THE feast of the Black Nazarene on January 9, making a comeback after two years, is being seen by Quiapo Church officials as a “transition” to a new way of celebrating the “Traslacion.”
All physical activities mothballed by the pandemic are set to resume, except the grand procession of the Black Nazarene image and the traditional “pahalik” (kissing) of the statue.
In a press conference, Quiapo Church Attached Priest Fr. Earl Valdez said this year’s festivities will provide the opportunity to introduce changes on how it is celebrated, compared to the previous years.
“Our long-term plan is for gradual resumption. But resumption will not be as it was in the pre-pandemic days, specifically in holding the concepts of Traslacion we have gotten used to,” said Valdez.
“This is a transition period. While we are bringing back the pre-pandemic practices, we also want to integrate what we have done during the pandemic,” he added.
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic forced Quiapo Church officials to postpone physical activities of the annual feast in 2021 and 2022.
Instead of the Traslacion, the “Walk of Faith” will be introduced while the “pagpupugay” (veneration) of the image will be continued.
Valdez is convinced devotees are prepared for the changes, saying: “People have been attending. Even if we don’t have all the traditions revived, many devotees are still flocking the festivities.
“This will magnify our response to criticisms. The devotees are not just after the image of the Black Nazarene but faith in what the image stands for, which is Jesus Christ,” said Valdez.
ROAD CLOSURE
The Manila Police District yesterday said several roads in the nation’s capital will be closed to vehicular traffic starting January 6 in preparation for the Feast of the Black Nazarene.
MPD Chief Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon said Katigbak Drive, Independence Road, South Drive, and the north and southbound lanes of Roxas Boulevard from South Drive to Katigbak Drive will be closed to traffic starting at 10 p.m. of January 6 until January 9.
From 12:01 a.m. of January 8 until January 9, the north and southbound lanes of Quezon Boulevard from A. Mendoza and Fugoso to Quezon Bridge straight to P. Burgos, westbound and eastbound lanes of España Boulevard from P. Campa to A. Mendoza, Evangelista St. from Plaza San Juan to C.M. Recto Avenue, Raon St. from Evangelista to Quezon Boulevard P. Paterno St. from Quezon Boulevard to Evangelista, Carriedo St. from Rizal Avenue to Plaza San Juan and C. Palanca St. from Macarthur Bridge to Quiapo Ilalim (Quinta Market) straight to P. Casal will also be closed to traffic.
Also closed to traffic during the same period are Bustos Bustos St. from Plaza Sta. Cruz to Rizal Avenue, northbound lane of Rizal Ave. from Carriedo to C.M. Recto Avenue, and the northbound lane of McArthur Bridge.
Dizon said the MPD, in coordination with the Manila city government and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, will set rerouting schemes.
He said the rerouting scheme will see trucks and trailers coming from Delpan Bridge to turn around at Anda Circle to the northbound lane of Mel Lopez Boulevard to C-3 to their points of destination, while light vehicles coming from Bonifacio Drive utilizing the southbound lane of Roxas Boulevard will turn left at P. Burgos, right to Ma. Orosa, right to TM. Kalaw, left to MH. Del Pilar or left to Roxas Boulevard.
Light vehicles plying the northbound lane of Roxas Boulevard will have to turn right to TM Kalaw, then turn left to Ma. Orosa, left to P. Burgos to their points of destination.
Trucks and trailers intending to use the northbound lane of Roxas Boulevard will right to Quirino Av. to Plaza Dilao to their points of destination, while vehicles coming from McArthur and Jones Bridge planning to use the southbound lane of Roxas Boulevard from P. Burgos will be made to take the Round Table, then to Ma. Orosa or use Taft Avenue to their points of destination.
The MPD chief said vehicles intending to use Quezon Boulevard coming from A. Mendoza will have to turn right to Fugoso St., then left to Rizal Avenue or Severino Reyes St.
Vehicles coming from P. Burgos Ave. intending to use Quezon Bridge or McArthur Bridge should go straight to Jones Bridge, while those coming from Ayala Bridge intending to traverse Palanca St. will be made to go straight to P. Casal St.
Dizon also said 5,000 police personnel will secure the Feast of the Black Nazarene. He said the police deployment will ensure the “safe and peaceful” celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene.
ORDERLY PROCESSION
Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna yesterday said they expect a more peaceful and orderly procession, unlike in the past when throngs of devotees muscled each other to get close to the image.
“We are expecting a peaceful Walk of Faith that will start early on January 8,” Lacuna said.
The Walk of Faith will start at the Quirino Grandstand to Katigbak, Padre Burgos, Jones Bridge, Dasmarinas, Sta.Cruz, Palanca, Quezon Boulevard, Arlegui, Casals, Concepcion, Hidalgo, Guzman, Villalobos, and back to Quiapo Church.
“This is a shorter route compared to the previous Traslacion,” she said.
“This will start at dawn so we expect less traffic,” Lacuna said, adding the Walk of Faith is expected to last around two to three hours, compared to the previous Traslacions that took nearly a day to complete.
PROHIBITED ITEMS
Medium to life-sized replicas of the Black Nazarene are prohibited during the feast, along with banners, carriages, firearms, pyrotechnic devices, drone cameras, professional video cameras, selfie sticks, large bags, hampers and storage boxes, portable appliances, LPG and stoves, and tents, tables and other picnic items.
“In ensuring everyone’s safety, we are appealing to everybody to observe the guidelines we will be implementing,” said Feast of the Black Nazarene 2023 adviser Alex Irasga.
Also banned are umbrellas, alcoholic drinks, cigarettes and vapes, laser pointers, big metal objects, scooters and skateboards, vehicles, heavy meals, plastic and glass bottles, food sticks, pets, black plastics, and jackets.
Quiapo Church officials are strongly encouraging the public to wear face masks and observe minimum public health standards while attending the activities.
“Wearing of face masks is necessary in all our celebrations and activities. We also encourage everyone to bring their alcohol and sanitizers,” said Irasga. — With Ashzel Hachero
