Yearly Black Nazarene procession starts, devotees scramble to get near image

Thousands of Filipino devotees of the Black Nazarene on Wednesday morning joined the yearly procession highlighting the feast of their patron, following a vigil and Mass at the Quirino Grandstand.

 

Devotees shouted "Viva El Señor" and waved white handkerchiefs as the Mass ended at 7:13 a.m., and prepared to join the procession.

 

Many of them brought replicas of the Black Nazarene and lined up at Roxas Boulevard to join the procession shortly after 7 a.m.

 

But some devotees could not wait for the 6 a.m. Mass headed by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle to end and tried to get near the image, radio dzBB reported.

 

Also, a report by dzBB's Carlo Mateo said some devotees in the packed crowd fainted and had be given medical attention.

 

Early rush

 

An earlier report by dzBB's Manny Vargas said that while the Mass was going on, some devotees tried to rush to the stage after seeing an opening at a barricade at the Quirino Grandstand.

 

But marshals, including members of the Philippine Marines, blocked their path and managed to restore order.

 

Warning vs criminals posing as devotees

 

Meanwhile, security forces reiterated their warning to devotees to be careful of pickpockets and snatchers posing as fellow devotees.

 

Police warned devotees against flashing their gadgets such as mobile phones as well as jewelry and other valuables.  — ELR, GMA News