MPD: 260,000 early birds at Quirino Grandstand for ‘Pahalik’

By: Krissy Aguilar - 6 years ago

9,500 devotees of Black Nazarene at Luneta for ‘Pahalik’

Devotees queue to touch and kiss the image of the Nazareno at the Quirino Grandstand on Tuesday. INQUIRER / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — More than 250,000 devotes had trooped to the Quirino Grandstand early Wednesday morning for the annual “Pahalik” of the Black Nazarene.

The Manila Police District (MPD) said the crowd estimate at the Quirino Grandstand was at 260,000 as of 4 a.m., while those at the Quiapo Church were more or less 2,500.

This year’s Traslacion, or the procession of the image of the Black Nazarene from the Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church, commenced at 5:08 a.m. with five million devotees expected to join the event. /cbb