Nazarene procession to use old long route to decongest Quiapo area

The traditional annual procession of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila on Monday, Jan. 9 will traverse the old long route to help decongest the Quiapo area and lessen accidents, an official of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene (Quiapo Church) said.

 

According to Msgr. Jose Clemente Ignacio, parish priest of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, in the past three years, they tried to avoid using the traditional route as some roads around the Quiapo area are narrow. However, devotees asked for the old route.

 

“Sa mga nakaraang tatlong taon, ang sinusunod namin ay ‘yung traditional route. Sa simula iniiwasan namin ang traditional route kasi masisikip [ang daan] pero ang kahilingan ng mga mamamasan idaan talaga sa traditional route,” Msgr. Ignacio told “News to Go” on Wednesday. 

 

He appealed to devotees to move to areas where it is not so congested and just wait for the procession there.

 

"'Wag tayong magsiksikan sa Quiapo area. Doon sa mga maluluwag na daan, kung maaari, doon tayo magpuntahan, tulad ng Luneta, ‘yung papunta sa Sta. Cruz, ‘yon,” he said.

 

The image of the Black Nazarene will be brought to Quirino Grandstand on Sunday and from there will be taken on a procession on Monday through Katigbak Drive and Padre Burgos before proceeding to Quiapo.

 

View The 2012 Procession of the Black Nazarene in a larger map

 

 

The Black Nazarene

 

The image of the Black Nazarene is believed to have come from Mexico and was brought to the Philippines by Spanish missionaries in 1606.

 

The ship transporting it reportedly caught fire, and the image became charred.

 

The statue, said to be miraculous, has also survived earthquakes and fires through the centuries, and bombings during World War II.

 

Every year, millions of Catholic devotees flock to Quiapo Church for the festival. About 8 million people are expected to participate this 2012.

 

Briefing for marshals

 

As part of the security preparations for the Jan. 9 festival, Quiapo church officials conducted a briefing and rehearsal for marshals at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park Wednesday.

 

“Itong ginagawa po namin ngayon dito sa Quirino Grandstand ay inihahanda ang ating marshals. Binibigyan sila ng briefing atsaka kinokonsulta kung paano mapapabuti pa ang pagma-marshal sa Jan. 9,” Msgr. Ignacio said.

 

He added the briefing and rehearsal was conducted with the police, personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and their own security force to ensure proper coordination.

 

The marshals are tasked to help ensure peace and order during the Mass and procession on Jan. 9, he explained.

 

Msgr. Ignacio reminded those intending to join the procession to prepare themselves by praying, going to confession, and refraining from drinking alcohol.

 

He also advised those who are pregnant or with small children, the elderly, and the disabled to distance themselves from the crowd.

 

“’Yung mga may dalang bata, mga buntis, o mga matatanda o may kapansanan ‘wag tayong sumiksik sa madla, kundi maghanap tayo ng ibang lugar na medyo ligtas sa panganib,” Msgr. Ignacio said.

 

He added devotees may also opt to go to Mass in their respective parish churches instead. “Pero kahit na halimbawa magsimba tayo sa ating mga parokya, pareho din naman ‘yung Santa Misa. Ang Panginoon ay naroon rin,” he said.

 

More than 700 people were injured last year during the festival which was attended by 7 million people.

 

Church officials have inspected the route to be taken, and are coordinating the office of the mayor and the Department of Public Works and Highways to ensure the crowd’s safety.

 

A closed-circuit television (CCTV) system will also be installed along the parade route to help police secure the safety of the millions of devotees. – Karen Galarpe/HS, GMA News; Map by A.M. Marzoña, GMA News