Thousands of Nazareno devotees join Traslacion 2019

Thousands of devotees of the Black Nazarene, some wearing maroon shirts and carrying white towels, and barefoot have started the hours-long journey through the streets of Manila early Wednesday morning.

The procession of the Black Nazarene, commonly knows as Traslacion, started at about 5 a.m. and was accompanied by throngs of people of people with many trying to climb onto the carossa carrying the miraculous image. Devotees scramble to touch the statue as part of their prayer and expression of devotion.

Before the start of the Traslacion, Reverend Monsignor Hernando Coronel led the morning prayer.

In an interview, Coronel said, "It has just begun, it's a long, long way... I'm thankful that we had a good start, maganda 'yung simula so it's a long process. The objective is for it to be orderly and peaceful."

Asked if there is a target time for the Traslacion to finish, Coronel said it would really take a day just like in previous years.

"Halos isang araw. Kasi naman katulad din ito ng mahalagang selebrasyon sa buhay mo. 'yung iba kumain lang, 'yung iba ayaw matapos," he said.

"Ito ang kaligayahan ng mga ordinaryong tao. Ito ang araw nila. Ang sa akin basta maging ligtas, maayos at makabuluhan," he added.

The miraculous image will be brought to the Quiapo church through the Pagyayapak or barefoot procession. — BAP, GMA News