Thousands of devotees attend First Friday Mass at Quiapo Church

Thousands of people attended the First Friday Mass and Novena Mass of the year, days ahead of the annual Traslacion.
On Friday, Jan. 5, the Manila Police District (MPD) reported that over 80,000 people attended the 18 masses held from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Quiapo Church on the first Friday of the year.
Police said the people started to flock to the church at 3 a.m.
More than 200 visitors attended the first Mass at 4. a.m.
"One-entry, multiple exits" was implemented in the church, where people lined in two queues to enter the only entrance door on Villalobos Street.

The exit doors are the ones at Quezon Boulevard, Plaza Miranda, and Evangelista.
Individuals continued increasing to more or less 11,000 at 7 a.m. to attend the 6th Mass.
The crowd grew at 9 a.m., where 13,441 people attended the 8th Mass.
Police said at least 40,000 people attended the afternoon mass schedule.
Meanwhile, around 400 authorities were deployed around the vicinity of Quiapo for assistance and area security.
MPD said the vendors were allowed to sell products on Friday.
However, a total clearing operation will be conducted on Sunday, Jan. 7, wherein vendors will be required to leave the area to give way for the preparation for Traslacion 2024.