Quiapo Church officials are studying possible changes in the time and exit points of devotees in their annual “Pahalik” of the image of the Black Nazarene in January 2019.
Alex Irasga, head of the Traslacion working committee, said on Wednesday that the management team is considering to set an earlier time for the Pahalik to accommodate more devotees.
“Yun pong pahalik, dapat yun po ay sisimulan pagkatapos ng misa but we are considering right now kung pwedeng earlier, even before the start of the mass,” Irasga said in a press briefing.
“We are considering na agahan yung pahalik para doon sa mga taong maagang pupunta,” he added.
The annual Pahalik for the image of the Black Nazarene would start on January 8 until the early hours of January 9 in Quirino Grandstand.
The Pahalik is part of the celebration during the feast of the Black Nazarene before the carriage goes back to Quiapo Church.
Irasga also said that the exit point for the devotees who kissed the feet of the Black Nazarene might also be changed for security concerns.
“Yung sa Pahalik po, pinag-aaralan po namin kasi dati, ume-exit po yan papuntang Manila Hotel doon sa Kalaw Extension,” he said.
“Ngayon po, sisikapin natin na umikot po parang pabalik kasi medyo delikado po yan sa mga deboto na kung abutin sila ng pagsisimula ng prosisyon,” he added.
Police have already conducted an ocular inspection in Quirino Grandstand and the route of the Traslacion two months prior the actual Feast of the Black Nazarene. /jpv