MANILA, Philippines — Thousands of devotees gathered at Quiapo Church in Manila on Saturday afternoon for the blessing of replicas of the image of the Black Nazarene, church officials said.
The activity began at 1:30 p.m. at the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno, where at least 2,000 replicas of the image were blessed by Most Rev. Dave Dean Capucao, D.D. According to Quiapo Church, 513 Balangay groups affiliated with the parish, with about 13,000 members, attended the event.
The blessing took place ahead of the annual Feast of the Black Nazarene on Jan. 9, which is expected to draw millions of devotees to Manila. The highlight of the celebration is the Traslacion, the procession reenacting the 1787 transfer of the image of Jesus Nazareno from its original shrine in Bagumbayan, now Rizal Park, to Quiapo Church.
Quiapo Church released the schedule of activities for this year’s celebration, which runs from Jan. 7 to Jan. 9. From Jan. 2 to Jan. 6, barangay visitations in the Quiapo district and First Friday Masses are scheduled throughout the day.
On Jan. 7, activities include the “Pabihis sa Poong Jesus Nazareno” at 1:30 p.m., followed by Masses on Jan. 8. On the feast day itself, Jan. 9, Masses will be held every hour from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.
At the Quirino Grandstand, activities will include a troop send-off and a Mass for volunteers on Jan. 7, as well as a band parade and prayer vigil on Jan. 8. Balanga Bishop Rufino Sescon Jr. is set to preside over a midnight Mass during the vigil.
The celebration will conclude with the Traslacion procession from the Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church, covering a route of approximately 5.8 kilometers.
The Manila city government said ambulant vendors will not be allowed around Quiapo Church from Jan. 7 to Jan. 9 as part of crowd and safety management measures.
