AUTHORITIES yesterday heightened security measures for the ‘Traslacion’ or the Feast of the Black Nazarene, even implementing a no-drone zone for the event that is making a comeback after being mothballed for three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aside from the no-drone zone, the no-fly zone and no-sail zone have also been implemented by the PNP and will take effect up to Wednesday.
“We are implementing (the) no-fly zone, (no) drone-zone and no-sail zone within the vicinity of Quirino Grandstand and Quiapo Church until January 10,” PNP spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo said.
“No one (civilian) was given the authority to fly drones,” said Fajardo, adding that only government-operated drones will be allowed to fly in the area to monitor the event.
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said the implementation of the no-fly zone and no-drone zone at the vicinity of Quirino Granstand and Quiapo Church began yesterday while the no-sail zone was enforced at the vicinity waters of South Harbor (near the Quirino Granstand) and Pasig River since last Saturday.
The NCRPO said a gun ban will also be implemented from 7 a.m. today up to 7 a.m. on Wednesday in Manila.
Fajardo said the NCRPO has remained on full alert status “to ensure that our personnel are 100 percent ready for deployment.”
Over 15,000 policemen will be deployed to secure the Translacion, officials earlier said, on top of an undisclosed number of policemen from nearby regions who will be conducting border control operations, including cops in plain clothes, according to Fajardo.
Fajardo said the PNP expects at least two million people to attend the Traslacion, figures similar to the pre-COVID-19 procession.
“Our estimate is this Translacion may match the pre-pandemic figure of more or less two million because devotees are excited (to attend),” said Fajardo.
The traditional “pahalik,” where devotees can touch and wipe with cloth the cross being carried by the Nazarene, started past 7 p.m. last Saturday at the Quirino Grandstand and lured an estimated 10,000 devotees, according to the Manila Police District (MPD).
“We have tallied around 10,000, as of last night (Saturday). The arrival has been non-stop since the pahalik started past 7 pm,” said MPD Acting Director Col. Arnold Thomas Ibay in a radio interview.
“The lines are long every year, especially this year when devotees are very eager to exercise their devotion. The lines will surely be long,” said Ibay.
The NCRPO said vendors will not be allowed to ply their goods in the vicinity of the Quiapo Church while “devotees are not allowed to wear hoodie jacket, caps and use backpacks while water bottles, umbrellas and raincoats, firecrackers or pyrotechnics, deadly or bladed weapons and intoxicated people are not allowed to join the procession.”
“These measures are being implemented to preempt any untoward incident that would wreck the celebration of the festivity,” the NCRPO added.
“We are committed to giving our best, and I assure you that with the PNP leadership, other agencies and Local Government in partnership with the PNP will be supporting this undertaking,” said NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez.
“I also would like to assure everyone that the PNP, particularly the NCRPO, will exert all its resources, whether it’s human, logistics and finances, for the success of the event,” added Nartatez.
Fajardo said although the PNP has not received information about security threats, the police force will not be complacent, adding it will continue to monitor possible threats in coordination with the Armed Forces and the Philippine Coast Guard.
“As of now, we have not gotten or received any information which we can consider as (a) serious threat to disrupt the translacion,” said Fajardo. “But as we have been saying, we are not lowering our guard. Our Chief PNP has said we are hoping and praying for the best but we are prepared to address or face any threat that we might receive.”
Fajardo said a man was arrested at the Quiapo Church last Friday after making a joke that he was carrying a grenade that he was going to detonate.
Fajardo said the suspect will be charged with violation of President Decree 1727 (Declaring as unlawful the malicious dissemination of false information of the willful making of any threat concerning bombs, explosives or any similar device or means of destruction and imposing penalties therefor).
“He is still detained and he will be facing a case that was filed before the Manila Prosecutor’s Office,” said Fajardo.
If convicted, the suspect may be punished with imprisonment of not more than five years or a fine of not more than P40,000, or both, at the discretion of the court.
REPLICA IMAGE?
Will the “Traslacion” of the Black Nazarene feature a replica image in the future?
That possibility is being considered by Quiapo Church officials to prevent the centuries-old image of the black Christ from sustaining further damage.
In an interview, Quiapo Church Rector Fr Rufino Sescon Jr. said they are now considering using a replica during the annual grand procession, with the original Black Nazarene to be kept inside the church.
“The Quiapo Church is considering that in the future, if the condition of the original image will be put in further danger, of course, we have to prioritize the care for the image,” said Sescon.
“The idea is to gather all the original parts in the church. A replica will then be used in the procession. Even the Hijos del Nazareno agree with the idea because they want to protect the image,” he added.
Sescon said the image being used in the Traslacion since the 1990s is the original body, with a replica head and hands.
The original head, which already has a crack, is in the Quiapo Church altar while the original hands have been destroyed.
“Through the years, the original body is the one we have been using so it has sustained some cracks coming from those (devotees) grabbing it,” he said.
He said the fragility of the image is among the reasons why it has been enclosed in laminated tempered glass. Climbing the carriage (andas) bearing the image has also been banned.
“Since it is already very old, we cannot predict what could happen if an extraordinary impact happens. It could lead to something worse,” said Sescon.
Based on historical accounts, the image of the black Christ was brought to the Philippines by the Order of Augustinian Recollects (OAR) in 1606.
The annual Traslacion is believed to have started sometime between 1767 and 1787 as a way to reenact the image’s transfer to the Quiapo Church from Intramuros.
During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the Traslacion was mothballed from 2021 to 2023 due to health and safety restrictions.
Due to the continued threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, Quiapo Church officials said kissing the cross shall remain prohibited during the “pahalik,” which will end before the start of the grand procession in the early hours tomorrow, Tuesday.
At 6 p.m. today, Monday, a prayer vigil will be held at the Quirino Grandstand. By midnight, the prayer vigil will give way to the Misa Mayor set to be presided over by Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula.
Over at the Quiapo Church, the hourly Fiesta Masses will begin at 3 p.m. today and will be held until 11 p.m. on Tuesday.
Quiapo Church officials said the 33 Fiesta Masses is an ode to the age of Jesus Christ when He died on the cross.
SAFETY TIPS
As devotees began to flock to the City of Manila for the annual feast of the Black Nazarene, the Department of Health (DOH) reminded them to observe health and safety precautions.
In a statement, the DOH said the public should take necessary precautions, especially with the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and other illnesses still lingering.
“The DOH strongly urges the public to observe the necessary precautions and safety measures during the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene,” said Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa.
“As we celebrate this significant gathering for the annual Feast of the Black Nazarene, our priority must be health and safety,” he added.
The health chief said those attending should wear face masks and ensure good airflow.
He said devotees should also refrain from touching and kissing religious figures and statues due to the risk of transmission of communicable diseases.
Devotees are also encouraged to drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
The DOH also stressed that devotees must avoid prolonged exposure to heat to minimize the risks of heat stroke. — With Gerard Naval
