By Leslie Ann Aquino Quiapo Church in Manila has started preparing for next year's observance of the Feast of the Black Nazarene, which usually draws millions of devotees taking part in the annual "traslacion" or procession of the revered image. (ALI VICOY/ MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) Part of the preparation is the repainting of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene or Quiapo Church. "It's (repainting) part of our preparation. I think it was three years ago when we had it painted that's why the paint of the church is already faded. So, we are having it repainted," Father Douglas Badong, parochial vicar of Quiapo Church, said in an interview. He said although the repainting of the church started two months ago, it remain unfinished because work is usually done in the evening or early morning so as not to disturb the Masses that are being held. Even the railings inside the church, Badong said are also being fixed to avoid injuring those who kneel in the middle. He said the LED monitors outside the church will also be replaced particularly the one located in Carriedo side. "We will replace the LED in order for many people to see the Mass. The one in Carriedo side is already malfunctioning so we have to replace that," said Badong. The church official also revealed that they have started meeting early with different concerned government agencies for the celebration especially since most of them are new. "That's actually going to be the challenge to us now... We need to brief them about the route of the procession, the attitude of the 'mamamasans' because almost all of the agencies that we dealt with in the past have new people," Badong said. "Since most of them are new, we hope that they will also be participative and cooperative in what we do for the procession," he added. Badong said they are also thankful to Manila Mayor Isko Moreno for accepting their invitation to be the "Hermano Mayor" of the Quiapo Fiesta. "That's also in respect of the mayor because the celebration of the traslacion is not just Quiapo, it involves the whole Manila," he said. "We really have to coordinate with them in case something happens...we have monthly meetings so the coordination will be checked," Badong explained. And since their preparations started early, the priest expressed hope that they wont encounter any problem come January 9. "We hope everything will be smooth," said Badong. The Feast of the Black Nazarene is being observed every January 9, which is highlighted by the traslacion.