Msgr. Clemente Ignacio, rector and parish priest of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, said at least four million Filipinos will also celebrate the Feast of the Black Nazarene in their respective dioceses.
He said there were 7.5 million devotees who joined the procession last year. "There are four or five million Filipinos who will celebrate the Feast of the Black Nazarene in different places. People in Samar, Bicol and Cebu will celebrate in their dioceses," Ignacio told reporters.
Asked why he thinks devotees of the Black Nazarene continue to increase, Ignacio said: "The Filipinos see themselves in the image of the suffering and struggling Black Nazarene. If you will notice the Black Nazarene is a snapshot of Jesus rising again after the fall… we will see there the resilience of the Filipinos, they never lose hope."
The priest also urged the faithful to offer their prayers to the victims of tropical storm "Sendong."
Ignacio said this year, the Quiapo Church is asking devotees to contribute to the funds for the storm victims.
"All the prayers and the suffering involved in this procession will include the intentions of our suffering brothers and sisters in Cagayan de Oro, Iligan and Dumaguete who were badly affected by Sendong," he said.
An overnight vigil will be held on Jan. 8 at the Luneta Grandstand and will continue until dawn of Jan. 9. A concelebrated Mass will be held on Jan. 9 to be led by newly installed Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle.
The Philippine National Police, meanwhile, formed Task Group Nazareno and will deploy at least 1,600 policemen at key points of the processional route.
Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim urged the public not to bring expensive jewelry, gadgets and alcoholic drinks during the procession. He also advised pregnant women and children not to join the procession.
About 30 portable toilets will be set up at the Quirino Grandstand and Plaza Miranda for the use of the devotees.
This year’s theme, "Espiritu ng Ama at ng Poong Nazareno, Ibangon mo ang Sambayanang Pilipino," is a call for Christ’s mercy and love to lift the Philippines from the turmoil of natural disasters as well as political and economic difficulties, Ignacio said.
Procession Route
From Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park
Left on Katigbak Drive to Padre Burgos Street
Left on Taft Avenue to McArthur Bridge
Right on Palanca street under Quezon Bridge
Left on Quezon Boulevard
Right on Arlegui Street
Right on Fraternal Street
Right on Vergara Street
Left on Duque de Alba Street
Left on Castillejos Street
Left on Farnecio Street
Right on Arlegui Street
Left on Nepomuceno Street
Left on Aguila Street
Right on Carcer Street
Right on Hidalgo Street through Plaza del Carmen
Left on Bilibid Viejo to Puyat Street
Left on Guzman Street
Right on Hidalgo Street
Left on Barbosa Street
Right on Globo de Oro Street under Quezon Bridge
Right on Palanca Street
Right on Villalobos Street to Plaza Miranda
The Manila Police District (MPD) said the areas expected to have heavy traffic will be Roxas Boulevard and Bonifacio Drive, from Anda Circle to T.M. Kalaw Street.
Quezon Boulevard from Recto to Palanca and subway-Isetan Recto; stretch of Lerma from P. Campa to Quezon Boulevard; Taft Avenue and Finance, westbound lane; Lagusnilad and P. Burgos, westbound lane; P. Burgos and Taft Avenue, Freedom Triangle-northbound lane; Villegas and N.A. Lopez streets; and 25th Street and Bonifacio Drive, southbound will be also be affected, the MPD said.
The roads in the affected areas will be closed as the procession approaches these areas.
Starting at 5 a.m. on Jan. 9, these areas will be closed to all types of vehicles.
All motorists coming from Quezon City using España are urged to turn right on P. Campa, left on Andalucia, right on Fugoso, left on T. Mapua and proceed to their destination.
All drivers of public utility jeepneys (PUJs) and light vehicles coming from Espana and intending to proceed to the South Harbor must turn left on Nicanor Reyes, right on Recto, straight to Jose Abad Santos, left on Reina Regente, take Jones Bridge, and go right on Magallanes Drive.
All motorists coming from the northern part of Manila intending to utilize the stretch of Bonifacio Drive southbound must turn right on Roberto S. Oca Street, left on Delgado, left on Bonifacio Drive for Port Area offices, or take a right turn on A. Soriano to Magallanes Drive, right on P. Burgos, go straight to Lagusnilad to Taft Avenue.
All motorists coming from the southern part of Manila intending to utilize the stretch of P. Burgos must take T.M. Kalaw, turn left on Taft Avenue, right on Ayala to Ayala Bridge to their destination.
Private motorists coming from the southern part of Manila intending to utilize the northbound lane of Roxas Boulevard must turn right on Quirino Avenue and take Nagtahan Bridge to their destination.
All PUJ drivers plying the Monumento-Gasak-Recto route intending to go use Andalucia through Recto must turn right on Fugoso, right on Oroqueta and back to their point of origin.
All motorists coming from Legarda must turn right on Recto or left on Mendiola to their point of destination.
All drivers of heavy vehicles, including cargo trucks, coming from the south should take Osmeña Highway, turn right on Quirino Avenue and proceed to Nagtahan via A.H. Lacson to Capulong and vice versa.
Other motorists intending to proceed to the north or south of Manila are advised to go through Lacson to Nagtahan and vice versa, or to go through Road 10 to Roxas Boulevard and vice versa.
All drivers of buses coming from eastern part of Manila, particularly G-Liner and RRCG, going through Legarda must turn right on Palanca street, to Quiapo "ilalim" and back to their point of origin.
All bus drivers coming from Taft Avenue going to Fairvew shall turn right on United Nations Avenue up to Otis, left on Nagtahan, straight to Lacson, right on Espana and back to their point of origin.
Bus drivers coming from Laguna and Cavite going through Taft Avenue are not allowed to enter from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and are allowed only up to Remedios street, from where they should turn right on San Marcelino and back to point of origin.
Police and officials of Quiapo Church have been coordinating to draw up a comprehensive security plan for devotees taking part in the Feast of the Black Nazarene.
MPD spokesman Chief Inspector Erwin Margarejo said they will draw up measures to prevent devotees from getting crushed especially during the procession.
Around eight million devotees are expected to join the traditional procession of the Black Nazarene on Jan. 9, an official said yesterday.
Source: Philippines Star
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