Some Manila schools suspend classes on Wednesday for Black Nazarene

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The city government of Manila announced Monday the suspension of classes in several government schools that will be affected by the annual Black Nazarene procession on Wednesday.

Manila City Administrator Jay Marzan said there will be no classes in :

• A. Mabini Elementary School
• Geronimo Santiago Elementary School
•  Ramon Avancena High School
• Manila High School
• V. Mapa High School
• Araullo High School
• City College of Manila
•  Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and
• Manila Science High School.

The suspension, he said, will be imposed because these schools are either located, or are near the procession route, or are situated where traffic is expected to be jammed by the procession.

Radio reports said the following schools have, likewise, announced suspension of classes on Wednesday:

• University of the East (UE) Manila
• San Beda College
• Centro Escolar University (CEU)
• Mapua Institute of Technology (Manila)
• Far Eastern University
• University of Sto. Tomas
• Colegio de San Juan de Letran
• San Sebastian College-Recoletos
• Adamson University

Meanwhile, media bureau director Ric de Guzman said at least 50 portalets, a sound system, and four paging systems will be put up in strategic places along the route of the procession. City-run hospitals have also been alerted to provide at least 10 ambulance units which will be on standby for possible emergency cases.

Medical teams consisting of doctors, nurses and medical staff will also be deployed to strategic locations.

As the procession moves, Marzan said personnel from the department of public services have been assigned by its head, retired Colonel Carlos Baltazar, to follow closely, along with a garbage truck, in order to immediately clean up whatever trash would be left by devotees.

The procession will take the following route:

From Quirino Grandstand (Luneta), right Katigbak Drive thru P. Burgos; left Taft Avenue (P.Burgos) thru McArthur Bridge; right Palanca, thru under Quezon Bridge; left Quezon Boulevard; right Fraternal; right Vergara; left Duque de Alba; left Castillejos; left Farnecio; right Arlegui; left Nepomuceno; left Aguila; right Carcer; right Hidalgo thru Plaza Del Carmen; left Bilibid Viejo thru Puyat; left Guzman; right Hidalgo; left Barbosa; right Globo de Oro thru under Quezon Bridge; right Palanca; right Villalobos thru Plaza Miranda to Quiapo Church.