Phones jammed for procession
TENS of thousands of barefoot devotees are expected to give the grand procession of the Black Nazarene, more popularly known as the “Traslacion,” a grand welcome today, Tuesday, as it returns after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Quiapo Church Rector Fr. Rufino Sescon Jr. said they are prepared to conduct the Traslacion for the first time since 2020 with “the help of different sectors, the government, volunteer groups, and church people.”
“We can say that we are fully prepared to have a secure and solemn Traslacion,” said Sescon.
Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. yesterday said the PNP is ready for the worst-case scenario, adding the event will be secured by more than 15,000 security personnel.
Abalos also said phone signals would be jammed during the event.
Abalos issued the remarks shortly after he was briefed by the Manila Police District (MPD) of the security measures the PNP has adopted to ensure peace and order during the event.
“That’s why we got a lot of medical personnel. As what Chief Ben Acroda, we are prepared, even the worst, that’s included in our preparations, that’s why they (security forces) are well distributed,” said Abalos.
The procession will begin early today at the Quirino Grandstand over the same route taken in 2020 — turning right at Katigbak Drive (left side); right to Padre Burgos St. through Finance Road; straight to Ayala Bridge; left to Palanca St.; right to Quezon Boulevard; 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 Street; left to Nepomuceno St.; left to Conception Aguila St.; right to Carcer St.; Right to Hidalgo through Plaza del Carmen; left to Bilibid Viejo through Gonzalo Puyat; Left to J.P. de Guzman St.; Right to Hidalgo St.; left to Quezon Boulevard; right to Palanca St. under the Quezon Bridge; and right to Villalobos through Plaza Miranda going to the Quiapo Church.
“The route will be the same as in the Traslacion 2020 or before the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Nazareno adviser Alex Irasga.
Also making a return are the 14 prayer stations located in strategic parts of the procession route.
“For devotees who don’t want to be in the large crowd of the procession, they can choose to stay in the prayer stations,” said Sescon.
But while the procession route and prayer stations will be the same, several changes have been adopted for the 2024 edition.
For starters, the andas (carriage) that will carry the Black Nazarene image will be a new one and will feature a laminated tempered glass enclosure for the statue.
“This is to provide additional protection for the image since it is already old and is no longer that strong,” said Irasga, adding that devotees are banned from climbing and hanging onto the andas.
“There will be no climbing of the andas. The Hijos del Nazareno will bring down those looking to climb,” said Irasga.
The last Traslacion held by the Quiapo Church was in January 2020, with the activity mothballed from 2021 to 2023 due to prevailing health restrictions.
PNP PREPARED
PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. accompanied Abalos in checking the preparations adopted by the MPD and other agencies.
“In terms of security, I’ve seen how it was prepared, it’s detailed. They’ve learned from the past and they are enhancing these (measures adopted before),” said Abalos.
“So far, it’s (security preparations) is okay. If ever there will be changes, it will be very minimal and I would like to congratulate the team,” said Abalos, referring to those involved in the security preparations.
Asked if there will be jamming of phone signals during the Traslacion, Abalos replied: “There will be.”
Abalos clarified that jamming phone of phone signals is nothing new, noting that such a measure was adopted during past traslacions.
“So we are ready for tomorrow,” said Abalos.
Acorda said some 15,000 personnel from the PNP, Armed Forces, Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fire Protection will be deployed.
Acorda said the PNP has not received any information about any plan to disrupt the event.
“Although we are not receiving threats from terrorist groups and other interest groups, our security preparation is anchored for the worst. We are preparing for it, our policemen are prepared for it,” said Acorda.
PNP spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo said the PNP, along with the AFP and other security agencies, is prepared for the traslacion, noting they made preparations as early as last month.
Authorities are implementing the no-fly-zone, no-drone and no-sail policies in the vicinity of the traslacion as part of efforts to ensure the security of the event.
Also being enforced is a gun ban in Manila and a liquor ban in the vicinity of the Quiapo Church.
Fajardo reiterated the restrictions for those participating in the traslacion, including the wearing of jackets with hoodies and bull caps and bringing of umbrellas and sharp or pointed objects.
She said only transparent bags and water cannisters would be allowed.
“We have not received information about serious threats to disrupt the traslacion but we are not going to be complacent. We are maintaining our proactive stance, our intelligence monitoring in coordination with other security forces,” said Fajardo.
Fajardo assured the public that the PNP will not hesitate to implement measures to address any threats.
Lt. Col. Eunice Salas, the spokeswoman of the National Capital Region Police Office, said they will establish checkpoints to screen people going to the translacion area.
“As of now, we have not monitored any verified threat for the traslacion. But we are not going to lower our guard, our intelligence monitoring will continue. We are deploying the maximum number of personnel to ensure the safety and security of this event,” said Salas.
Salas said the PNP is implementing several restrictions, including the use of non-transparent bags, to prevent the entry of deadly weapons and even bombs at the translation routes.
Sescon said the changes being implemented make it difficult to determine how long the procession would last.
“Normally, the procession lasts between 16 to 22 hours. But with the new rules banning climbing the andas and having a new andas, we may do it faster now. But we cannot calculate yet,” said Sescon.
MASSES
For devotees at the Quiapo Church, there will be hourly Fiesta Masses for the entire day.
“Let us level up the spirituality of the event. The feast is for us to attend Masses and pray,” said Sescon.
Devotees are also being asked to wear face masks, bring hand sanitizers, and practice physical distancing as much as possible.
Irasga said they will also implement a single entry and multiple exit policy at the Quiapo Church.
He said giant LED screens shall be placed outside the Quiapo Church for churchgoers unable to enter the building.
BBM MESSAGE
President Marcos Jr. expressed hope that Filipinos, especially the Catholic faithful, would discover their inner strength and a new sense of hope and purpose as the country celebrates the Feast of the Black Nazarene today.
The President also expressed the hope that Filipinos would become instruments of peace, unity, and compassion to their fellow men and the country.
Marcos said the Feast of the Black Nazarene is a magnificent celebration of the Almighty’s enduring mercy and boundless love bestowed upon everyone as it exhibited the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ “who willingly offered Himself to make us whole once more.”
He reminded the faithful of the virtue of embracing one’s suffering “for it is during those moments of hardship that one is allowed to undergo renewal and spiritual transformation.
“By working through our struggles and difficulties, we discover our inner strength and resolve, emerging from the pits of darkness and despair with a renewed sense of hope and purpose,” he added.
The President also asked Filipinos to deepen their connection with God and become instruments of peace, unity, and compassion for the Filipinos and the country.
Marcos said that with one’s faith guiding one’s every word and deed, “I am certain that we will build a brighter future for our nation and create a world where love, kindness, and harmony reign supreme.”
Malacanang last week declared January 9 as a special non-working day in Manila to give way to the observance of the Black Nazarene. — With Victor Reyes and Jocelyn Montemayor
