Opinion-Editorial NEWS

Every year, there are many feasts and festivals that show religious fervor in the Philippines, and it starts with the most celebrated one – the feast of the Black Nazarene on Jan. 9.

It is that time of the year again when thousands of devotees are expected to fill many streets of Manila to celebrate the Feast of the Black Nazarene. Now a well-known and most-celebrated feast, the activities will take on a new form as the country is emerging from the hard restrictions of the pandemic.For the third year, the Traslacion, the transfer of the Black Nazarene statue from the Quirino Grandstand to its home in Quiapo Church, will not be held. This is the procession where thousands of devotees jostle to get nearer to the image which they believe is miraculous and can heal the sick.But the feast’s Traslacion will be different this year as a new procession called the Walk of Faith or “Lakad Pananampalataya” will be held after the midnight mass on Sunday, Jan. 8, in honor of the Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno or Black Nazarene at the Quirino Grandstand. It will end after about two hours at the Quiapo Church or also known as the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene following a similar route of the past years.

Devotees of the Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno (Black Nazarene) in Davao City have announced the resumption of all activities related to the feast of the Traslacion of the revered image on Jan. 9.

Aside from the cancellation of the much-awaited Traslacion procession on Jan. 9, 2023, devotees of the Black Nazarene are encouraged to attend the nine-day novena masses at the Quiapo Church in Manila to further avoid crowds in the area.

For the first time, no public mass was held at Quiapo Church in Manila during the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Sunday, Jan. 9.

President Duterte enjoined Filipino Catholics to continue demonstrating their faith by praying for the country despite the cancelation of the annual procession of the Black Nazarene due to the recent spike in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases.

Checkpoints will be placed on the borders of Metro Manila with adjacent provinces to prevent the persistent devotees from proceeding to Quiapo, Manila despite the suspension of the traditional Black Nazarene activities.

Since Quiapo Church in Manila will be closed during the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Jan. 9, a Catholic priest urged devotees to just attend Mass online or in another church.

An official of Quiapo Church said they will comply with the National Task Force Against COVID-19 resolution suspending the “traslacion” or procession of the image of the Black Nazarene and other activities related to it.

President Duterte has sought the understanding of the Roman Catholic faithful following the National Task Force’s decision to suspend this year’s “traslacion” or the annual procession of the Black Nazarene.

The replica image of the Black Nazarene will be visiting the Diocese of Tarlac on Jan. 3.

An online survey is currently being conducted by the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene (Quiapo Church) in Manila on what will be the theme of Traslacion 2022.

Not even the COVID-19 pandemic prevented Calvin Abueva from participating in the annual procession of the Black Nazarene.

In preparation of the Feast of the Black Nazarene, the City of Manila will be closing several roads in Manila to ensure the smooth flow of traffic.