Procession of the Black Nazarene arrives in Plaza Miranda after a 10-hour journey. (Photo from the Manila Police District)
MANILA, Philippines — About 760,000 devotees joined the Good Friday procession of the Black Nazarene image which lasted for more than 10 hours, according to the Manila Police District (MPD).
The grand procession began in Quiapo Church at 11:25 p.m. on Thursday, plying several streets in the city before returning at Plaza Miranda exactly at 10:20 a.m the next day.
READ: Quiapo Church: Around 20,000 devotees join Black Nazarene procession on Good Friday
“The event peacefully ended with no major untoward incident recorded,” said MPD chief Police Brigadier General Arnold Thomas Ibay in a statement.
However, Ibay noted that a total of 122 people out of 761,620 devotees sustained minor medical emergencies.
A total of 6,248 uniformed personnel from MPD, other police districts and force multipliers were deployed in Quiapo Church and procession routes.
Last year, about 20,000 joined the procession which was done through a motorcade to adhere to COVID-19 precautions.
The Good Friday procession has been done to commemorate Jesus Christ’s crucifiction.
Holy Week is the most solemn period in the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar when Christians commemorate the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ over 2,000 years ago.