Devotees who are planning to participate in the “Walk of Faith” event in January are not allowed to bring huge replicas of the Black Nazarene, the Quiapo Church said on Thursday, Dec. 1.
“Pwede ho magdala ng imahe kayang bitibitin ng isang tao. Maraming imahe, replika na kapiraso na nilalagay sa kotse, sa saakyan. Yun hong kayang bitibitin ng isang tao (You can bring an image that a single person can carry. There are many images or replicas like those that are placed in vehicles),” said Black Nazarene 2023 Adviser Alex Irasga during a media briefing.
“Siguro yung more than two feet, hindi pwede. Kasi hindi na madaling buhatin ng isang tao ‘yung more than two feet. Basta kung kaya dalhin ng tao ng isang kamay, ‘yun ho ang pwede ( size of more than two feet are not allowed. Because it is no longer easy for a person to carry it if it is more than two feet. As long as a person can carry it with one hand, that is allowed),” he added.
Replicas that are placed in carriage are also not allowed, said Irasga.
“Hindi ho namin papayagan ang pagdala ng mga imahe na nakasakay sa Andas, karusa, sasakyan o may pinapasan (We will not allow the images that are placed in carriages or other vehicles),” he said.
“Nakipag-ugnayan na kami sa kapulisan na may mga checkpoints ang mga kalsada papasok ng grandstand at Quiapo at lahat ng mga magsisikap ng may dalang imahen (na bawal) ay hindi ho papayagan (We have coordinated with the police regarding checkpoints around grandstand and Quiapo. Those who will attempt to bring such images will be disallowed),” he added.
With this, Irasga said that devotees can bring their replicas, regardless of size, during during the blessing of Black Nazarene replicas on Dec. 27 to 29 at the Plaza Miranda, fronting Quiapo Church.
“Mayroon ho kaming identified na lugar kung saan nila pwede dalhin ang mga imahe na ‘yan. Dahil sa Dec. 27, 28, 29 mayroon na pong pagbabas ng mga replika... Mayroon (pagbasbas) sa umaga, mayroon sa hapon (We have an identified place where they can bring those images. On Dec. 27, 28, 29, there will be a blessing of replicas...It will be in the morning and in the afternoon),” said Irasga.
To note, Quiapo Church Spokesman Father Earl Allyson Valdez said last November that a procession called Walk of Faith will be held "at dawn on Jan. 8." from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church.
"We will not have the actual image of the Black Nazarene during the walk but we are inviting those who are planning to join to bring candles and small images of the Black Nazarene,” he then said.
This procession will be held after the midnight mass on Jan 8. The procession is expected to start at 2 a.m. and is projected to end at 4 a.m. after the arrival at Quiapo Church. Aside from small replicas, devotees were encouraged to bring towels, candles, face masks, and disinfectants.
“Ang amin pong layunin ay makapagsagawa tayo ng Walk of faith or prusisyon ng maayos, payapa at may mataas na antas ng kabanalan upang pagtibayin ng debusyon ng ating mga kapwa sa pananampalataya sa ating Poong Hesus Nazareno (Our goal is to be able to conduct a Walk of Faith or procession in a proper, peaceful, and with a high degree of holiness to further strengthen the devotion to the Black Nazarene),” said Irasga.