Around 12 million devotees attend Black Nazarene procession—MMDA

Barefoot devotees clamber over one another to touch the Black Nazarene (C) during the ebony-hued wooden statue’s slow procession from Manila’s main park to a historic church in Manila on January 9, 2014. Millions of barefoot devotees packed the streets of the Philippine capital Manila on January 9 for one of the world’s biggest Catholic parades, honouring a statue of Jesus Christ they believe has miraculous powers. AFP

MANILA, Philippines—Around 12 million devotees are in attendance to the day-long procession of the Black Nazarene, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said late Thursday.

MMDA said around  90,000 devotees are still joining the ongoing procession, which is about to reach the Quiapo Church before midnight.

In Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, 200,000 devotees are crowding the area in anticipation for the arrival of the Black Nazarene, according to the National Capital Region Police Office.

The pilgrimage procession is now more than 13 hours on the road.

As of posting time, the procession has passed Nepomuceno Street.

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