DESPITE the continuous easing of community restrictions, the grand procession of the Black Nazarene in the city of Manila is still not making a comeback in 2023.
Quiapo Church Assistant Priest Fr. Earl Allyson Valdez yesterday they are still not holding the grand procession, which normally gathers hundreds of thousands of devotees, on January 9, 2023 because of the possible outpouring of devotees.
There were no “Traslación” in 2021 and 2022 due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and existing community restrictions at the time.
“We have not held the procession for so long. Of course, many want this to make a comeback. With this, we may be overwhelmed and fail to control the surge of devotees,” said Valdez.
Add to this, he said, is the persistent threat of COVID-19 transmission and the potential surge in cases because of overcrowding.
“Based on the assessment of the Department of Health, it is still possible to see a surge in cases, especially among the elderly and immunocompromised, which are among our usual participants,” said Valdez.
The Quiapo Church management cancelled the grand procession of the Black Nazarene in 2021 for the first time in its 400-year old history, as well as other physical activities related to the annual feast.
In 2022, Quiapo Church officials attempted to resume other physical activities relative to the Feast of the Black Nazarene, excluding the grand procession, but was overruled by the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19.
The grand procession, which usually lasts for almost the whole day, sees the image of the Black Jesus processed from the Quirino Grandstand to the Quiapo Church while being accompanied by a sea of red and yellow clad devotees.
But while the grand procession remains suspended, the Quiapo Church said other activities related to the feast will push through.
“All the activities we usually do related to the feast of the Black Nazarene will be held,” said Valdez, saying the activities include the “pagpupugay” (paying tribute) to the image where devotees wave to the Black Nazarene from a distance, and the touching and wiping of cloth to the image, which was disallowed in the last two years.
“We will still not allow the kissing of the image but we may allow touching and wiping of cloth,” he said.
The priest said the hourly Masses on January 9 at the Quiapo Church will also resume next year with strict implementation of health protocols.
Lastly, he said the image of the Black Nazarene will continue to visit different churches in the country.
“If the devotees cannot come to the Black Nazarene, then it is the Black Nazarene that will come to their areas,” said Valdez.
