'Pahalik' for Nazareno starts at Quirino Grandstand

Devotees trooped to the Quirino Grandstand in Manila with the start of the “pahalik” or “pagpupugay” for the Jesus Nazareno image on Monday evening.

Initially scheduled at 12:00 a.m. Tuesday, the activity commenced ahead of schedule as devotees already flocked to the venue following the Mass for volunteers, according to a report of Bea Pinlac on GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita.

WATCH: Sitwasyon sa 'Pahalik' sa Quirino Grandstand | #Nazareno2025 via @Rodveg72 pic.twitter.com/nHyO2TA4A4

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) January 6, 2025

Manila Police District (MPD) chief Police Brigadier General Thomas Ibay said that around 600 people were observed at the venue around 12 midnight.

The crowd declined to less than 200 people around 7 a.m.

“Kagabi kaunti lang naman po ang pumunta sa pahalik. At ngayon po, siguro magsisimula pa lang po na dumami. Wala pa pong 200 yung estimate natin ngayong umaga na nagpugay,” Ibay told Unang Balita in an interview.

(Last night, only a few people went for the pahalik. And today, maybe it will just start to increase. Our estimate this morning is less than 200 people who went for the pagpupugay.)

According to Ibay, the crowd for the pahalik may peak on Wednesday to Thursday.

“Ang peak talaga nyan, bukas hanggang [January] 9. Kaya binubuhusan natin yan ng ating security personnel magsimula bukas hanggang sa gabi ng [January] 8 gawa ng doon na po magsisimula po yung prusisyon,” he said.

(The peak will be tomorrow until January 9. That's why we are pouring our security personnel starting tomorrow until the night of January 8 because that's when the procession will start.)

Short lines were observed at the venue as of 7 a.m., according to a report of Ivan Mayrina on Unang Balita.

But around 3 p.m., the MPD said the estimated crowd breached to 1,000. 

In 2021, the traditional “Pahalik” or the kissing of the image was prohibited due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was changed to “pagpupugay” during which devotees were only allowed to look at the image.

In 2023, devotees were allowed to touch the black image of Jesus Christ using a towel or handkerchief.

The Pahalik will run until Thursday, January 9.

For safety, the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno (Quiapo Church) advised devotees to sanitize before and after wiping their towels on the image of Jesus Nazareno.

The Feast of Jesus Nazareno is a 10-day activity which started from December 31, 2024 and will culminate on January 9, 2025 with the Traslacion or the procession of the image.

The Traslacion route will start at Quirino Grandstand and end at Quiapo Church.

Millions of devotees are expected to participate in the Traslacion. —Joviland Rita/KG/RSJ, GMA Integrated News