Black Nazarene procession reaches Sta. Cruz, Manila

Catholic devotees jostle to get closer to the centuries-old image of the Black Nazarene in a raucous celebration on its feast day Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013 in Manila. AP

MANILA, Philippines–Roughly after some six hours of waiting, the procession carrying the sacred image of the Black Nazarene arrived in Sta. Cruz in Manila Wednesday afternoon where thousands of devotees gather.

Devotees, mostly clad in their maroon Black Nazarene shirts waved their white towels in the air, while others took the chance of a lifetime to get close to the image for a single touch on the holy image, or at least at the rope attached to it.

People can be heard shouting “Viva! Viva! Viva!”

Others were seen on top of a building enjoying a better view of the crowd.

Meanwhile, stretchers carrying injured devotees can be seen as if floating on top of the huge crowd, as they are being carried by their peers to medic tents for treatment.

Others suffered laceration to their feet, while others collapsed for difficulty in breathing.

The procession, which left the Quirino Grandstand in Manila at around 8 a.m., reached Sta. Cruz, Manila around 2 p.m. Jamie Marie Elona