LOOK: 20,000 Black Nazarene devotees troop to Quirino Grandstand for ‘Pahalik’

Devotees of the Black Nazarene troop to the Quirino Grandstand for the ‘Pahalik’ on January 8, 2019. PHOTO from the Manila Police District

Around 20,000 devotees of the Black Nazarene trooped to be at the Quirino Grandstand on Tuesday for the ‘Pahalik,’ the Manila Police District (MPD) said.

As of 2:30 p.m., the MPD said the ‘Pahalik’ is still ongoing and devotees continue to line up to touch and kiss the image of the Black Nazarene.

MPD photos show devotees setting up tents on the grounds of the grandstand for the vigil, which would start at 5 p.m.

Tents were set up at the Quirino Grandsstand on the eve of Traslacion on January 8, 2019 PHOTO from the Manila Police District

The MPD said the weather at the venue is fair and devotees can still touch and kiss the feet of the Black Nazarene may do so

A Fiesta High Mass would be held at midnight on Wednesday.

The Black Nazarene carriage would leave the grandstand at 5 a.m. to make its way back to Quiapo Church.

The procession of the Black Nazarene is a commemoration of the wooden statue’s transfer (traslacion) from a Recollect church in Intramuros, Manila, where it was first enshrined, to St. John the Baptist Church in Quiapo, Manila, on Jan. 9, 1787.

Millions of devotees are expected to join the procession this year. /ee

READ: LOOK: Devotees set up tents at Quirino Grandstand for Traslacion 2019

People line up to touch and kiss the Black Nazarene. PHOTO from the Manila Police District