More people are expected to attend the Feast of the Black Nazarene which is highlighted by the annual “Traslacion” of the image on January 9.
Quiapo Church rector Monsignor Hernando Coronel said they expect the number to exceed that of last year which was estimated to be around 4 million.
“Definitely more based on my observation as to those who went here during the First Friday and Sunday,” he said in an interview.
“So we expect millions…it should be more than last year,” added Coronel.
Father Douglas Badong, parochial vicar of Quiapo Church, said they expect that there will be more people since the image is expected to return to the church on a Friday which is considered as Quiapo Day.
“That’s what we are preparing for because if the mass is ongoing and the image returns on a Friday, we have to think of the people inside since these are usually the elderly,” he said.
But Badong said they are not after the number rather they are after having more real devotees.
“We want the real devotees to increase not the so called fanatics,” he said.
Church officials also expect a faster procession this year due to the slight change in route.
“If based on route it will be faster…but it still depends on the attitude of the mamamasans and if they will cooperate,” said Badong.
“Im praying. Let’s see. If this new approach will succeed or not we leave it to the Nazareno but we will try,” Coronel said.
The priest was referring to the more than 2,000 police that will surround the “andas” or carriage of the image during the procession for a faster Traslacion.
Coronel will also join the police in forming the “andas wall” up to a certain point.
Devotees were asked to bring candles for the 12 midnight mass to be presided by Coronel at the Quirino Grandstand on January 9 with Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle as homilist.
The procession will be held at 5:30 a.m. after the morning prayer.
At least 17,000 personnel from an Inter-Agency Task Force will be deployed during the Traslacion to strictly implement the guidelines that have been set to ensure safety, cleanliness and orderliness during the procession, according to National Capital Region Police (NCRPO) chief Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas.
Of the number, 2,144 – including officers from the Special Action Force (SAF) unit – will serve as the Black Nazarene “andas wall.” (Leslie Ann Aquino, Joseph Pedrajas)
