Manila councilor proposes to make Black Nazarene feast a holiday

MANILA, Philippines—A Manila city councilor is seeking to declare the January 9 feast of the Black Nazarene a special holiday in the city.

Councilor DJ Bagatsing of Manila’s fourth district proposed the holiday declaration in a draft ordinance, especially since this year’s feast, which features the annual procession of the Black Nazarene image in Quiapo, will fall on a Monday.

The proposed ordinance is expected to be taken up at the city council’s first regular session on Thursday.

In his draft, Bagatsing noted that the Feast of the Black Nazarene “is the largest religious procession and festival of the City of Manila.”

A larger crowd than last year’s is expected in this year’s procession of the mulatto Christ’s image from the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park to the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo.

“Multitudes of Manila citizens, from all walks of life, devote this special day to strengthen their faith and personally get closer to the Lord. Declaring this a special non-working holiday can help greatly their holy endeavor for they won’t have to worry about missing work or school that day,” Bagatsing said.

In an earlier interview, Manila schools division superintendent Ponciano Menguito said that only the Apolinario Mabini Elementary School in Quiapo will have classes suspended in the city on January 9. The school is located along the procession route, Menguito said.

It is up to the private schools and establishments in the city to decide to suspend the day’s operations, he added.