Black Nazarene feast draws over half a million faithful

The Feast of the Black Nazarene image of Jesus Christ, believed to be miraculous by Catholics, drew around 523,000 devotees on Monday, the Quiapo command center of the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported.

The police said that as of 5 p.m., there were 401,500 devotees in Quiapo Church, while another 122,630 were gathered in Quirino Grandstand.

The Feast of the Black Nazarene draws the largest flock of Catholics in one setting, but the annual veneration has been muted for the third straight year due to cancellation of Traslacion, the procession of the image, due to COVID-19.

Instead, the devotees were only allowed to hear mass and participate in other related prayer and worship activities in Quiapo and the Quirino Grandstand.

At least four individuals had to be treated due to headache and dizziness, according to the police.

The police also reported 29 people who had to be attended for high blood and low blood pressure.

Naga

In Naga City, Camarines Sur, thousands of devotees joined the procession which started from the Holy Cross Parish in Barangay Tabuco to Plaza Quezon.

Replicas of the Black Nazarene were blessed upon their arrival at the plaza where the annual Padasal (prayers) was also conducted.

Organizers resumed the Traslacion but opted not to reinstate the "pahalik" (kissing of the statues) to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Participants were instead given individual cotton balls which they can use to touch the replica of the Black Nazarene, according to Jessica Calinog’s report on “BaliTanghali."

A 12 noon pontifical mass was held at the plaza. The image of the Black Nazarene was returned to the Holy Cross Parish in the afternoon.

Successful

At around noon, Quiapo Church spokesperson Fr. Earl Allyson Valdez said the ongoing Feast of the Black Nazarene has been successful so far, with no untoward incidents recorded.

"Lahat po, lalung-lalo na 'yung ating mga kaganapan sa Quirino Grandstand, sa Simbahan ng Quiapo simula pa nung ika-7 ng Enero, ay successful. Masasabi po namin na naabot natin ang layunin natin na magkaroon ng makabuluhan at ligtas na pagdiriwang para sa ating mga deboto," he said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

"Wala tayong na-report na security threats. Wala tayong na-report na untoward incidents na nakagulo sa mga pagdiriwang. Kaya sa kabuuan, kami ay natutuwang sabihin sa inyo na naging matagumpay po ang ating Nazareno 2023," he added.

Walk of faith

An estimated 88,000 devotees attended the first ever Walk of Faith in Manila before dawn on Sunday as part of the activities of the Feast of the Black Nazarene, according to the Quiapo Church Command Post.

The walk started from the Quirino Grandstand at Luneta Park at 1:30 a.m. then finished after two and a half hours upon arrival at the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, more popularly known as Quiapo Church.

The Walk of Faith was held instead of the traditional Traslacion long procession bearing the image of the Black Nazarene in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

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.

Last mass 

Meanwhile, the last mass for the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene started at Quiapo Church at 11 p.m., a report on “Saksi” said.

Devotees may still enter the church to pray after the mass as organizers expect more people would want to visit the image after work.

Latest data from the Quiapo Church operation center showed around 538,400 individuals participated in this year’s celebration.

Church personnel and volunteers continue to man the area to ensure order and cleanliness are maintained.—With Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA Integrated News