MANILA, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – Tradition and devotion continue as the procession of the Black Nazarene started Sunday morning.
The much anticipated procession, held every January 9 of the year, is said to be moving at a faster rate compared to last year.
The life-sized statue of Jesus Christ was placed on its cart at 7 a.m, following a 45-minute mass at the Quiapo Church.
The procession then started moving around 7:30a.m. The more than 1 million estimated crowd then cleared out of the Quirino Grandstand an hour later.
The procession passed by the Manila Hotel around 8:15 a.m. That same time in 2010, the Black Nazarene image was still at the Quirino Grandstand where the procession actually starts.
Cooler weather
Rain also poured around 8:30 a.m., cooling down the crowd.
The devotees welcomed the rain, calling it a "blessing." This is in contrast to the hot weather last year.
However, many still experienced dizziness and headaches.
The Philippine National Red Cross (PRC) has given first aid treatment to 248 devotees as of 11:15 a.m. today.
Most of the patients also suffered from minor injuries such as laceration, abdominal pain, sprain, hypertension, difficulty of breathing, hypertension, and back pain.
On the other hand, 6 have been rushed to the Ospital ng Maynila.
This year, the police expect about 6 million to join the procession, which could last until the Sunday evening.
Thousands of pilgrims bear the long walk, many of them barefoot, braving the hours-long huddle in a sea of devotees. There is the occasional mad scramble for a piece of rope or a touch of the patron saint of Quiapo, fanning hopes of miracles, including cure of illness.
For many devotees, the Black Nazarene is a symbol of hope and love. For others, it is a means to strengthen one's faith to fulfill their "panata" or vow to God as gratitude to answered prayers.
Procession route
Officials said, the procession route has been repaired -- including covering all open manholes.
THE TRADITION
The Black Nazarene is a religious image famous for its soot-colored skin and miracles.
The procession during the January 9 feast relives the transfer of the image to its present shrine in Quiapo in 1787.
In 1607, Spanish priests who are part of the contingent who conquered and ruled the Philippines for over 3 centuries brought the statue to Manila in one of its galleons.
The ship caught fire, giving the image its charred complexion. Despite this, people came to revere it.
The image was originally housed in the First Recollect Church in Bagumbayan. A year later, it was transferred to the second, bigger Recollect Church dedicated to San Nicolas de Tolentino.
In 1787, the Archbishop of Manila ordered its transfer to the church in Quiapo.
The statue is paraded through Manila by carriage flanked by thousands of devotees on its way back from Intramuros to the minor basilica. - from ANC
"Nirere-check namin kasi baka mamaya may magtanggal, may kumuha na hindi namin alam. So dapat talaga dino-double check,” said Engr. Donato Garza of the Manila City Engineer’s Office.
Beginning 5 a.m. Sunday, the southbound lane of Quezon Boulevard from Andalucia Street and Seposo, going to Plaza Miranda, and the stretch of Lerma and P. Campa will be closed to traffic.
"Alas quatro meron kaming partial closure. Kung hindi na kakayanin, hindi na kami magpapapasok ng pampasaherong sasakyan, 'di na papapasukin. at mula alas singko ng umaga ayun na po yung total closure," said Maj. Reynaldo Nava, Manila Police District (MPD)-Traffic Enforcement Unit chief.
The procession's route is as follows:
Quirino Grandstand
Katigbak Drive thru Padre Burgos
Taft Avenue thru McArthur Bridge
Palanca St. thru (under) Quezon Bridge
Quezon Blvd.
Arlegui
Fraternal
Vergara
Duque de Alba
Castillejos
Farnecio
Arlegui
Nepomuceno
Aguila
Carcer
Hidalgo thru Plaza Del Carmen
Bilibid Viejo thru Puyat St.
Guzman
Hidalgo
Barbosa
Globo de Oro thru (under) Quezon Bridge
Palanca
Villalobos thru Plaza Miranda
Quiapo Church
The Manila Police said it is deploying about 1,600 policemen to maintain peace and order during the procession.
It added that said that aside from policemen on the field, it will monitor the procession through CCTV cameras that are strategically installed around the capital city.
Several hospitals in Manila are also on white alert, in anticipation of injuries from the annual procession.
Last year, 197 people were hurt while one devotee died due to a heart attack.
There are 23 medical stations along the procession route and 18 ambulances are on standby.
The Department of Health advised devotees against taking their children, or the elderly to the procession.
Miracles
Faith on the patron saint of Quiapo Church returned with many untold miracles.
Devotees, faithful to the Black Nazarene, shared to ABS-CBN News why they join the annual procession.
"Nanay Marilou" told ABS-CBN News that her faith paid off when she prayed to have a child on bended knees -- literally -- in Quiapo Church. When she got pregnant, she defied the belief of many that she is barren. She was blessed not just with one -- but a dozen -- children. "Ang dali ko magkaanak. May lumabas sa timba, arinola, trycycle, " she candidly narrated. Today, all of "Nanay Marilou's children are also loyal devotees and never fail to join the annual procession of Quiapo Church's patron saint.
Among the annual crows is the family of Jimmy Yu. Every year, they pay tribute to the Black Nazarene by feeding devotees for free. This is their way of showing gratitude for Yu's recovery from cancer 9 years ago and for the familiy's continued prosperity.
Evelyn Sevilla Davis, on the other hand, is one of the nameless faces among the sea of believers. Her son recovered from a lung condition, something even the doctors couldn't fathom. "Ang lungs nya, hindi complete. Dineboto ko sya sa senyor. Pagbalik ko sa doctor, bati sya nagulat. Bakit daw naka-recover ng ganun ang anak ko," she shared. Her husband's nephew was also freed from a debilitating illness -- cancer of the bone. "Sabi ko ang nakatulong sa aking ay ang mahal na Nazareno. 'Halika mag-novena tayo. Nung pang-pitong araw, nagulat yung doctor dahil nawala yung cancer (of the bone)."
"Aling Irene" is also grateful for her daughter Marylin's recover from blindness and deafness following a bout with meningitis. "Noong inatake sya, talagang nagdasal ako sa Nazareno na huwag syang pabayaan. Gumaling sya!" she shared.
Cornelio Martin's devotion to the Black Nazarene is his way of showing thanks for miraculously surviving an accident in 1995. Martin narrated to ABS-CBN News that his car was a total wreck. "Sabi ko, 'Nazareno ikaw na ang bahala sa akin.' Wala nga akong galos!"
– With reports from ANC and Zyann Ambrosio, ABS-CBN News
source: abs-cbnnews.com/
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