Nazareno 2023: Nearly 370K pack Quiapo Church, Quirino Grandstand – and counting

Earlier appeals by Quiapo Church authorities to observe physical distancing have not discouraged thousands of devotees from crowding the church as they hear Mass on Sunday, January 8, 2023, ahead of Monday’s Black Nazarene festivity. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines – Over 246,000 worshippers had gathered at Quiapo Church to celebrate the Black Nazarene, also known as Nazareno 2023, while over 122,000 had assembled at the Quirino Grandstand as of Monday afternoon.

The Quiapo Church Operation Center said the crowd estimate at the Quiapo Church reached 246,250 as of 2 p.m. on January 9, while a total of 122,160 people went to the Quirino Grandstand.

Thus far, no reports of criminal activity, but 10 medical cases have been recorded, including two cases of fainting, three incidents of damage (such as lacerations, punctures, or abrasions), and two instances of either hypertension or hypotension (5).

On Sunday morning, January 8, at least 88,000 devotees joined the two-hour procession for the Black Nazarene – also dubbed “Walk of Faith” – from the Quirino Grandstand to the Quiapo Church.

Nazareno 2023 kicked off on December 31, 2022, and will culminate today, January 9.

Hourly Masses were being held at the Quiapo Church, but devotees will only be allowed to venerate and touch the image of the Black Nazarene (Pagpupugay) instead of the traditional “Pahalik.”

The annual celebration is expected to gather about 5 million people, according to the Manila Police District.

KGA/abc