Traslacion 2019 ends after 21 hours

The Andas or the carossa carrying the image of the Black Nazarene is returned to the Quiapo church early Wednesday morning. PHOTO BY DANNY PATA

The annual Traslacion or the return of the miraculous image of the Black Nazarene to the Quiapo church compound has ended after 21 hours.

The head of the foot procession composed of about 1,350,000 devotees entered the church a few minutes after 2 a.m. Wednesday.

The devotees shouted in unison "Viva! Viva! Nazareno!"

Luisito Santos reported on Super Radyo's dzBB noted the very large number of devotees that every nook and cranny of the church is filled. The people clapped after the statue entered the gate. It took, however, some time before the gate was closed.

There was a change in the route of procession early Wednesday morning, from Hidalgo Street the contingent went directly to Quezon boulevard because of the presence of broken glass and the road was not well lit.

The image arrived at the San Sebastian Church about 10:35 p.m. where the Dungaw took place.

There was a reported commotion a few minutes before as thousands of devotees broke through barricades set up by church and police officials a few meters outside the church.

Despite the incident, the police said there was no untoward incident reported.

The crowd at the church was estimated to have reach 1,110,000, according to the data provided by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

As of 2:30 a.m., there were 357 cases, both medical and trauma injuries reported the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Council. The number is still expected to increase during the day.

Last year, the image of the Black Nazarene was returned to the Quiapo Church after 22 hours, two minutes and 35 seconds.

As of 11 p.m., the Traslacion crowd count rose to almost one million as the procession reached Bilibid Viejo street on Wednesday night, 18 hours after it started. The procession started at the Quirino Grandstand about 5 a.m. Tuesday morning.

There were 390,000 devotees walking and following the Andas or the carossa bearing the lifesize image while around 570,000 people were waiting at the Quiapo church where a mass is officiated.

Earlier, NCRPO chief Director Guillermo Eleazar said about 800,000 devotees have joined the Traslacion on Wednesday morning,

The entire day was filled with stories of devotees extending assistance to co-devotees, families defying warnings of police officers to refrain from bringing their children to religious activities where large crowds are expected to attend, while indiscriminate throwing of garbage remain an issue least attended to.

Devotees of the Black Nazarene got meal treats from several business owners around Quiapo Church on Wednesday.

Tired and hungry devotees lined up in front of two stores near the church to avail of free packed meals.

Some devotees, meanwhile, brought their kids and even infants around Quiapo Church during masses on Wednesday.

Wednesday's Traslacion churned out less garbage than it did last year, Eleazar said.

“Sa ating assessment kung ico-compare last year mas malinis ngayon,” Eleazar told reporters.

Eleazar attributed the decline in the volume of trash both to the "no vendor" policy they have imposed and the efforts of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) personnel.

More than 800,000 devotees on Wednesday attended the masses at the Quiapo Church as of 4 p.m. while waiting for the arrival of the the Black Nazarene.

According to the record of Manila Police District, the tally was the accumulated number of the devotees who attended the hourly set of mass which started at 1 a.m.

Quiapo Church has conducted 12 masses in total as of 4 p.m. while the 4 p.m. mass has so far the most number of attendees with 130, 000 devotees.

Medical and trauma assistance

Medical assistance, on the other hand, was given to 714 minor medical attention mostly dizzyness, abbression, bone dislocation, laceration and hypertension from Luneta up to route segment 7 as of this time from 12:01 a.m.  to 10 p.m. on January 10, 2019

A couple on Wednesday became scene-stealers in front of Quiapo church during the Feast of the Black Nazarene when, in the middle of a huge crowd, the man got down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend.

A bunch of their friends revealed pieces of paper carrying single letters that spelled out: “Will you marry me?”

Christian Genese, 23, and Christine Orpiano, 21, have been together for six years and are already scheduled to be wed on Friday. — BAP, GMA News