IT’S “all systems go” for the Black Nazarene procession or Traslacion tomorrow, Thursday, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said yesterday.
“After months of meticulous security planning and preparation, your NCRPO, together with partner agencies, is now ready to perform our task of securing the Feast of Jesus Nazareno 2025,” NCRPO chief Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin said.
Devotees, meanwhile, started flocking to the Quirino Grandstand in Manila, forcing Quiapo Church officials to start the traditional “pahalik” earlier than the scheduled start on midnight of January 7.
In a radio interview, Quiapo Church spokesman Fr. Robert Arellano said they began the public veneration of the image of Jesus Nazareno on the night of January 6.
“The pahalik is scheduled to start January 7. However, devotees started to arrive last night (Monday) so we decided to start the pahalik early,” said Arellano. “We had to advance the start of the pahalik because many started to line up last night.”
Aberin urged all stakeholders “to work together for a safe, secure and solemn celebration.”
Aberin urged policemen who will secure the Traslacion to remain vigilant, uphold the law, and respect the rights of attendees while exercising maximum tolerance.
In a statement, the NCRPO said it is “fully prepared” for the Traslacion.
“Last year’s event drew 6.5 million devotees, and this year’s celebration is expected to draw even larger crowds,” the NCRPO said.
“Over 14,000 NCRPO personnel and reinforcements from other regions and agencies will be deployed to ensure the peaceful conduct of Nazareno 2025,” it added.
The NCRPO said it would implement “strict regulations” during the event, including bans on backpacks, umbrellas, alcohol, firearms, and vendors near the Quiapo Church.
“Key areas will also be covered by the no-fly, no-drone, and no-sail zones, and a liquor ban will be imposed within 500 meters of event venues,” it also said.
‘PAHALIK’ BEGINS EARLY
According to the Nazareno Operation Center, 9,404 devotees have trooped to the Quirino Grandstand from 7 p.m. of January 6 to 4 p.m. of January 7.
Arellano said they see the early arrival of devotees as a strong signal that the annual feast of Jesus Nazareno could attract more people.
“We can feel the surge of devotees more this year. And we expect this to continue as we get closer to the day of festivities,” said Arellano.
He assured the public that the church and the government are prepared to maintain peace and order.
“The church and the police and our private sector partners are prepared for the surge in devotees,” said Arellano.
KISSING BAN
During the “pahalik,” Quiapo Church officials encouraged devotees to limit their veneration acts to touching and wiping the iconic image of Jesus Christ.
“Our suggestion is, if they can, avoid kissing and just touch and wipe the image with a cloth,” Arellano said.
“For some, it has been their vow and devotion for the longest time, so it would be hard to prohibit kissing,” he added.
The countdown for the Holy Mass and the start of the annual procession of Jesus Nazareno is set to begin later today, Wednesday, with an overnight vigil.
Arellano said there will be a band parade, youth programs, and community prayers at the Quirino Grandstand up to Wednesday night.
The program will then be temporarily halted by midnight of January 9 to give way to the Holy Mass to be celebrated by Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula.
“The next Mass at the Quirino Grandstand will be the Misa Mayor,” said Arellano.
The overnight vigil will continue after the Holy Mass until the annual procession starts Thursday morning.
PRC ON ALERT
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is set to deploy more than 1,000 personnel and volunteers and establish over a dozen first aid stations for the Traslacion.
In a press briefing, PRC Chairman Richard Gordon said they are prepared to provide first aid assistance to devotees flocking the route, the Quirino Grandstand and the Quiapo Church.
“Come January 9, our teams and equipment will be mobilized and positioned beginning midnight to ensure orderly operations,” Gordon said, adding that 1,138 staff and volunteers will be deployed for the entirety of the Jesus Nazareno feast operations.
He also said that 17 first aid stations will be set up in strategic segments of the procession route between the Quirino Grandstand and the Quiapo Church, each to be manned by five personnel and can cater to as many as 20 patients.
The Red Cross said it will also establish an emergency field hospital with a six-bed emergency response (ER) room that can cater to minor wound cleaning and a 50-bed capacity ward to hold and treat patients.
Gordon said they will also deploy 18 ambulances, 12 scooters, two rescue boats, and one firetruck.
PRC Secretary General Dr. Gwen Pang issued health reminders to devotees, saying: “Let us maintain our physical strength and wellbeing, drink water, bring enough food as well as extra clothes, towels, and rain gear.”
She urged those with illnesses to skip the festivities.
“Just stay at home and just watch on TV or the livestream of the Traslacion,” said Pang.
SC WORK HALTED
Work at the Supreme Court will be temporarily halted tomorrow, Thursday, for the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene but a skeletal workforce will be maintained in several offices.
“Work in the Supreme Court on January 9, 2025 in its Manila offices is hereby suspended, subject to the condition that skeletal workforces in the Docket-Receiving Section of the Judicial Records Office and Cash Collection and Disbursement Division, Financial Management and Budget Office, shall be maintained,” a memorandum signed by Deputy Clerk of Court and Chief Administrative Officer Maria Carina Matammu-Cunanan said.
President Marcos Jr. has declared January 9 as a special non-working holiday in Manila.
Millions of devotees are expected to flock to the Quiapo Church to venerate the wooden image of the Black Nazarene, which is believed to have miraculous powers.
In 2024, authorities said the Traslacion drew more than 2.8 million devotees along the path of the procession and at the Quiapo Church.
The US Embassy in Manila said it will also be closed on January 9 as part of the observance of the national day of mourning for the death of former President Jimmy Carter.
“The US Embassy will be closed on Thursday, January 9, following President Joseph R. Biden’s Executive Order on December 30. All visa interviews and American Citizens Services appointments at the US Embassy on January 9 are canceled and will need to be rescheduled. The offsite Visa Application Center will remain open on January 9 for applicants who are scheduled for photo and fingerprint collection,” the embassy said in an advisory.
The embassy advised visa applicants to check their emails for rescheduling instructions.
Carter, the 39th President of the United States, died on December 29, 2024 at the age of 100. – With Gerard Naval and Ashzel Hachero
