The Black Nazarene as it made its way towards Quiapo Church. INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—After almost 19 hours of inching through a sea of devotees, the Black Nazarene finally arrived in Quiapo church at 1:57 a.m. Friday.
The Black Nazarene was welcomed by around 200,000 barefoot devotees shouting “Viva Senor!” while waving their handkerchief and white towels. They clapped as soon as the image entered the church.
The pilgrimage procession, called “traslacion,” started around 7:30 a.m. Thursday after a Mass at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila’s Rizal Park.
Devotees went home after the Black Nazarene was re-enthroned in the church while street sweepers cleaned the garbage strewn on the streets and the square (Plaza Miranda) fronting the church.
Police said the procession was generally peaceful except for minor incidents involving pickpockets.
At least 1,686 devotees were injured from the procession, the Department of Health said.