DESPITE the improving health situation in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will still be no grand celebration during the Feast of the Black Nazarene in January 2022.
This was confirmed by the Manila Police District (MPD) and Quiapo church administrators amid preparations for the grand occasion.
According to Lt. Col. John Guiagui, MPD Station 3 chief, the protocol to be implemented during next year’s feast will still be the same one used last January 2021.
He said that in order to avoid confusion among the media and the general public, it would be best to use Feast of the Black Nazarene and not Traslacion because there will still be no grand procession but only Masses will be celebrated at the Quiapo church.
Father Douglas Badong of the Quaipo Church also confirmed that there will be no grand procession of the image of the Black Nazarene.
However, it is expected that a big throng of Black Nazarene devotees will flock to the church in Quiapo and will take part in the occasion, especially if Metro Manila will be downgraded to Alert Level 1.
This means part of the efforts to be focused on by organizers will be crowd control.
There will also be designated entry points such as those in Villalobos, Carriedo, Quezon Boulevard and P. Casal.
On the other hand, there will be no activities at the Quirino Grandstand. Instead, a viewing of the Black Nazarene will be held at a portion of the Sta. Cruz Church.
This morning, a “walk through” was held by the MPD and officials and representatives of Quiapo Church from Quiapo, Sta. Cruz church, parts of Hidalgo and Quezon Boulevard.