Rope pulling Nazarene carriage snaps, procession continues

Catholic devotees hold the rope attached to a glass-covered carriage carrying the so-called Black Nazarene statue during an annual religious procession in Manila on January 9, 2024. However the rope pulling the carriage unexpectedly snapped. (AFP)

MANILA, Philippines —The rope being used to pull the carriage of the Black Nazarene snapped as the procession was traversing the corner of Arlegui Street and Quezon Boulevard in Manila.

This incident was confirmed by government and church officials on Tuesday afternoon.

Initially, sources on the ground told INQUIRER.net that the rope snapped, causing delays in the Traslacion procession which was at Arlegui Street during that time.

An officer from Manila Public Information Office (MPIO) confirmed this event, saying it appeared that the rope got tied along the carriage’s axle, prompting devotees to cut it.

Eventually, Quiapo Church or the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene also confirmed this development.

Its officials added the rope had been brought back to the church.

MPIO officers also shared to INQUIRER.net a video showing devotees bringing the rope inside the basilica.

“Confirm(ed) po ito. Naiuwi na po sa simbahan ang naputol na lubid,” Quiapo Church Communications Coordinator Silgen Cabrito told reporters.

(This is confirmed. The rope which snapped has been brought back to Quiapo Church.)

https://twitter.com/GabrielLaluINQ/status/1744593876822958188

When asked if the snapping of the rope would have any effect on the procession, Cabrito said Quiapo Church Command Center answered in the affirmative.

The command center is also hoping that the carriage will be able to move properly even if only a single rope is being used to pull it through.

“From Quiapo Church Command Center: ‘Oo, sana makausad ng maayos,’” Cabrito relayed the message.

(Yes. We hope it will move forward properly.)

“Naputol ang lubid, as per report, bago lumiko sa Arlegui St. Corner Quezon Blvd,” information from the command center explained.

(The rope was cut, as per report, before turning to Arlegui Street corner Quezon Boulevard.)

Hours after this episode, Cabrito clarified there are still two ropes being used to pull the carriage, but the left side of the rope was shortened after it was deliberately cut.

“Clarification po sa naputol na lubid – still dalawang lubid pa rin po ang gamit sa prusisyon. Ang kaliwang bahagi lang po nito (ang) umiksi dahilan sa pagkaputol,” he pointed out.

(Clarification regarding the rope that snapped – still, two ropes are being used in the procession. Only the left side of the rope was shortened due to its snapping.)

According to Cabrito, this is not the first time that the rope broke during the Traslacion, as there were also past incidents where the flow of the procession was affected for the same reason.

The pace of the procession appeared to be as fast as the experience in 2020, when the carriage moved past Vergara Street around 10:30 a.m.

However, things took a turn when the procession moved towards Arlegui Street.

It took more than an hour for the carriage to move through this area.

Observers from Quiapo Church stated as of 1:00 p.m., around 500,000 devotees are joining the procession, while 127,900 are staying in the vicinity of Quiapo Church.