Around 50,000 Black Nazarene devotees gathered at Quirino Grandstand in Manila for the traditional “pahalik” or “pagpupugay”, police said on Monday morning, Jan. 8.
Officials of Quiapo Church said the pahalik will run until the eve of the feast on Monday.
The Manila Police District (MPD) said on Monday that the crowd estimate was from the 20,600 devotees who went on the first night of pahalik on Saturday, Jan. 6, until 5 a.m. on Sunday, and 21,550 devotees from Sunday to Monday morning.
MPD Chief Col. Arnold Thomas Ibay said in a radio interview that they have recorded around 10,000 devotees from 7 p.m. on Saturday until Sunday morning, Jan. 7.
MPD Public Information Office (PIO) Chief Maj. Philipp Ines said that as of Sunday morning, another 4,500 devotees went to Quirino Grandstand for the pahalik.
Meanwhile, around 200 devotees were recorded, as of 1 p.m.
Ines said that they are expecting more devotees later in the afternoon.
Authorities said that as of 6 p.m., more than 1,500 devotees were recorded, and it is still increasing.
According to Quiapo Church, it recorded a total of 30,910 devotees from 1 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday.
Elements of MPD are continuously monitoring the area, where 210 police and force multipliers were deployed in the area for security.
The police said that no untoward incidents have been recorded.
Authorities said that some devotees started to arrive at the venue as early as 11:30 a.m. on Saturday.
Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) Chief Wilson Chan said that the traffic around Quirino Grandstand has been normal since Saturday night, and as of Sunday afternoon.