Devotees start activities for Black Nazarene fiesta

ANTICIPATION Devotees of the Black Nazarene on Saturday flock to Quiapo Church to have their replicas a week before the much-anticipated feast day for the iconic image on Jan. 9. —PHOTOS BY GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

Devotees of the Black Nazarene flocked to Quiapo Church in Manila on Saturday for the blessing of replicas of the revered image.

The activity began at 1:30 p.m. and involved at least 2,000 replicas of the Black Nazarene, which were blessed by Most Rev. Dave Dean Capucao, D.D.

According to Quiapo Church, 513 Balangay groups affiliated with the parish, comprising about 13,000 members, attended the event.

On Jan. 9, millions of devotees are once again set to join the annual Feast of the Black Nazarene procession.

The procession reenacts the 1787 Traslacion, or “solemn transfer,” of the image of Jesus Nazareno from its original shrine in Bagumbayan—now Rizal Park—to Quiapo Church.

Ahead of the Traslacion, the Quiapo Church released the schedule of activities for this year’s celebration from Jan. 7 to Jan. 9.

From Jan. 2 to Jan. 6, there will be barangay visitations in the Quiapo district along with First Friday Masses (every hour from 4 a.m. to 11 a.m., 12:15 p.m., every hour from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.).

On Jan. 7, there will be a “Pabihis sa Poong Jesus Nazareno” at 1:30 p.m., followed by Masses (every hour from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m., 12:15 p.m.) on Jan. 8.

Red-letter day

On the day of the fiesta itself on Jan. 9, there will be Masses every hour from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Meanwhile, the activities at the Quirino Grandstand are as follows:

On Jan. 7, troop send-off at 3 p.m., Mass for volunteers at 6 p.m., “Pahalik” at 7 p.m.

On Jan. 8, band parade at 3 p.m., dusk prayer vigil at 5 p.m.

During the vigil, Balanga Bishop Rufino Sescon Jr. will preside over a Mass at midnight ahead of the break of the vigil with a prayer at dawn.

The annual celebration, usually attended by millions of devotees, will conclude with the procession of the image of Jesus Nazareno, called the Traslacion, from the Quirino Grandstand to the Quiapo Church. The procession will cover 5.8 kilometers.

The city government of Manila said ambulant vendors are not allowed around the Quiapo Church from Jan. 7 to Jan. 9.