DEVOTEES HOLD 'NAZARENE' VIGIL AT QUIRINO GRANDSTAND
[PHOTO AT LEFT - Devotees to the Black Nazarene raise their hands as they pray outside the Quiapo church in Manila on Friday, January 7, 2011 ahead of the annual festival which culminates with a religious procession attended by millions of devotees. (AFP)]
MANILA, JANUARY 8, 2011 (BULLETIN) By CHRISTINA I. HERMOSO and LESLIE ANN AQUINO - The revered image of the Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno, more popularly known as the Black Nazarene, will be transferred to the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, Manila, early Saturday for an overnight vigil, in preparation for the grand procession Sunday, Jan. 9.
Millions of devotees are expected to attend Sunday's procession which will start from the Rizal Park, Manila, at 8 am following the 6 am Mass by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales.
Msgr. Jose Clemente F. Ignacio, rector of the Quiapo Church, said Church leaders have decided not to disclose thedeparture and arrival times of the Black Nazarene at the Quirino Grandstand to avoid big crowds of devotees at Plaza Miranda in front of the church. He encouraged those attending Saturday's celebration "to just proceed to the Quirino Grandstand tonight for the series of prayer activities that will begin early today."
Last year, the image of the Black Nazarene was quietly taken to the Quirino Grandstand for the overnight vigil.
The program of activities will start at 1 p.m. with the traditional "Pahalik sa Poong Nazareno," when devotees and penitents line up to kiss the feet or wipe the feet or hands of the centuries-old image This will be followed by a band parade at 3:30 p.m., a mass and a healing service at 5 p.m. The overnight vigil begins at 8 p.m.
On Sunday, Jan. 9, talks will be held at 3 a.m. and 5 a.m., while the Holy Hour will be observed at 4 a.m. Ignacio said the procession will take the traditional route this year "to help prevent congestion at the gate of the church that may lead to accidents."
A procession of the replicas of the Black Nazarene was held Friday afternoon on the streets of Quiapo as a prelude to Sunday's mammoth procession.
Ignacio called on devotees "to pray for the unborn. We are calling on people to value life and pray for the protection of the unborn. Let's also pray for the mothers who have problems in their pregnancy. Let's help them. I pray that our nation will be a cradle of life and love."
Meanwhile, the last of the novena in honor of the Black Nazarene that began last Dec. 31 will be held at the Quiapo Church Saturday. Masses will be held by the hour from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m., 12:15 p.m., and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Meanwhile, devotees of the Black Nazarene were advised by a Catholic prelate to first consult a doctor if they plan to join the procession Sunday.
Taytay Bishop Edgardo Juanich issued the advice to the faithful noting the number of devotees suffering from heat stroke during the procession. "They might suffer from heat stroke due to the hot weather and the big number of people joining," he said over radio Friday.
Black Nazarene devotees urged to bring umbrellas By Helen Flores (The Philippine Star) Updated January 08, 2011 12:00 AM
(Photo is loading... Devotees carry an image of the Black Nazarene on their shoulders during a blessing of replicas outside the Quiapo church yesterday. Weather forecasters advised devotees to bring umbrellas during the parade tomorrow. JONJON VICENCIO]
MANILA, Philippines – The state weather bureau advised yesterday millions of devotees who plan to join the traditional procession of the Black Nazarene tomorrow to bring umbrellas as cloudy skies with light rains will prevail over Metro Manila on Sunday.
Graciano Yumul, Science undersecretary and concurrent officer-in-charge of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said the northeast monsoon and the tail-end of a cold front will continue to bring cloudy skies with light rains over the National Capital Region until next week.
"However, no tropical cyclone is expected to affect the country until Thursday," he said, adding that cloudy skies with rains will prevail over the eastern seaboard of Luzon, as well as Mindoro and Palawan, and Visayas from Friday to Sunday.
He said the weather will generally improve in Samar and the Bicol region from Friday to Monday.
Manila Police District head Chief Superintendent Roberto Rongavilla earlier said that at least six million Catholic devotees are expected to participate in this year's Feast of the Black Nazarene.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino said 300 traffic enforcers will be deployed starting 4 a.m. on Sunday to man traffic flow around Quiapo Church.
