Black Nazarene fiesta in Quiapo today

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza ordered the Western Police District to beef up security personnel as devotees are expected to flock to Quiapo today to participate in the celebration of the Feast of Black Nazarene, Quiapo’s patron saint.

In his order to WPD director Chief Superintendent Nicolas Pasinos and WPD-Traffic Enforcement Group (TEG) chief Superintendent Elmer Jamias, Atienza said the police should guard against criminal elements that would take advantage of the celebration.

Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims will flock to Quiapo to celebrate the Feast of the Black Nazarene which is traditionally brought out of the Basilica in a religious procession of barefooted devotees.

Authorities expect traffic jams along the route of the procession which starts at 2 p.m. and lasts until sundown.

The revered image of the cross-bearing black Jesus Christ is brought out of the church for a procession only twice a year: on the 9th day of January and on Black Friday.

Fiesta organizers said the procession for this year, which starts at the entrance of the Basilica in Plaza Miranda, will pass through the streets of Villalobos, Carlos Palanca, P. Gomez, P. Paterno, Quezon Boulevard, Globo de Oro, Gunao, Arlegui, Fraternal, Vergara, Duque de Alba, Castillejos, Farnecio, Concepcion Aguila, Carcer, R. Hidalgo, Bilibid Viejo, G. Puyat, Mendoza and Barbosa in Quiapo district.

The Western District Traffic Office announced a traffic rerouting scheme for the duration of the procession.

All vehicles coming from Ayala bound for Quiapo shall pass through P. Casal, Nepomuceno and Padilla streets. Vehicles passing Legarda street shall be diverted to San Rafael street. Those coming from S.H. Loyola shall turn to C.M. Recto towards Legarda.

All vehicles bound for Caloocan City shall pass through Dasmariñas street, while vehicles coming from the north shall turn right upon reaching Ronquillo street.

Quezon Boulevard will remain open to motorists while jeepneys bound for Quiapo Ilalim shall cross Quezon Bridge and make a U-turn at P. Burgos street.

As the procession is about to enter Nepomuceno street, vehicles traveling southward along Legarda shall have to swerve at the cut fronting the Tanduay Fire Station to use the east lane of Legarda up to Arlegui. – Cecill Suerte Felipe and Nestor Etolle