PH Red Cross says help stations ready for Nazareno 2025

Map courtesy of the Philippine Red Cross

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) geared up 17 first aid stations and an emergency field hospital to assist devotees during this year’s Feast of the Jesus Nazarene, the organization announced on Tuesday.

In a press conference, PRC Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon said one first aid station, located at Katigbak Drive, was opened ahead of the January 9 procession to accommodate devotees attending the Pahalik at the Quirino Grandstand, which began Monday evening.

The Pahalik—a traditional practice where devotees touch or kiss the Jesus Nazarene image—started at 8:05 p.m. on Monday, earlier than its scheduled start at midnight Tuesday, according to the Manila Police District.

READ: Black Nazarene feast 2025: ‘Pahalik’ starts ahead of schedule

“Sa Quirino Grandstand po kung saan nagaganap ang Pahalik, meron po tayong dalawa [stations]. ‘Yung isa po ay nasa Katigbak cor. Roxas Boulevard or ‘yung malapit sa Manila Hotel. Meron din pong isa ‘yung nasa South Drive, ito naman po ay malapit sa Museong Pambata,” PRC Safety Services Manager Jaylord Abrigado explained during the press conference.

(We have two stations at the Quirino Grandstand, where the Pahalik is held: one at Katigbak cor. Roxas Boulevard near Manila Hotel, and another at South Drive near Museong Pambata.)

Abrigado added that the Katigbak first aid station has an ambulance and an on-foot patrol team on standby. Meanwhile, the South Drive station will open on Tuesday night to assist attendees.

The remaining first aid stations will be set up along the procession route on Wednesday, a day before the Traslacion officially begins.

Each first-aid station can accommodate 20 patients with major injuries and is equipped with first-aid backpacks, trauma kits, beds, and welfare desks, according to Abrigado.

READ: Nazarene feast: What devotees need to know for Traslacion 2025

Emergency Field Hospital

Besides the first aid stations, Gordon said the PRC had established an emergency field hospital near the Kartilya ng Katipunan Monument, beside the Manila City Hall.

The hospital has a 50-bed capacity and is equipped with facilities similar to a tertiary hospital’s emergency room, including ventilators, IV fluids, oxygen tanks, and patient monitors, PRC Health Services Manager Mark Abrigo said.

“Meron po tayo ditong patient monitor para ‘pag ka ang mga pasyente po natin mataas ang BP o kaya ay nagha-hypoglycemia, ma-momonitor po natin siya,” Abrigo explained during the press conference.

(We have a patient monitor here to track patients with high blood pressure or those experiencing hypoglycemia, ensuring their condition is closely monitored.)

“Meron po tayong oxygen para sa mga nahihirapan huminga. Meron din po tayong mga swero dito para po ‘yung mga na-dedehydrate, lalagyan po sila,” he added.

(We have oxygen available for those having difficulty breathing. We also have dextrose solutions for patients experiencing dehydration, which can be administered as needed.)

According to Abrigo, the PRC’s field hospital will help stabilize patients experiencing dehydration, asthma, or other conditions before transferring them to a hospital if needed.

“Napaka-importante ng emergency field hospital kasi ‘yun pong mga Metro Manila hospitals is also loaded ngayon, So mintras pwede naman po natin sila i-manage sa emergency field hospital is doon po natin sila i-sastabilize,” he stressed.

(The emergency field hospital is very important because Metro Manila hospitals are currently overloaded. So as long as we can manage the patients in the emergency field hospital, we will stabilize them there.)

The PRC previously reported that it will deploy 500 volunteers and staff for this year’s Jesus Nazarene feast.

READ: Red Cross to deploy 500 volunteers, staff for Traslacion 2025

Eighteen ambulances from Metro Manila PRC chapters will be available, with an additional 20 ambulances on standby from Central and Southern Luzon chapters.

Twelve scooters will also be used by medical teams to navigate through the crowd during the procession.