By Jaimie Rose Aberia and Betheena Kae Unite Devotees of the Black Nazarene flocked around Quiapo Church and some nearby streets on New Year’s Eve, December 31 as the image was paraded for the traditional thanksgiving procession that was marred by injuries. About 5,000 devotees converged at the Quiapo Church since Friday night before the image left the church at 2:30 a.m. The procession lasted for more than nine hours when the Black Nazarene was successfully brought back at 11:45 a.m., according to church officials. Devotees push the carraige of Black Nazarene during the Thanksgiving procession in Manila on Saturday, December 31, 2016. (Jansen Romero) | mb.com.ph While it traveled a much shorter route—having navigated the streets near Quiapo Church—it nonetheless “serves as a drill for the bigger procession which is the Traslacion,” said Fr. Douglas Badong, Quiapo Church vicar. The Traslacion, the bigger procession from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church commemorating the arrival and transport of the sacred image in Manila in 1606, is set every January 9. This early, some devotees got hurt and felt dizzy amid the jostling of devotees who wanted to touch the image of the Black Nazarene. A number of devotees, however, were injured when the wheel of the carriage holding its image got stuck in the gutter upon reaching Recto Avenue, temporarily halting the procession. Another devotee, identified as Jonathan Macaraig, was wounded after being mobbed by other devotees who accused him of starting a commotion. Macaraig denied the accusation.