Thousands of Nazarene devotees flock to Quirino Grandstand for 'Pagpupugay'
By DIANN IVY CALUCIN
Thousands of devotees started to flock to Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Friday, Jan. 6, hours before the celebration of a Mass in honor of the Black Nazarene.
As of 3 p.m. on Friday, the number of devotees in Quirino Grandstand has grown to around a thousand, according to Rev. Fr. Allyson P. Valdez, Quiapo Church media coordinator.
Devotees are expected to line up for "Pagpupugay" or the viewing and touching of the image of the Black Nazarene at midnight on Jan. 7. It will replace the traditional “pahalik” or the kissing of the image of the Black Nazarene.
He added that the crowd estimate may reach half a million by midnight and more than a million during the Walk of Faith at midnight on Jan. 8.
The image of the Black Nazarene is yet to be brought to Quirino Grandstand as of writing.
The Quiapo Church said it will not announce the arrival of the Black Nazarene in the grandstand to prevent people from blocking its entry points.
The image of the Black Nazarene will be at the Quirino Grandstand for three days or from Jan. 7 to 9 for Pagpupugay.
Meanwhile, the city health department deployed ambulances in strategic areas to provide medical assistance, especially to devotees from different regions of the country.
In line with this, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) dispatched more than 300 volunteers to four first aid stations and welfare desks in the procession route.
There will be a total of 17 teams of foot patrollers serving as mobile first-aiders in the area.
The PRC also released guidelines for devotees who will attend the feast.
It encouraged the public to download the First Aid mobile app for instant access to emergency information.
The city government called on the public to follow the minimum health protocols.
Kissing of the image of Black Nazarene will be strictly prohibited, it added.