The grand procession of the image of the Black Nazarene will no longer push through on January 9, 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This after the Manila City government and the Quiapo Church have agreed to cancel the procession for the first time to ensure that public health protocols will be implemented on the day of the annual “Traslacion.”
Every year, millions of barefoot devotees line up to join the procession of the image of the Black Nazarene from the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta to the Quiapo Church in Manila with the belief that the life-sized image has miraculous powers.
Manila City Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso said that public health protocols must prevail over religious traditions, stressing that the COVID-19 pandemic remains a threat to the nation’s capital.
“Nakikisuyo po ako, iwasan po muna natin ang mga parada at prusisyon ngayong may pandemya dulot ng sakit na COVID-19. Maaari pong mapahamak ang ating mga deboto, mailagay sila sa alanganin,” Domagoso said.
“Maging conservative po tayo sa paggunita ng mga prusisyon. There are things that we cannot control pero pwede maiwasan. Kung libo-libo ang pupunta sa prusisyon, isa lang sa kanila ang maimpeksyon, tapos magkakadikit-dikit pa sila, pinagpapawisan, nagkakalat na droplets ng laway, delikado po iyan,” the Mayor said.
For the meantime, nakikisuyo po ako, wala pong mga para-parada, wala pong prusi-prusisyon, dahil mahirap pigilan ang tao. At ang tao naman mapapahamak, malalagay sa alanganin (For the meantime, I’m asking you not to hold processions because it’s hard to control the people. And they might be at risk),” he said in an interview with reporters. Quiapo Church rector Monsignor Hernando Coronel said that more masses will be held for the image’s devotees.
“Nagpapasalamat kami sa pagkakataon na narinig ang aming presentasyon para sa Traslacion 2021, at ang mangyayari, napagkasunduan ay hindi matutuloy ‘yung Luneta to Quiapo na may andas na prusisyon. Hindi po matutuloy iyon,” Coronel said.
“Ang mangyayari po sa January 9 ay patuloy na mga misa, at yung ating mga bikaryo ay ilalagay po natin sa canopy po sa labas ng simbahan,” he added.
While Coronel admitted he was “saddened” by the cancellation of the annual procession, he stressed that the the church and the public must adhere to the health protocols set by the government.
“‘Yung physical distancing, kailangan naka-faceshield, naka-face mask, kasama ang regular monitoring ng body temperature, lahat ‘yun susundin natin. Hindi lamang ito sa loob ng simbahan, pati na rin sa labas,” Coronel said.
Coronel also extended his gratitude for the continuous support that the Quiapo Church has been receiving from the Manila City government.
“Nagpapasalamat po kami kay Yorme at sa ating partnership with the Manila LGU. We’re trying to come up with ways to have this celebration. Ang ating debosyon ay ipapakita sa pamamagitan ng misa at pagbibigay pugay sa ating Poong Nazareno,” Coronel said.
“Patuloy po ito, hindi ito nagtatapos. May mga developments pa ito. Itataas pa natin sa IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases). Nagpapasalamat din kami na may 30-percent seating capacity na pwede sa mga simbahan, lalong lalo na sa Quiapo Church kung saan maraming nagsisimba,” he added.
- From MANILA PIO
