Devotees flock to Quiapo for first Friday Mass amid COVID-19

The crowd size during December's First Friday Masses at the Quiapo Church in Manila seemed unaffected by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

According to Sandra Aguinaldo’s report on “24 Oras,” among the crowd of devotees who attended Mass was 80-year-old Elizabeth Roxas who came to pray for her child.

“Para gumaling ang anak ko, dahil may sakit,” Roxas said.

Meanwhile, authorities guided the devotees into a row to maintain physical distancing at Plaza Miranda.

Devotees were also able to watch the mass from a big screen at the plaza.

However, a crowd formed on Palanca Street as the line of devotees and individuals going to the market were both long.

“Hindi po natin mapipigilan ‘yung mga tao sa kanilang pagde-debosyon. Ang kailangan lang po talaga pagtulongtulugan kung paano maisayos ‘yung kanilang pagpunta dito na maging ligtas para sa kanila,” Fr. Douglas Badong, Quiapo Church Parochial Vicar, said. — DVM, GMA News