BY GERARD NAVAL
AROUND a million devotees are expected to
take part in today’s annual procession of the image of the Black
Nazarene in celebration of the feast day of Quiapo.
"Everything is ready. We are prepared for the
occasion," Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim said.
Lim said of the 1,000 policemen that will be
deployed for the event, 100 of them will secure the image and
the door of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene.
He said he had alerted the Manila Police
District, city health office and the city engineering office to
attend to contingencies.
Tuesday last week, six devotees were hurt
when their feet were run over by the carroza bearing a replica
of the Nazarene during a thanksgiving procession.
Lim also ordered that the streets where the
image will pass be cleared of vendors, particularly Carriedo, R.
Hidalgo and Villalobos.
Organizers have said 13 teams composed of 150
medical personnel and 15 ambulances would be on hand.
Msgr. Jose Clemente Ignacio, rector of the
Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, has said security is their
topmost concern.
From the Minor Basilica, the 2 p.m.
procession will make its way to Villalobos, right on Palanca,
right on P. Gomez, right on Paterno, right on Quezon Boulevard,
left on Globo de Oro, left on Gunao, right on Arlegui, right on
Fraternal, left on Vergara, left on Duque de Alba, left on
Castillejos, left on Fornecio, right on Arlegui, left on
Nepomuceno, left on Aguila, right on Carcer, right on Hidalgo,
left on Barbosa, right on Globo de Oro, right on Palanca, right
on Villalobos and back to the church.
Traffic will be re-routed as the southbound
lane will be closed to vehicles.
Hourly masses will start at around 4 a.m.
At 6 a.m. Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales,
archbishop of Manila, will celebrate a mass followed by another
one at noon by Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo.
The celebration starts when the huge door of Minor Basilica
opens and the image of the Black Nazarene comes into view
accompanied by shouts of "Viva Señor" by devotees waving white
towels.
