Black Nazarene devotees start crowding Quiapo

MANILA, Philippines - Traffic started to build up in Manila's Quiapo district early Thursday as devotees started arriving for the two-day Feast of the Black Nazarene. Radio dzBB reported that traffic was especially heavy at the area around Quiapo Church, including the underpass area and nearby Raon Street. Devotees wearing maroon shirts started crowding the Quiapo area as early as last Sunday, but the bulk of the devotees is expected to converge in Quiapo Thursday afternoon. In the afternoon, the image of the Black Nazarene is to be brought out of Quiapo Church and brought to Quirino Grandstand in Luneta for an overnight vigil. The image will be returned to Quiapo via a grand procession on Friday. Meanwhile, dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported that carriage bearing the image will get a high-tech makeover this year from the Manila Police District. The MPD placed a global positioning system (GPS) device on the carriage bearing the image so it can track it during the procession to Quirino Grandstand and back to Quiapo Church. MPD head Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales said their monitoring will also include closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems. Rosales earlier told local officials at a command conference Wednesday he will not allow the image to be brought on "side trips" to narrow streets during the procession. Also, the MPD made a last-minute inspection of 30 motels in Quiapo and Sta. Cruz to flush out possible criminal elements planning to prey on the devotees. - GMANews.TV