Traslacion 2018 attracts 4 million Black Nazarene devotees

Filipino Roman Catholic devotees jam the Jones Bridge during a raucous procession to celebrate the feast day of the Black Nazarene Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2017 in Manila, Philippines. A massive crowd of mostly barefoot Filipino Catholics joined the annual procession of a centuries-old statue of Jesus Christ under tight security. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

Around 4 million devotees have joined this year’s Traslacion of the Black Nazarene, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Tuesday.

The Plaza Miranda Police Community Precinct (PCP) monitoring the annual procession estimated the crowd at around 4 million as of 5 p.m.

The Andas, or the carriage that carries the image of the Black Nazarene, was at Quezon Boulevard corner Arlegui Street as of 4:55 p.m.

The PNP estimated a total of 16 million to 18 million devotees would join the feast of the Black Nazarene this year, including the people who visited Quiapo and those who participated in the “pahalik” at the Grandstand.

At the Quiapo Church’s vicinity alone, the Manila Police District has recorded a total number of 760,000 devotees around 5 p.m.

The Philippine Red Cross, meanwhile, has given medical attention to almost 700 devotees since the start of the procession Tuesday. With a report from Faye Orellana /jpv