By Christina Hermoso The Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, also known as the Quiapo Church or the Saint John the Baptist Parish, has expressed its gratitude to the tens of thousands of Black Nazarene devotees and volunteers who helped make the recent Traslacion procession successful and more organized. Catholic devotees pray in front of the Quiapo Church in Manila as they wait for the arrival of the Black Nazarene during the annual procession in Manila early January 10, 2018.
(AFP PHOTO / NOEL CELIS / MANILA BULLETIN) “Thank you very much to all the devotees who cooperated to help make the Traslacion procession more organized. We are hoping that in next year’s celebration, we will strive to deepen our faith and devotion to the Black Nazarene some more in order for us to listen more and follow rules because that was the example given to us by the ‘Poong Nazareno.’ He was obedient to God the Father and I pray that His devotees will live by the same example,” said Father Douglas Badong, parochial vicar of the Quiapo Church. The priest said the Quiapo Church will continue to implement changes in next year’s procession in a continuous effort to make the Traslacion more orderly to help minimize casualties and accidents. The focus will be more on the safety and security of the devotees who are growing in number every year, Badong said. “The devotees of the Black Nazarene are growing in number every year. We need to upgrade our safety and security measures. We will definitely set up the 12 Prayer Stations again next year to help keep the solemnity of the procession,” he said. The Quiapo Church has, earlier, condoled with the family of the lone fatality in the recent Traslacion. Ramil Dela Cruz, a former jail officer, who was said to be suffering from a heart condition, died at the Jose Reyes Memorial Center where he was rushed. “We issued an appeal to those with medical conditions not to participate in the procession but for some, joining the Traslacion is a vow (panata) that they have to fulfil,” Badong said. The priest likewise thanked the Green Brigade volunteers who helped clean the procession route. They clean up the streets right after the procession has passed enabling the streets to immediately be open to traffic, Badong said. “We hope that in next year’s procession, there will be more devotees but less trash. Part of our devotion to the Black Nazarene is caring for our environment,” Badong said.