Locus/RF, GMA Integrated News