7M seen flocking to Black Nazarene procession

source: manilastandardtoday.com

The Catholic Church expects to see at least seven million devotees flocking to  the procession of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo on January 9, 2013.

At least 3,000 cops will be deployed during the event, which coincides with the feast of Quiapo district, the National Police said.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle will celebrate an early mass at the Quirino Grandstand. The ‘Traslacion’ of the miraculous icon from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church will start at 7:30 a.m. until it reaches the Church.

The procession which usually lasts up to 15 hours, borne in a carriage pulled  by male devotees.
Last year’s Traslacion stretched to 22 hours –the first in history– because the wheels of the carriage broke down and stalled the procession for several hours.

Msgr. Jose Clemente Ignacio, rector of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, said coordination between the local Church and local government agencies of Manila has been mapped out to assure an orderly and safe celebration on January 9.

Before the January 9 celebration, a procession of Black Nazarene replicas from Quiapo Church will take place on January 7 at 2 p.m. while the ‘pahalik’, mass and an overnight vigil will be held on January 8 from 1 p.m. onwards at the Quirino Grandstand, organizers said.

On January 9, hourly masses will also be celebrated at the Quiapo Church from 3 a.m. until 12:00 noon and again from 3 p.m. until 9 in the evening.

Fr. Ricardo Valencia Jr., head of Church committee on operations said they have made precautions to prevent the breaking down of the tires of the “Andas” or carriage used to bear the image of the Black Nazarene.

There will be no media coverage inside the Church except for a limited number of cameramen (one per network) that will be allowed at the choir loft of the Church, organizers said.

Only those who have media accreditation IDs from the organizers can have access to  media platforms and areas for coverage.

The procession route of replicas of the Black Nazarene will be from Plaza Miranda, it will turn left to Quezon Blvd., right to Recto Avenue, left to Loyola St., right to Bilibid Viejo through Puyat St., left to Guzman St. (Mendoza St.), right to Hidalgo St., left to Barbosa St., right to Globo de Oro St., right to Palanca St., and right to Villalobos St., through Plaza Miranda.

While the ‘Traslacion 2013’ procession of the Black Nazarene will be from Quirino Grandstand left to Katigbak Drive through Padre Burgos St., left to Taft Avenue through McArthur Bridge, right to Palanca St. through under  Quezon Bridge, left to Quezon Blvd., right to Arlegui St., right to Fraternal St., right to Vergara St., left to Duque de Alba St., left to Castillejos St., left to Farnecio St., right to Arlegui St., left to Nepomuceno St., left to Aguila St., right to Carcer St., right to Hidalgo St. through Plaza del Carmen, left to Bilibid Viejo through Puyat St., left to Guzman St., right to Hidalgo St., left to Barbosa St., right to Globo de Oro St. through under Quezon Bridge, right to Palanca St., right to Villalobos St.  through Plaza Miranda and ingress to Quiapo Church.

Affected areas will be the stretch of Roxas Blvd./Bonifacio Drive from Anda Circle to T.M. Kalaw north and southbound lane, southbound of Quezon Blvd. from Recto to Palanca (subway-Isetan Recto), stretch of Lerma to P. Campa to Quezon Blvd., Taft Ave./Finance (Westbound lane), Lagusnilad/P. Burgos (Westbound lane), P. Burgos/Taft Avenue (Freedom Triangle-Northbound lane), Villegas/N.A Lopez, and 25th Street/Bonifacio Drive (southbound).

Some roads affected by the procession will be closed to traffic. On January 8 from 8 a.m., Katigbak Drive and South Drive will be closed to traffic; at 4 a.m. on January 9, southbound lane of Quezon Blvd. (Quiapo), from Andalucia/Fugoso to Plaza Miranda and Espana/P. Campa/Lerma shall be closed to traffic for public utility vehicles only and at 5 a.m. total closure for all types of vehicles shall be implemented.

source: manilastandardtoday.com