LOOK: Devotees swamp Quirino Grandstand for Traslacion

Thousands of devotees  flock to Luneta to attend a high fiesta Mass before the start of the Traslacion. PHOTOS/ Christia Ramos

MANILA, Philippines — Devotees filled the premises of the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta at dawn on Wednesday ahead of the annual Traslacion, or the procession of the image of the Black Nazarene.

Latest reports said that the procession started at 5:08 a.m.

A high fiesta Mass was celebrated at 12 midnight, followed by hourly Masses up until 5 a.m. when the carriage of the image of the Black Nazarene will start to inch its way toward the Quiapo Church or the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene.

Church officials earlier said that around five million devotees were expected to join the grueling procession to return the life-sized dark wooden statue of the kneeling Jesus Christ carrying the Cross to Quiapo Church.

In 2018, the Traslacion from Luneta to Quiapo lasted for almost 22 hours.