INITIAL RITES Black Nazarene devotees have started flocking to Quiapo Church in Manila to have their icons鈥攁nd themselves鈥攂lessed ahead of the annual mammoth procession known as 鈥渢raslacion鈥� on Jan. 9, where about 14,000 police officers are being mobilized for security. Photo taken on Friday. 鈥擬ARIANNE BERMUDEZ
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared Jan. 9, Thursday, as a special nonworking day in Manila for the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene.
READ: Nazareno feast: January 9 is special non-working day in Manila
This was according to Proclamation No. 766 signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Friday on Mr. Marcos鈥� behalf.
In the proclamation, the President noted that millions of devotees are expected to flock to the Quiapo Church and Manila to venerate the wooden image of the Black Nazarene, which is believed to have miraculous powers.
He also cited the need to ensure the 鈥渙rderly procession of devotees and to facilitate the flow of traffic鈥� for the yearly 鈥淭raslacion,鈥� or the grand procession of the centuries-old statue of the black Jesus Christ in Quiapo, Manila.
In 2024, the Traslacion drew a maximum of 2.8 million Nazareno devotees along the path of the procession and in Quiapo Church.