‘Pahalik’ in Quiapo Church now allowed

FILE PHOTO: Devotees queue for a chance to touch and kiss the image of the Nazareno at the Quirino Grandstand in January 2019. INQUIRER / Marianne Bermudez

MANILA, Philippines — The Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, commonly known as Quiapo Church, on Friday announced that “pahalik” or the traditional touching and kissing of the image of the Black Nazarene is now allowed.

“Devotees may once again touch the image of the Black Nazarene located above the main altar of the Quiapo Church,” Fr. Douglas Badong, the church’s parochial vicar, said over Radio Veritas.

Badong, however, reminded devotees to adhere to the minimum public health standards: “We appeal to our devotees to queue properly and observe the safety protocols.”

It was in early March 2020 when the church stopped “pahalik” to stem the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

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