Hundreds of thousands of devotees joined this year’s Traslacion of the Black Nazarene amid stricter measures employed by the police during Thursday’s procession in Manila.
The faithful gathered at the Quirino Grandstand as early as midnight, some of them even camped out since Tuesday, to hear Mass before joining the procession.
The parade took its new route – passing through the Ayala Bridge until it reached the Quiapo Church, some six kilometers away.
A crowd of around 130,000 devotees started the Traslacion at about 4:16 a.m., an hour earlier than scheduled. Their number rose to about 2.3 million six hours after as more people waiting en route joined the procession.
Among them were Kenneth Ocampo, 35, and his friend, Paul Tambe, 28, who left their hometown Bulacan province by 12 a.m. and arrived in Manila by 2 a.m.
“We left Bulacan early so we could still rest and get energy to climb the ‘andas,’” Ocampo said.
Devotees traditionally make their way to climb and touch the “andas” or the carriage of the Black Nazarene during its hours-long procession as they believe that it can heal and make their wish come true.
“My only wish from Him was a stable income. In God’s grace, my wife, who has been working abroad, has got a good employer. And our junk shop business is still flourishing,” said Tambe, a devotee for four years.
Shouts of “Viva! Viva! Viva!” filled the air of the country’s capital since early Wednesday morning.
Many of the maroon-clad devotees risked life and limbs to reach the image.
“I did not mind getting hurt. It’s a sacrifice to show gratitude. I used to be sickly before, but when I started believing in Him, I got better and healthier,” 41-year-old Rafael Pador said.
“For 22 years, I have been doing this to show him how I am thankful for him,” he added.
Devotees, who could not climb, would wave their towels before throwing them to the “Hijos del Nazareno,” who were standing on the “andas.” The latter would then wipe the towels on the image for them.
Others were finding other ways to touch even the ropes attached to the carriage as they believe they also hold miracles.
During the procession, unity and brotherhood also formed among the devotees who called each other “Kap or Kapatid (sister or brother).” They also helped to get someone in or out of the throng or lift those who wanted to reach the image.
The procession knew no age, from toddlers to senior citizens. They were united in paying respect to the dark-skinned, kneeling image of Black Jesus Christ.
Albert Doguiles, 36, tagged along his wife and his four children – aged 11, 9, 7, 2 – during the procession, “so they would know the Black Nazarene at early age.”
“I want them to be guided,” the father said, while carrying on his back his seven-year-old son.
“I would leave them later somewhere, so I could join the crowd in reaching the image,” added Doguiles, a devotee for 20 years.
EARLY START
Some devotees were caught by surprise when the “andas” left the Grandstand earlier than expected. Quiapo Church officials earlier said the “Traslacion” would start by 5:30 a.m.
Couple Sonny and Susan Aquino had to walk fast, hurdling people, along Katigbak Road to immediately get into the image. Several other people did the same as they had also no idea that the procession already began.
More than 2,000 police and military personnel were positioned at the fronts and flanks of the carriage to form the “andas wall,” which prevented devotees from climbing on the sides.
Unlike before, believers were only allowed this year to climb the rear part.
Many devotees expressed frustration, saying the event became “Pahalik sa Pulis” and “Piyesta ng Pulis.”
Several men who tried to break the police form were hurt and injured.
Eugene Navarro, 20, sustained abrasions after police allegedly shoved him off. But this could not stop him from his devotion.
“I would still climb. All the exhaustion is gone when I have touched him,” said Navarro, who started his devotion when he was 10 years old.
Eventually, police forming the “andas wall” left the scene somewhere along Palanca St. around 9 a.m. They let the people pull the image, after which the procession took about an hour to move in just 100 meters.
A part of the image of the Black Nazarene was broken while turning right to Hidalgo St. “because people tried to move the carriage away from a house it was about to hit,” a devotee, who refused to be named, said.
Meanwhile, a total of 737 people were assisted by the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) during the Traslacion.
As of 11 a.m., the PRC said its personnel rushed seven individuals to the Ospital ng Maynila and Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center after experiencing hypertension and sustaining fractures during the procession.
The humanitarian organization also said they have rendered help to 165 people who experienced dizziness, shortness of breath, elevated blood pressure, sprain, and abrasions and lacerations.
At least 13,000 policemen were tapped to secure the annual Black Nazarene procession. (Joseph Pedrajas, Jhon Casiñas and Aaron Recuenco)