Organizers divert Black Nazarene procession route

Long lines of devotees patient wait for several hours for the “Pahalik” of the Black Nazarene, held Thursday (Jan. 8) at the Quirino Grandstand, Manila. (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)

MANILA — Due to the possible structural defects of a building that gutted fire on Wednesday, Church and local government officials have decided to divert the route of the annual translacion of the Black Nazarene in Manila.

Msgr. Jose Clemente Ignacio, Quiapo Church rector, said instead of Escolta St, the procession will traverse Dasmarinas St, which is a block away from the historical road.

He said from Jones Bridge, the procession will turn right to Dasmarinas St.,” he said in an interview with reporters.

The Catholic priest explained that the Manila City government has decided to redirect the route since the structure of the old Philippine National Bank (PNB) Building has been described as very weak.

“The building is already condemned and gutted fire so it is very weak. According to the City Administrator of Manila, it is dangerous as debris might fall,” he added.

With this, Ignacio appealed to business establishments to make sure that their shops particularly those with glass doors and windows to secure them.

Ignacio also asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to ensure that all possible places of accidents such as open manholes, exposed steel, uneven asphalts, among others, are secured.

He noted that from Dasmarinas St., the procession will turn right to Ronquillo St.; left to Carlos Palanca St., turn left to Villalobos St.; right to Quezon Blvd.; right to Arlegui St.; right to Fraternal St.; right to Vergara St.; left to Duque de Alba St.; left to Castillejos St.; left to Farnecio St.; right to Arlegui St.; left to Nepomuceno St.; left to Aguila St.; right to Carcer St.; right to Hidalgo thru Plaza del Carmen; left to Bilibid Viejo thru G. Puyat; left to Guzman St.; right to Hidalgo St.; left to Barbosa St.; right to Globo de Oro thru under Quezon Bridge; right to Palanca St.; right to Villalobos thru Plaza Miranda; and ingress at Quiapo Church.

Hundreds of thousands of devotees are expected to attend the procession, which is being held annually to mark the feast of the Black Nazarene.

The “Traslación,” is the ceremonial transfer of the centuries-old image of the Black Nazarene, from Quirino Grandstand in Luneta, to the St. John the Baptist Parish Church (Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene) in Plaza Miranda.