Quiapo church advises devotees to prioritize safety during Traslacion

MANILA, Philippines— The officials of Quiapo Church on Thursday warned the public of the potential hazards of the traditional traslacion, where thousands of devotees of the Black Nazarene participate each year.

In a press conference, Fr. Douglas Badong said the church does not prohibit devotees from continuing their practice of venerating the Black Nazarene and jumping onto the carriage of the image. However, he said they are discouraging it for “safety” reasons.

“Dini-discourage namin 'yung mga tao na during January 9 magsasabay-sabay sila na magsampahan (sa Nazareno),” Badong said.

(We are discouraging people on January 9 from simultaneously jumping onto the carriage)

“Hindi bawal (It isn't prohibited),” he added.

Annual procession

Millions of devotees of the Black Nazarene are expected to participate in the procession or traslacion of the Black Nazarene on January 9.

The annual procession commemorates the transfer of the venerated image of Black Nazarene from its original home in Intramuros to the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene or the St. John the Baptist Parish in Quiapo, Manila in 1767.

Badong stressed that the image of Black Nazarene has always been in Quiapo Church.

“Kapag pinuprusisyon doon lang nila gustong mag-unahan… Sumama lang kayo sa prusisyon more than enough na ‘yun,” the priest said.

(They try to be first during the procession... Just joining the procession is more than enough)

“Any time, any hour [naman] nandyan ang Nazareno. Walang limit… For safety, kailangan isipin ‘yung kapwa deboto,” he added, warning devotees of potential physical injuries.

(At any time, any hour, the Nazarene is in the church. There is no limit... For safety, they need to consider other devotees)

Fr. Danichi Hui also discouraged devotees with medical conditions such as hypertension from participating in the procession.

He said the church will be setting up prayer stations for them.

Msgr. Hernando Coronel said around 21 million devotees are expected to join in this year’s traslacion, which has the theme: “Deboto ng Poong Hesus Nazareno, Hinirang at pinili upang maging lingkod Niya.”

He said the church expects more than five million devotees to participate in the religious procession.

Coronel cited that devotee counts increase yearly.

Meanwhile, the Manila Police District said the preparations for Traslacion 2019  are already underway.

It will deploy around 7,000 personnel to secure the religious event.