The faith of Catholic Filipino devotees remains strong as at least 2.5 million and up to 5 million people joined yesterday’s Black Nazarene festivities in Manila, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.
Hundreds of thousands of barefoot pilgrims joined a parade of the Black Nazarene, an ebony icon of Jesus Christ carrying a cross, in the mainly Catholic Philippines’ biggest religious festival. / AFP PHOTO / TED ALJIBE
“Last year, those who only joined the procession were more or less around 1.5 [million]. Today, we’re at 2.5 million or even 4 to 5 million, including those who joined the midnight mass,” National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Oscar Albayalde said in Filipino on radio station DZMM yesterday.
This number is significantly higher than last year’s which was closer to 1.1 million people. Days before the event, police said that they expected a 5 percent increase in attendees this year.
The Black Nazarene, a religious statue of a dark-skinned Jesus Christ, left the Quirino Grandstand at 5:07am yesterday and arrived at the Quiapo Church, normally about 4 km. away, at 3:00 this morning.
The PNP initially expected the procession to end two hours earlier than last year’s 22 hours but it took just as long this year.
Hundreds of thousands of barefoot pilgrims joined a parade of the Black Nazarene, an ebony icon of Jesus Christ carrying a cross, in the mainly Catholic Philippines’ biggest religious festival. / AFP PHOTO / NOEL CELIS
Initial data from the Manila Police District released early this morning say that there were zero deaths recorded during the event but AFP reported later on that one man died of a heart attack after trying to climb the carriage.
The Philippine Red Cross also said that they attended to almost a thousand people starting Monday afternoon.
The Black Nazarene procession is held every Jan. 9. Devotees walk with the carriage for the duration of the procession just to get a chance to touch the religious statue that they believe can grant miracles.
Hundreds of thousands of barefoot pilgrims joined a parade of the Black Nazarene, an ebony icon of Jesus Christ carrying a cross, in the mainly Catholic Philippines’ biggest religious festival. / AFP PHOTO / NOEL CELIS
The annual event puts the city of Manila to a halt. Multiple roads are closed during the procession, while classes and some government work are suspended, and cellphone signals are jammed near the area.
with reports from ABS-CBN News.
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