CDO ‘Traslacion’ draws 200,000
An estimated 200,000 devotees joined the annual ‘Traslacion’ of the Black Nazarene in Cagayan de Oro City Tuesday, January 9.
The throng of faithful who escorted the replica of the Black Nazarene from St. Augustine’s Cathedral to the Nazareno Church in Barangay Lapasan stretched for some two-kilometers from end to end.
Beginning at 5 dawn and ending about two hours later, the Catholic faithful marched from St. Augustine’s Cathedral passing through Fernandez
and Velez streets and CM Recto Avenue before finally ending at the Nazareno Church.
Devotees waved their handkerchiefs bearing Christ’s face and repeatedly shouted “Viva! Hesus Nazareno!” as they attempted to go near the replica have their towels touch the image of the Christ.
Rexis Napatal, a devotee for almost nine years and an Hijo of the Black Nazarene, said he always felt the joy and pride when carrying the icon.
“Dako nga kausaban gikan sa akong pagka deboto. Naka trabaho ko sa gawas nasod og 4 ko ka tuig. Diri nako naka negosyo og kananan diri sa Centrio Ayala og Shopwise. Pero niabot lang bsan wakoy knowledge sa negosyo. (There is a big difference since being a devotee of the Black Nazarene. I got hired in abroad then after my 4 years of contract I went back in Cagayan and started my food chain business in Centrio Ayala and Shopwise. It was really unexpected),”Napatal said. Chief Inspector Mardy Hortillosa II, spokesperson of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo), said the security contingent of more than 2,000 uniformed and non-uniformed personnel including the military and road traffic enforcers were constantly monitoring the Church grounds and the procession route.
Hortillosa also thanked the devotees for giving their full support in following the safety measures imposed by the authorities.
Though there were violations made by some devotees, Hortillosa said it was just too minimal and can still be controlled by the police personnel.
The first aid stations installed by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (CDRRMD) recorded seven people who passed out during the procession.
In Manila also yesterday, the procession of the Black Nazarene from the Quirino Grandstand to the Quiapo Church is moved both “smoothly and fast” compared to the previous year, a police official said.
“Ang paglabas po ng Nazareno dito sa Quirino Grandstand ay medyo may kabilisan at in order. From Quirino Grandstand to the first segment ng Roxas Boulevard, P. Burgos is maayos naman po naitawid ang Nazareno “Superintendent Emerey Abating, commander of the Manila Police District (MPD) Station 5 in Luneta, said.
“We’re happy na everything went smoothly and nagkaron ng minimal injuries pero natreat naman po lahat,” he added.
Abating said the smooth flow and the peacefulness of the event can be attributed to the preparations made particularly by the police and the church’s administration to ensure the success and security of the feast.
“Ang target talaga namin is from ‘pahalik’ hanggang sa paglabas ng Nazareno, ‘yun po ang gusto naming mangyari na ‘pag naayos namin yung paglabas ng Nazareno, it’s a good sign for us na magiging maayos yung prusisyon ng Nazareno,” he said.
The official said police forces were strategically deployed. Those assigned to man the vicinity of the Quirino Grandstand where the kissing of the patron occurred since yesterday and those assigned to secure the Mass held before the procession were being reassigned to other areas as the Traslacion progresses.
Abating said with the movement of the procession, they are expecting the image of the Black Nazarene to reach the Quiapo Church before midnight.
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said over 5,000 police officials were deployed to ensure the peace and order of the annual event that attracts millions of devotees.
As of 11 a.m., the front of the procession has reached the Jones Bridge in Manila, with more or less 274,000 people.
Meantime, the Philippine Red Cross said that as of 11:30 a.m., 621 patients have been attended to including 232 who experienced high blood pressure, 237 who suffered from minor injuries such as abrasions, lacerations, vomiting, body and abdominal pain, fever, dizziness, sprain and toothache while 22 others obtained major injuries such as bone fracture.
In 2017, the religious activity lasted a total of 22 hours and 19 minutes. With a report from Cyrill Garcia, USTP intern, and SunStar Philippines