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Traslacion 2024 starts after three-year hiatus
The image of the Black Nazarene left Quirino Grandstand in Manila early Tuesday morning, marking the start of the Traslacion.
According to Quiapo Church, the procession officially started at 4:45 a.m.
Part of the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene, Traslacion is the procession of the 400-year-old black image of Jesus Christ or Nazareno from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church.
Jonathan Rancho, 52, like many others, was eager to take part in the religious procession, which in the last three years was cancelled because of COVID-19.
"I am very pleased the old system is back and we get to do this again," said Rancho, who travelled with his wife and two children from Bulacan province to Manila so they could join the procession.
"I prayed that hopefully this year our livelihoods will get better, I hope that my work would be a success and we be given a prosperous life so I may fulfil my obligations to my family," Rancho added.
As of 6:30 a.m., around 700,000 devotees were spotted along the route of the procession, according to the Manila Police District. Around 5,000 were also reported at Quirino Grandstand.
Police said the procession already reached Segment 2. The procession has 12 segments.
Meanwhile, as of 5 a.m., around 1.3 million devotees of the Black Nazarene were at Quirino Grandstand and around 40,000 in Quiapo Church on Tuesday morning for the start of the Traslacion, the spokesperson for Nazareno 2024 said.
"As of today po, 5 a.m. January 9, sa Quirino Grandstand nakapagtala po ang ating Quiapo Committee ng 1.3 million," Nazareno 2024 spokesperson Rev. Fr. Hans Magdurulang told Unang Balita.
(As of today, 5 a.m., January 9, the Quiapo Committee recorded the attendance of 1.3 million devotees.)
"Dito sa Quiapo Church ay as of 5 a.m., almost 40,000 ang naitala natin," he added.
(Here in Quiapo Church, as of 5 a.m., there were almost 40,000 devotees.)
Magdurulang said they noticed that there were more devotees this year compared to previous years.
This was despite the light rains that poured over Metro Manila on Tuesday morning.
They also noted that the pace of the Traslacion is faster on Tuesday than in previous years.
"Kapansin-pansin. Kami rin, nagulat," he said.
(It was very noticeable. We were also surprised.)
Magdurulang attributed this to the new "andas" or carriage bearing the image of the Nazareno.
"Sinabihan din natin sila na hindi na kailangang sumampa... Napabilis ang usad [ng Traslacion]," he said.
(We told the devotees they need not try to go atop the carriage. This made the Traslacion move faster.)
Around 2 million people are expected to join the procession. Based on GMA News Research data, the last Traslacion in 2020 recorded an estimated crowd of 3.125 million devotees — 2.575 million en route and 550,000 at Quiapo Church.
To secure the activities, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said around 15,000 personnel will be deployed. During the Traslacion, over 5,600 personnel will be initially designated.
Meanwhile, devotees may attend any of the 33 fiesta Masses being held at Quiapo Church. The fiesta Masses began at 3 p.m. on Monday and will end at 11 p.m. on Tuesday.
It is not known why the statue, which was carved in Mexico and brought to the Philippines in the early 17th century, turned black. But a Philippine priest, Msgr. Sabino Vengco, claimed the image is dark through its core because it is made of mesquite wood.
About 80% of the country's 110 million people identify as Roman Catholic, a legacy of hundreds of years as a Spanish colony. —with Reuters/KBK/KG, GMA Integrated News
