Thousands of devotees joining the 2024 Traslacion, or the feast of the Black Nazarene gather at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park on Jan. 9, 2023. (Photo by FAITH ARGOSINO / INQUIRER.net)
MANILA, Philippines — A crowd of barefoot devotees following the image of Christ carrying the cross began their journey from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church at 4:45 a.m. on Tuesday.
After being suspended for three consecutive years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Quiapo Church earlier said that this year’s Nazareno will return to its traditional observance.
The Manila Police District (MPD) said the number of people who arrived and left Quirino Grandstand has so far reached 106,000 as the crowd left the area to Padre Burgos Avenue around 5:30 a.m.
For this activity, police said it dispatched 15,276 policemen in anticipation of over 2.3 million devotees joining the procession.
From Quirino Grandstand, the image will be paraded in the following areas:
- Katigbak Drive (left side)
- right to Padre Burgos Street through Finance Road
- straight to Ayala Bridge
- left to Palanca Street
- right to Quezon Boulevard
- right to Arlegui Street
- right to Fraternal Street
- right to Vergara Street
- left to Duque de Alba Street
- left to Castillejos Street
- left to Farnecio Street
- right to Arlegui Street
- left to Nepomuceno Street
- left to Concepcion Aguila Street
- right to Carcer Street
- right to Hidalgo through Plaza del Carmen
- left to Bilibid Viejo through Gonzalo Puyat
- left to J.P. de Guzman Street
- right to Hidalgo Street
- left to Quezon Boulevard
- right to Palanca Street and through under Quezon Bridge
- right to Villalobos through Plaza Miranda to Quiapo Church
Road closures have been enforced in the following areas since Monday evening. Manila Police District advised motorists to take alternative routes, especially for this Tuesday, Jan. 9.