Tolentino said a majority of the traffic enforcers will be manning the roads leading to Quiapo Church to ensure the safety of devotees.
"This is the first time for MMDA to lend support to Manila in line with the Feast of the Black Nazarene. Our traffic enforcers will supervise vehicular and pedestrian traffic to avoid accidents or any untoward incident, particularly along the route of the procession," he said.
In addition to traffic enforcers, the MMDA will also deploy ambulances, tow trucks, and personnel from the MMDA's Rescue Unit to assist in case of emergency, and would also provide portable toilets along the procession route for the convenience of devotees.
MMDA street sweepers will also be deployed in Quiapo to clean up and clear the roads of all types of clutter immediately after the procession.
DOH: Stampede is a possibility
Health Secretary Enrique Ona warned devotees about the possibility of stampede due to the large number of participants in Sunday's procession.
"We are cautioning the public on the possibility of stampede or other accidents, so please take the necessary precautionary measures to protect yourselves," Ona said, as he called on elderly, children and those suffering from cough and other illness not to join the procession and stay away from the huge crowds.
Dr. Eric Tayag, Department of Health (DOH)-National Epidemiology Center (NEC) head, said there is a greater risk of accidents and injuries this year because of the sheer number of Catholic devotees expected to participate in the festivity.
He said those suffering from highly infectious diseases such as cold and flu should refrain from participating in the procession to avoid the possibility of spreading the illness to other people.
Health experts also advised the devotees not to walk barefoot because they could expose themselves to injuries and even the deadly tetanus infection.
The DOH has already directed the Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital and other government-operated hospitals near Quiapo to prepare for possible emergencies and surge in number of injury patients during Sunday's festivity.
"A total of 197 injuries were recorded last year. Of the total cases, one death was reported, apparently due to heart attack," Ona said.
The health chief also advised devotees planning to join the procession to take the necessary precaution to protect themselves from severe dehydration and fatigue.
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC), on the other hand, reminded the Catholic faithful joining the procession to have identification card and medical information necessary in case of emergency.
PRC also advised devotees to wear proper clothing and footwear and avoid wearing expensive jewelry as well as drinking alcoholic drinks.
"Drink a lot of fluids to prevent heat exhaustion, beware of possible hazard around you during the procession and plan a safety exit from the crowd," the PRC said.
LRT up and ready
To accommodate the expected surge in ridership tomorrow, the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) said the LRT Line 1 will ensure that adequate personnel are deployed and all 24 operational light rail vehicles (LRVs) will be deployed.
"On a regular Sunday, we only field 18 trains, but since we expect an increase in ridership on that day, we'll provide additional coaches just like what we did in previous years," LRTA administrator Rafael Rodriguez said.
He said they will deploy auxiliary security personnel with K-9 dogs in all stations and have medical and public assistance personnel ready.
He gave assurance that barefoot passengers will be allowed to board the trains in celebration of the Black Nazarene day.
The LRTA achieved its highest volume of ridership with a total of 528,989 passengers who took the train during the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Jan. 9, 2008.
Compassion is a devotee's trademark
Meanwhile, Novaliches bishop emeritus Teodoro Bacani yesterday reminded the faithful that in order to become true devotees of the Black Nazarene, they should be compassionate just like Jesus Christ and make personal sacrifices for the sake of others and not just be loyal to the religious image.
In an interview over the Church-run Radio Veritas, Bacani said he agreed with Quiapo Church assistant parish priest Fernando Carpio who said that there are two kinds of Black Nazarene devotees that would celebrate its feast on Sunday, Jan. 9.
"There is a devotee of Jesus the Nazarene, and there are those who are devotees of the statues or images of Jesus the Nazarene," he said.
Bacani also reminded those who would join the procession that there is no need to push and shove but just concentrate on honoring the Black Nazarene.
Taytay, Palawan Apostolic Vicariate Bishop Edgardo Juanich said those intending to attend the procession must make sure they are physically fit.
Juanich, a member of the CBCBP-Commission on Health, said the devotees should first see their doctors because they might suffer heat stroke. – Mike Frialde, Mayen Jaymalin, Rainier Allan Ronda, Evelyn Macairan
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