Longest procession in history peaceful
IT must have been the longest in history.
The procession of the Black Nazarene that started at 8 a.m. on Monday ended on Tuesday morning, or after 22 hours. The heaving sea of devotees continued to surround and follow the venerated black image of Jesus carrying the cross into the night and until the early morning light, ending at the Quiapo Church at 6 a.m.
Church officials admit that it was the longest procession in Philippine history. Last year, the procession ended at 10 p.m.
The procession took almost a day because a truck carrying the image broke down shortly after the parade started.
The incident prompted organizers to propose shortening the procession route but Black Nazarene devotees rejected plan and insisted to use the traditional route.
Many among the heaving, roaring crowd risked injury by clambering over others in a bid to make contact with the icon and win its healing favor, while most people traipsed through the dirty streets barefoot as a sign of devotion.
“For as long as I can walk or crawl, I will join the procession. That is my vow,” 47- year- old Ruby Pacardo said after rubbing her grandson’s shirt on the icon to help him overcome cataract problems and regain his full vision.
Millions of devotees turned out despite the warning of President Benigno Aquino 3rd on Sunday that authorities had uncovered a plot to attack the event.
The procession stretched into the night as the statue was transported across clogged Manila roads.
Warehouseman Maximo Graciano, 44, a Black Nazarene procession participant for the past 15 years, told Agence France-presse as he jostled among the crowd that the terrorism warning was not enough to keep him away.
“If we allow ourselves to be cowed by terrorism, it means we do not really believe in Him,” said Graciano, who insisted the icon had helped him regain the full use of his right arm after it was severely injured in a car accident.
At least 80 percent of the Philippines’ population of 94 million are Catholic, a legacy of the country’s Spanish colonial past, while about four percent are Muslim.
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Tuesday said that it had responded to a total of 1,010 Black Nazarene devotees during the 22-hour procession.
PRC Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang said that this year’s record of 1,010 cases was higher than the 708 cases last year.
“The minor [ injury] cases vary from wound injuries, exhaustion, fainting, dizziness, chest pain, seizure, dehydration to blood pressure taking,” Red Cross said.
The agency added that at least 22 devotees were rushed to Ospital ng Maynila, Philippine General Hospital and University of Santo Tomas for medical examinations.
Telcos commended
Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo and members of the Senate commended the police and other government agencies for securing the peace and maintaining order during the feast of the Black Nazarene.
Robredo made special mention of the cooperation extended by telecommunication companies, or telcos, that put the safety of hundreds of thousands of devotees of the ebony Christ over and above possibly millions in profit that they could have gained from the feast.
He cited the telcos for agreeing to temporarily cut their telephone services in select areas in Manila, a move that was seen to have helped thwart a possible terror attack during the procession.
Robredo said that the telecommunication companies— Globe, Smart and Sun Cellular— deserved to be commended because they decided to let go of the millions that they could have earned if only they ignored a request from President Benigno Aquino 3rd to disconnect their telephone lines in order to help ensure the safety of the pilgrims who joined the procession.
There was no estimate yet of the loss suffered by the telcos. Globe Telecom on Tuesday said that public service was more important.
“We don’t look at that aspect in this particular case. What’s important is public safety and protection of our subscribers,” Yolanda Crisanto, head of Globe’s Corporate Communications, said.
Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th also praised the service providers for their sacrifice, saying that it was not easy for private companies to let go of the feast of Black Nazarene from which they could have earned millions.
“They deserve recognition for their action,” Trillanes said in a text message.
But Sen. Vicente Sotto 3rd wanted more from the telcos, saying that the only time that they could be given commendation is when they start registering all pre-paid SIM cards being sold to the public.
Sotto added that the registration of these SIM cards was necessary to enable the government to have a record of all SIM cards in order to prevent terrorists from using them for violent activities.
The telecommunication companies agreed to cut off signals of mobile phones in some parts of Manila at the request of the Palace to preempt the use of such phones by the supposed terrorists for detonating bombs.
Malacañang’s request was necessary, Sen. Gregorio Honasan said also on Tuesday.
Honasan explained that it was the responsibility of the government to protect the public from any danger especially potential threat coming from terrorists and other lawless elements and authorities should always take threats seriously.
Director General Nicanor Bartolome of the Philippine National Police (PNP) also on Tuesday apologized for the temporary suspension of mobile-phone services.
He called the suspension a “calibrated response to imminent threats” and defended the government’s move to limit network signals in certain parts of Manila as intelligence reports said that a group trained in making bombs was hatching an attack during the procession.
The group, Bartolome said, was planning to use cell phones as triggering devices for their bombs.
“Ayaw po namin na may masaktan o mamatay na kababayan [We did not want any of our countrymen to be injured or die],” he explained the reason behind the suspension of the mobile-phone services.
The PNP chief made the apology after Rep. Neri Colmenares of Bayan Muna party-list and other private companies scored the telcos’ move.
The Manila Police District ( MPD) also on Tuesday said that the Black Nazarene procession was generally peaceful.
Chief Insp. Erwin Margarejo, the spokesman for the MPD, said that no serious injuries were recorded during the procession, which arrived at the Quiapo Church after almost 22 hours.
Faith vs. threat
Like Malacañang, Msgr. Clemente Ignacio of Quiapo Church said during a radio interview also on Tuesday that Roman Catholic officials had also received information on a possible terrorist attack during the procession.
“Before we met with the President [Benigno Aquino 3rd], our security group that had connection with [government] intelligence [had] received the terror threat information. . . and [the group] clearly identified the name of the bombers,” according to Ignacio.
Ignacio said that despite the threat, the Church officials decided to continue with the annual procession, saying that they had trust in the authorities.
He added that he was surprised and impressed by the passion and faith of the devotees of the Black Nazarene.