Black Nazarene carriage crosses Jones Bridge

Traslacion 2019: the image of the Black Nazarene now crosses Jones bridge enroute to Quiapo Church in Manila. INQUIRER / Richard A. Reyes

MANILA, Philippines – The ‘andas’ or carriage nearing the Black Nazarene passed the National Museum, as of 9:23 a.m., Wednesday and crossed Jones Bridge before noontime.

Manila Police District (MPD) officers said that devotees tried to pull the carriage to the eastbound lane of Padre Burgos Street, instead of the original route.

Organizers, however, were able to bring it back to the westbound lane heading toward  Taft Avenue and Jones Bridge.

Police manning the third segment (from National Museum to Liwasang Bonifacio) of this year’s Traslacion said that more than 100,000 people are now following the procession.

Before the carriage reached the vicinity of Manila City Hall, two devotees fainted due to the heat and the number of people trying to get near the Black Nazarene statue.

Both were assisted by medics on standby.

According to Philippine Red Cross personnel from Katigbak Drive to National Museum, they extended assistance to 80 individuals who sustained minor injuries, while four others had major injuries such as electrolyte imbalance, difficulty of breathing and lacerations.