Old Black Nazarene procession route to be used ~ My Opinion

January 9, 2010, devotees of the Black Nazarene (Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno) will flock again for the annual feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo and join the famous procession that will begin on Quirino Grandstand Luneta and end at the Quiapo Church at the Plaza Miranda in the heart of Manila. Starting on Friday (January 8) the Black Nazarene will be at the Quirino Grandstand where devotees can pay their homage, prayer and touch and kiss the image by falling in line. The prayer vigil begins at 9 PM and there will be a mass at 6 AM Saturday where Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales will lead the Eucharistic Celebration at the Quirino Grandstand and after that procession follows.

Here is the route of the Black Nazarene procession different from the last year’s route:

Route-From Quirino Grandstand going to Katigbak Drive thru P. Burgos, straight to McArthur Bridge, right Palanca, left Estero Cegado, right Carriedo, left Evangelista, right Raon, right Quezon Blvd., thru under Quezon Bridge, left Palanca, left Globo de Oro, left Gunao, right Arlegui, left Nepomuceno, left Aguila, right Carcer, right Hidalgo thru Plaza del Carmen, left B. Viejo thru G. Puyat, left Guzman, right Hidalgo, left Barbosa, right Globo de Oro St., thru under Quezon Bridge, right Palanca, right Villalobos thru Plaza Miranda going to Quiapo Church.

Here are the affected roads as posted from the Manila Police District Traffic Advisory website (http://www.manila.gov.ph/metronews.htm#trafficadvisory):

1. Stretch of Roxas Blvd./Bonifacio Drive from Anda Circle to TM Kalaw north and southbound lane.
2. Southbound of Quezon Blvd. from Recto to Palanca (subway-Isetan Recto)
3. Stretch of Lerma from P. Campa to Quezon Blvd.
4. Taft Ave./Finance (westbound lane)
5. Lagusnilad/P. Burgos (Westbound lane)
6. P. Burgos/Taft Avenue ( Freedom Triangle-Northbound Lane)
7. Villegas/N.A Lopez
8. 25th Street/Bonifacio Drive (southbound)

Philippine National Police (PNP) will deploy 1,200 police on areas that the Black Nazarene will pass along with the medical team, firemen and swat team.

This year it will be the 403rd year of celebration of the Black Nazarene, and the volume of devotees increases every year and joins the famous processions, even foreigner visits the Philippines to witness this annual event. The Black Nazarene is a life-sized, dark-colored, wooden sculpture of Jesus Christ carrying a cross. Roman Catholic tradition believes that the Black Nazarene came from a boat that caught fire which caused the turning of its complexion to black or burnt color. The image of Black Nazarene is now enshrined at the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila and its feast day is on January 9. The Black Nazarene is carried by a Caroza or carriage during its annual procession and it was believed that anyone who holds the rope or the image itself will have his or her prayers answered.

* Image courtesy of Bernardo Arellano III of www.HabagatCentral.com.