MPD: 10,000 devotees flocked to 1st night of Black Nazarene 'pahalik'

An estimated 10,000 devotees gathered at the Quirino Grandstand on Saturday night during the start of the traditional "pahalik" of the Black Nazarene, the Manila Police District (MPD) said Sunday.

“Meron na tayong mga 10,000 as of last night. 'Yung tuloy-tuloy na pagpila nila ay nagsimula ito ng past 7 in the evening. Pagkatapos ng misa para sa mga volunteers naging open na ang pahalik natin,” MPD acting director Police Colonel Arnold Thomas Ibay said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(Around 10,000 devotees were recorded as of last night. They started queueing past 7 in the evening. The pahalik was made open to the public after the mass for the volunteers.)

Ibay said that they have not monitored any untoward incidents  at the venue along Roxas Boulevard, where thousands of people are expected to congregate to touch the image or wipe it using their handkerchiefs or hand towels.

Kissing the image of the Black Nazarene is still prohibited this year.

The "pahalik" will last until January 8, while the traditional Traslacion will take place on January 9, on the day of the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

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Ibay also appealed to the public to proceed to Quirino Grandstand in the morning or evening to avoid the hot weather over the mostly unshaded area. 

He also reminded that the road closures will start on Monday, thus devotees would have to walk longer distances to reach the grandstand. 

“Taon taon, talagang mahaba [ang pila]. Lalo na ngayon, sabik ang mga kababayan natin o mga deboto na matunghayan ito o ma-exercise ang kanilang devotion. Siguradong mahaba na ang pila,” he added.

(The lines are really long every year, especially this year when devotees are very eager to exercise their devotion. The lines are surely long.)

In Quiapo Church where Sunday masses are continuously being held, the MPD said more or less 15,000 people arrived as of 7 a.m. on Sunday.

No significant incidents were also monitored in Quiapo Church as of early Sunday morning, the MPD said.—RF, GMA Integrated News