The feast of the Black Nazarene was celebrated differently this year, Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso said Saturday, expressing surprise at how orderly the event turned out to be.
"Piyesta ba ng Quiapo 'yan? Himala 'yan (Is that the feast of Quiapo? That's a miracle!)," Mayor Isko said on Facebook live while showing several live video footages of areas in the vicinity of Quiapo Church and other areas where masses were held.
Domagoso disputed the estimate of the Manila Police District which placed the number of devotees in Quiapo and other areas from 4 a.m. to 12 noon at 400,000.
He said photos circulating on social media showing devotees violating social distancing were the handiwork of "politicians" who wanted to "politicized the situation."
"There are a lot of photos online, which are being used to politicize the situation. While the truth is we owe it to the people and to the Church that followed our call to observe health protocols," Domagoso said in Filipino.
The mayor lauded the devotees.
"They made a big sacrifice. It's their devotion, their culture that we took away," he said.