Nazarene vigil held in Rizal Park

Thousands of devotees attended a vigil last night at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, where the statue of the Black Nazarene was brought yesterday to mark the start of this year’s religious festival.

However, the actual celebration will be held today at noon when the statue is to brought back to Quiapo Church in a procession. Up to 800,000 devotees are expected to attend.

Organizers said safety and security measures have already been set for the procession. They expect a smaller crowd today because the festivity will not be confined to Quiapo Church.

"We intentionally brought the image of the Nazarene to Rizal Park to give chance to devotees to touch it with their towels during our overnight vigil so that people would no longer be as eager during the procession," said Paul Sison, head of the committee’s secretariat.

A 10-minute fireworks display marked the arrival of the image at Rizal Park, followed by a candle lighting ceremony led by Archbishop Angel Lagdameo.

Thousands of devotees, led by bishops and priests, spent last night in a vigil of penitential services, confessions, veneration of the image, and sharing of praise and worship that lasted until dawn.

Before today’s procession, Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales will hold a High Mass at 6 a.m. to be followed by a sharing of food among devotees, known as an "agape."

According to organizers, this procession is a reenactment of image’s transfer from Intramuros, where it was first housed, an event known to devotees as the "translacion."

The Feast of the Black Nazarene is a tribute to the beginning of this unique devotion when the life-size statue of Jesus Christ was brought to Manila on May 31, 1606 by Augustinian Recollect missionaries from Mexico.

Organizers made a last-minute appeal to politicians not to steal the limelight from the procession.

Officers of the committee, created by the Archdiocese of Manila, said they did not specifically invite any politician but have allowed known devotees like Vice President Noli de Castro and Senate President Manny Villar to participate.

"We are urging the politicians to respect the event because it is the celebration of the 400th year of the Nazareno. We hope they won’t join the event on a purpose other than devotion," Sison said.

De Castro and Villar have been spotted in the sea of devotees in past celebrations. De Castro will attend today’s procession. "I am not concerned about my security because the devotees also protect me," he said. — With Pia Lee-Brago