In its longest procession ever, Nazareno arrives in Quiapo after 22 hours

Published January 10, 2012 6:31am

(Updated 11:30 a.m.) - Inching through a sea of devotees in the face of a terrorism alert, the Black Nazarene finally arrived in Quiapo Church Tuesday morning after more than 22 hours, said to be the longest procession in the history of the annual ritual, which is also one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. The icon was welcomed in the jampacked front of Quiapo Church by enthusiastic barefoot worshippers who had been waiting all night. White towels and hankerchiefs rained from the crowd as marshalls riding the Nazareno's carriage wiped them on the statue before throwing them back newly blessed to their grateful owners. Devotees let out shouts of "Viva" while waving handkerchiefs and towels at the image, believed to have miraculous powers, as it was brought into the church shortly after 6 a.m. It was the first time in several years that the procession in honor of the Black Nazarene took more than 20 hours, radio dzBB’s Carlo Mateo reported.

The devotees started going home only after seeing the image being returned to the church, even as cleaners started to sweep the littered streets.

Garbage had piled up at Plaza Miranda near the Quiapo Church as devotees waited for the image of the Black Nazarene to arrive.

Traffic was still tight at the area around Quiapo Church but was expected to ease as the devotees dispersed.

On Monday night, devotees rejected a proposal to cut short the procession as the carriage bearing the image–believed to have miraculous powers–was badly damaged.

The devotees insisted on the procession using the traditional route, radio dzBB's Cecilia Villarosa reported.

Despite President Benigno Aquino III’s warning not to use fireworks during the procession, some fireworks such as kwitis were lighted along some parts of the procession shortly after 5 a.m.

Generally peaceful

Radio dzBB’s Divine Caraecle quoted Metro Manila police head Chief Superintendent Alan Purisima as saying the procession was “generally peaceful.”

Puirisima said that except for “isolated” incidents of snatching, there was no major incident.

He also said there was no arrest of suspected terrorists during the procession.

The procession started on a festive note at 8 a.m. Monday after the Mass ending a vigil for the Black Nazarene at the Quirino Grandstand.

However, the procession slowed down partly due to the damage sustained by the andas (carriage) bearing the image of the Black Nazarene. Two hours after the procession started, the two tires gave way and became flat. Organizers considered transferring the image of the Black Nazarene to another truck, but they were somehow able to make the carriage move and proceeed with the procession.

569 devotees treated

At least 569 devotees were treated for injuries during the procession, the Philippine Red Cross said.

In its 8 a.m. Tuesday update, the PRC said this included 419 devotees who had their blood pressure taken.

"Minor cases vary from wound injuries, exhaustion, fainting, dizziness, chest pain, seizure, dehydration to blood pressure taking," it said.

The PRC also transported 23 devotees to Ospital ng Maynila, Philippine General Hospital, and University of Santo Tomas.

A PRC water station located at Lacson, Sta. Cruz served at least 3,500 people.

Some 350 PRC staff and volunteers with 19 ambulances were deployed in different areas in Metro Manila to render first aid to injured patients at the Feast of Black Nazarene.

The multitudes came despite a terrorism alert sounded by President Aquino himself the day before when he urged devotees to stay home for their safety. Those who heard him among the estimated eight million participants apparently entrusted their fate in God. Many of those who fulfill their panata year after year pray for healing from illness in the family or simply for continued good health.

Upon orders of the government, telecommunications companies Monday morning disabled mobile services along the procession route, presumably to prevent terrorists from triggering bombs using their cell phones. But some policemen and media workers complained that without cell phone services, they couldn't coordinate their own work. Mobile phone communications remained jammed at the vicinity of the Quiapo Church and in Manila as of 6 a.m. Tuesday. "We cannot determine since the national security measures are still ongoing," Globe Telecoms said on its Twitter account as of 6:30 a.m. To decongest the Quiapo area, event organizers decided on an old route passing through several streets and beginning at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta at 8 a.m. on Monday. By late afternoon, the Black Nazarene carriage had not yet crossed the Pasig River. Except for a few limbs broken in the crush of the crowd, the long and winding procession ended without any major incident, as authorities heaved a collective sigh of relief. - Howie Severino/KG, GMA News

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