MANILA BRACES FOR 6 MILLION DEVOTEES AT BLACK NAZARENE FEAST SUNDAY
[PHOTO - A child walks past images of the Black Nazarene being sold near the Quiapo Church in Manila yesterday. EDD GUMBAN]
MANILA, JANUARY 6, 2011 (STAR) By Evelyn Macairan - Six million devotees are expected to take part in the Black Nazarene procession on Sunday.
The Manila police will deploy 1,800 policemen to ensure peace and order during the procession, the 404th anniversary of the Black Nazarene.
Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim has ordered all streets where the procession would pass to be closed to vehicular traffic.
The Manila police said streets will be closed to vehicular traffic before the procession.
The procession would start at the Quirino Grandstand at 8 a.m. after Mass, and turn left to Katigbak Drive through Padre Burgos Street, left to Taft Avenue through MacArthur Bridge, right to Palanca Street through Quezon Bridge, and left to Quezon Boulevard.
Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene Rector Monsignor Jose Clemente Ignacio said only the body of the Black Nazarene image originally came from Mexico.
He has yet to confirm if the other parts of the image are authentic, he added.
Devotees told: Don't drink
Ignacio asked devotees to avoid drinking alcohol before joining the procession.
Women and children should stay at the sidelines to avoid being crushed by the crowd, he added.
Senior Superintendent Fidel Posadas, who is in charge of this year's Peace and Order Committee, advised people joining the procession against wearing jewelry, and bringing cellular phones and large amounts of money.
Nick Salimbagat, who chairs the procession committee, said they would be fielding 3,000 marshals.
Chairman Francis Tolentino of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said the agency and Manila police are planning alternate routes for vehicles.
They would also provide portable toilets to the public, he added.
City Hall to provide ambulances
Manila City Hall, in coordination with the other agencies, would be deploying 80 ambulances throughout the route of the procession.
Clemente said Translacion 2011, the commemoration of the arrival of the Black Nazarene from Mexico, would carry the theme "Yapak ng Mahal na Poong Hesus Nazareno, Yakap ng Sambayanang Pilipino Tungo sa Pagbabago."
On Saturday, a chance to kiss the image of the Black Nazarene starts at 1 p.m.
A band parade will be held at 3 p.m., and a Mass and healing service to be led by Fr. Benny de Guzman at 8 p.m. The overnight vigil would begin at 8 p.m.
During the Holy Hour, from 3 a.m. until 6 a.m. of Jan. 9, Fr. Anton Pascual would deliver a wrap up talk.
The main celebrant for the 6 a.m. Mass is Archbishop of Manila Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales.
Other priests from the Archdiocese of Manila would also be present during the Eucharistic celebration.
Ignacio said that the theme of the Feast of the Black Nazarene centers on change.
"All of these things should follow in the footsteps of Our Lord," he said.
"There are many people who are asking for change and true change can only be attained by following God.
"It was Jesus who showed us the right way toward change and that is why the Church has decided to tell us the teachings of the Lord.
"I hope that the country would welcome Christ's teachings, may they be lawmakers, government employees, workers in offices, market vendors or ordinary citizens, because his teachings would bring about change and development in the country."
Streets closed to vehicles
The Manila police said the following routes will be closed to traffic during the procession: Quirino Grandstand going to Katigbak Drive, P. Burgos, MacArthur Bridge; right Palanca under Quezon Bridge; left Quezon Boulevard; Arlegui; right Fraternal; right Vergara; left Duque de Alba; left Castillejos; left Farnecio; right Arlegui; left Nepomuceno; left Aguila; right Carcer; right Hidalgo through Plaza Del Carmen; left Bilibid Viejo thru Puyat; left Guzman; right Hidalgo; left Barbosa; right Globo de Oro through Quezon Bridge; right Palanca; right Villalobos through Plaza Miranda going to Quiapo Church.
From 5 a.m. onwards, the southbound lane of Quezon Blvd. from Andalucia, Fugoso to Plaza Miranda and the stretch of Lerma from P. Campa to Quezon Blvd. will be closed to all types of vehicles.
The rerouting plan directs all vehicles from Quezon City using España to turn right to P. Campa, left to Andalucia, right to Fugoso, and left to Mapua.
All public utility jeepneys and light vehicles coming from España bound for the Port Area are to turn left at Nicanor Reyes, right to Recto, straight to JA Santos, left to Reina Regente, take Jones Bridge, and right to Magallanes Drive.
Vehicles from northern Manila intending to use the southbound stretch of Bonifacio Drive shall turn right to Roberto Oca St., left to Delgado, left to Bonifacio Drive or turn right to A. Soriano, to Magallanes Drive, right to P. Burgos, straight to Lagusnilad and to Taft Avenue.
All vehicles coming from southern Manila intending to use the northbound stretch of Roxas Blvd. from P. Ocampo to P. Burgos are to turn right at T.M. Kalaw and left to Taft Ave., while vehicles from the south intending to use P. Burgos should take T.M. Kalaw and left to Taft Avenue then turn right to A. Villegas, then right to Quezon Bridge.
Public utility jeepneys plying Monumento-Gasak-Recto intending to use Andalucia through Recto are to turn right at Fugoso then right to Oroquieta, while PUJs coming from Legarda shall turn right to Recto or left to Mendiola to point of destination.
Those using the northbound stretch of Taft Ave. are to turn right at A. Villegas and right to Quezon Bridge.
Heavy vehicles coming from the south shall take President Osmeña, right President Quirino to Nagtahan via A.H. Lacson to Capulong.
Motorists intending to proceed to northern and southern Manila are advised to use the stretch of Lacson to Nagtahan and vice-versa, or utilize the stretch of Road 10 to Roxas Boulevard.
Buses coming from southern Manila using Taft Avenue will be denied entry from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and they may only go as far as President Quirino and Remedios Street.
East-bound buses, on the other hand, using Legarda after Ayala Bridge shall turn right to N.A. Lopez, left San Marcelino, left Ayala Boulevard.
Buses going to Fairview shall turn right to United Nations Ave. up to Otis, then turn left to Nagtahan going straight to Lacson then right to España.
* Procession to pass through Quiapo
The procession would pass through the streets of Quiapo, starting from Arlegui, right to Fraternal, right to Vergara, left to Duque de Alba, left to Castillejos, left to Farnecio, turn right to Arlegui, left to Nepomuceno, left to Aguila, right to Carcer, right to Hidalgo through Plaza del Carmen, left to Bilibid Viejo through Puyat, left to Guzman, right to Hidalgo, left to Barbosa, right to Globo de Oro through under Quezon Bridge, right to Palanca, right to Villalobos through Plaza Miranda and finally Quiapo Church. — With Sandy Araneta
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