Nazarene procession seen to last 10 hours

MANILA, Philippines - This year’s Black Nazarene procession, which will start at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta and end at the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, could last 10 hours, its organizers said yesterday.

The Quiapo Church Fiesta Committee 2012, in its advisory to the media, announced that the procession will follow the same route as in the past years.

The image of the Black Nazarene will leave the grandstand at 8 a.m. Monday after the 6 a.m. concelebrated Mass to be officiated by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle. Devotees are scheduled to hold a two-day vigil at the grandstand starting today.

The procession from Rizal Park to Quiapo is patterned after the translacion, when in the 17th century, the images of the Black Nazarene and St. John the Baptist were transferred from the Bagumbayan church, now Luneta, to St. John the Baptist Church in Quiapo. Quiapo Church recognized this procession when the parish marked its 400th year.

Replicas on display today

Meanwhile, around 100 replicas of the Black Nazarene are expected to be displayed in a procession around the Quiapo area this afternoon. Quiapo Church rector Monsignor Jose Clemente Ignacio said by setting a separate date for the procession of the replicas, they are giving the opportunity to show the importance of these images from other communities.

The procession of the replicas is reportedly set to begin at 2 p.m. today.

From Plaza Miranda, the procession is supposed to go Quezon Boulevard, Recto Avenue, Loyola street, Bilibid Viejo, Puyat street, Guzman street, Hidalgo street, Barbosa street, Globo de Oro street, Palanca street, Villalobos street, and then return to Plaza Miranda.

Bring umbrellas

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said yesterday devotees who plan to join both processions should bring umbrellas and water and wear light clothes as warm weather with light rains will likely prevail in Metro Manila during the next three days.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), on the other hand, appealed to devotees to keep the procession routes litter-free.

The MMDA said it will deploy 150 traffic constables to handle the rerouting of vehicular traffic, 200 members of its Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group, and 150 paramedics and emergency rescue personnel.

The agency will also put up 10 portable toilets at various points along Monday’s procession route. – With Evelyn Macairan, Helen Flores, Mike Frialde