Thousands of Catholic devotees line up for final ritual on eve of Black Nazarene feast

Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Tue, 08 Jan 2019 03:34:01 +0000

THOUSANDS of devotees lined up overnight at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila to take part in the “Pahalik,” the last annual religious activity before the Traslacion to commemorate the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Wednesday, according to local police.

As of 9:15 a.m., Manila Police District Director Vicente Danao, Jr. said that 6,000 have participated in the “Pahalik” or the act of kissing the feet of the life-size Jesus Christ figure, a centuries-old practice of the Filipino Catholics, which is believed to work miracles.

Some devotees such as Mona Pihar have stayed overnight at the Quirino
Grandstand to get near the statue early, which was brought out of its
house temporarily late Monday.

Pihar believes that her prayers get granted because of her devotion.
“Halimbawa, may sakit ka, nagaling ka. (For example, you get sick, and
you recover.)”

Fr. Douglas Badong, parochial vicar of the Quiapo Church or the Minor
Basilica of the Black Nazarene, said that people have started queuing since Monday afternoon.

The priest added that the 17th century revered and symbolic image of a dark-skinned Jesus Christ, would stay at the Grandstand even after the procession has begun for as long as there were people lined up to see, touch and kiss the icon, so the attendees would not get “disappointed.”

Badong said that last year, the “Pahalik” wrapped up at 10 p.m.

Other liturgical activities lined up for the feast are the fiesta mass
to be led by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle at 12
midnight on Wednesday and the ‘Traslacion’ at 5 a.m., which is a
24-hour procession expected to draw five million devotees.

About 7,200 Metro Manila police will be deployed to secure the Traslacion.

During the long procession, the Black Nazarene statue will be moved from the Quirino Grandstand to the Quiapo Church through a 6.1-km processional route.

Egress for devotees is at the Grandstand. From there, they will turn left to Katigbak Drive through Padre Burgos St., make another left to Taft Ave through Jones Bridge, turn right to Dasmariñas St., another
right to Plaza Sta. Cruz St., make a left to Carlos Palanca through
Quezon Bridge and another left to Quezon Blvd.

Devotees will make several right turns to Arlegui, Fraternal and Vergara Sts., take Duque de Alba, Castillejos and Farnecio Streets, go
to Arlegui St., turn left to Nepomuceno and another left to Concepcion Aguila St., turn right to Carcer St, another right to Hidalgo through Plaza del Carmen left to Bilibid Viejo through Gil Puyat, left to JP de Guzman St, right to Hidalgo, left to Barbosa, right to Arlegui,left to Quezon Blvd, right to Palanca St., and another right to Villalobos through Plaza Miranda.

The ‘Pahalik’ started at 6 a.m., which was earlier than announced, “to
cut short the waiting time of the faithful,” said Alex Irasga, an
organizer of the feast.

In 2018, 153,000 devotees joined the religious ritual, while around
1.1 million joined the Traslacion.

Don’ts during Traslacion

The Quiapo Church reminded devotees to not use firecrackers and
expensive jewelry.

The Manila Police District has started to enforce the liquor ban and
the zero vendor policy in the city, as recommended by the Manila
government.

Backpacks, colored canisters and water jugs are also prohibited. CATHERINE A MODESTO

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