By Erma Edera Millions of devotees every year attempt touch the image of a dark-skinned Jesus Christ or also known as the “Black Nazarene” brought from the Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church in Manila The Manila Police District (MPD) said the crowd reached 18,250 at 2:00 p.m. at the Quirino Grandstand while 1,000 devotees at the Quiapo Church. It is considered as one of the exhausting pilgrimages, leaving authorities to care each year for devotees who faint because of the heat and crowd. But there's another way of reaching the image, as other believers have learned, a path that's less crowded, less exhausting, and far safer than joining the procession: the “Pahalik”. It consists of at least two things: waiting in line with a prayer, then literally planting it through a kiss on or touch of the dark-skinned image of Jesus Christ. The traditional “Pahalik” requires the devotees' patience, with some camping out days before in Luneta Park just to secure a spot in a line leading to the image. One of them is 58-year-old Carlos Pascua who traveled from San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan and lined up for hours for the “Pahalik” at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Tuesday. Pascua said he has been a devotee since he was in his 30s because he was sickly. He was misty-eyed as he recalled how, two decades ago, he would join the tradition to ask God for help. “Nung 39 years old ako, tinatrangkaso ako noon araw araw tapos niyaya ako ng mga kaibigan ko na pumunta sa Pahalik. Noong mahawakan ko si Nazareno hiniling ko na sana gumaling ako,” he said. Pascua said he was penniless and had nowhere to run to when he discovered the basilica in Quiapo. “I was broke and I do not have a job. I found refuge within the cemented walls of Quiapo Church and I devoted myself to the Black Nazarene. That’s how I discovered this faith,” he said. Now that he is 58 years old, he said he joined the traditional "pahalik" not to ask for grace but to thank the purported miraculous image for the blessings he has received. His wishes, he said, were granted. Twenty years later, he was able to put up his own business and a house. Since then, he never stopped his adoration of the Black Nazarene. He always joins the Jan. 9 procession and he yearly endures long lines just to kiss and touch the image of the Black Nazarene for the "Pahalik." “But I stopped asking God for favors. Now, I am here to give Him thanks because he already gave me everything,” he said. After kissing and wiping the feet of the image of the Black Nazarene, Pascua said he will spend the night at the Quirino Grandstand and attend the dawn mass. He would still join the crowd of devotees trying to touch the Black Nazarene in the grand procession tomorrow. No threats, untoward incident MPD chief Vicente Danao Jr. said they did not receive any threat, but assured that they will implement strict security measures for the safety of the devotees. Danao said at least 7,000 police officers will be on standby during the procession. He said they expect at least three million people to join the event. Last year, 1.1 million devotees attended Pahalik. No untoward incident was reported. The Black Nazarene image was brought to the Quirino Grandstand at around 4:30 a.m. and the Pahalik started at around 6 a.m. The Pahalik was supposed to officially start at 8 a.m. but because of the large number of devotees who already lined up, they began the "pahalik." An evening vigil at the grandstand will commence at 5 p.m. Tuesday, and will culminate with a fiesta mass on Wednesday at midnight. Meanwhile, Danao also called on the public to help them achieve a safe and orderly Traslacion by reporting suspicious persons and packages.