Replica procession

Meanwhile, thousands of devotees of the Black Nazareno from different parts of the country took part in the annual procession of replicas of the image through the streets of Quiapo yesterday afternoon as a prelude to the grand procession tomorrow.

The procession of the replicas “showcased not only centuriesold personal collections of sacred images that have been cared for and passed on from generations of devotees but also the Filipinos’ unwavering faith, trust and devotion to the Black Nazarene,” organizers said.

Badong said the procession of replicas is part of the objective of the Church to “strengthen and deepen their faith in the Black Nazarene.”

A day before the eve of the Feast of the Black Nazarene, the number of devotees who attended masses at Quiapo Church swelled to 42,000, according to the police.

Today, millions of devotees are expected to gather at the Quirino Grandstand where the Black Nazarene will be brought for an overnight vigil and a series of activities that starts at 5 p.m. before the early morning mass and grand procession that will bring the image back to Quiapo Church on its feast day tomorrow.

An estimated one to two million devotees are expected to join the annual procession called Traslacion, which will start at Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park and end at the Quiapo Church.

Last year, about 1.4 million attended the Traslacion, which lasted around 22 hours, one of longest in recent history.

The Traslacion showcases the transfer of the Black Nazarene image from the Recollect Church in Intramuros, Manila to the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in 1787.

It is the 11th time that the Black Nazarene procession will start outside the Quiapo Church.

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said security measures are in place for tomorrow’s procession.

NCRPO spokesperson Chief Insp. Kimberly Molitas said authorities have approved the use of signal jammers.

Molitas said though the use of signal jammers was approved, there was specific time and place of implementation.

“(At) specific points where the Nazarene is at a specific time,” she said.

Signal jammers had been used previously to prevent explosive devices triggered by mobile phones.

Molitas said the PNP will coordinate with the National Telecommunications Commission regarding the use of signal jammers.

Officials estimated that 18.9 million devotees would join the Black Nazarene activities from Dec. 31 until Jan. 9.

At least 5,613 uniformed police officers will be deployed for the procession, augmented by troops from the military under Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, commander of the AFP-Joint Task Force National Capital Region.