By Ferdinand Patinio/PNA
MANILA — The Traslacion, the highlight of the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene on January 9 is all set.
“It’s a go. It’s a strong go,” Msgr. Hernando “Ding” Coronel, Quiapo Church rector, said in a press conference for the annual religious event in Manila on Friday.
The priest also echoed the statement of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), noting that preparations for the feast is now 85 percent complete.
“Basically, we are all partners along that range. We do our best humanly speaking but we trust the providence of the Nazareno,” he added.
Organizers have released the official route of the Traslacion, which will start after the 4 a.m. morning prayer at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta.
The route would be, from Quirino Grandstand, left to Katigbak Drive thru Padre Burgos St., left to Taft Avenue through Jones Bridge, right to Dasmarinas St, right to Plaza Sta Cruz St, left to Carlos Palanca St thru under Quezon Bridge, left to Quezon Boulevard, right to Arlegui St., right to Fraternal St, right to Vergara St, left to Duque de Alba St, left to Castillejos St, left to Farnecio St, right to Arlegui St.
It will then turn left to Nepomuceno St, left to Concepcion Aguila St, right to Carcer St., right to Hidalgo St. through Plaza del Carmen, left to Bilibid Viejo through Gil Puyat, left to JP De Guzman St., right to Hidalgo St., left to Barbosa St., right to Arlegui St, left to Quezon Boulevard, right to Palanca St. thru under Quezon Bridge, right to Villalobos St. through Plaza Miranda all the way to Quiapo Church.
On the other hand, authorities encouraged those who would like to attend the procession not to bring pointed objects, backpacks as well as colored canisters. Only transparent bags and transparent water containers are allowed.
A liquor ban will be implemented in Manila on January 8.
Some 21 million devotees are expected to attend the 10-day celebration which started last December 31 with the Thanksgiving procession and will end on January 9, the day of the Traslacion or the procession from Quirino Grandstand to the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene Church in Quiapo.
