No ‘Black Nazarene’ procession next year, says Manila Government

MANILA – The Nation’s Capital Manila on Friday announced that it will be cancelling the annual procession or the Traslacion in January 2021 due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

According to Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, the agreement was reached by the local government and the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, known as Quiapo Church.

Domagoso said that it will not hold parades and procession as it is hard to control poeple, making them at risk.

Quiapo Church rector, Monsignor Hernando Coronel said that the church is saddened by the suspension of the annual parade but stressed that the church and the public should adhere to the health protocol being implemented by the government.

The church will try to come up with ways to still celebrate the occasion through mass to honor the Black Nazarene.

Millions of devotees, walking barefoot, and fight it way to draw near to the carriage bearing the image of Black Nazarene.

The procession, a tradition passed down from the Spanish colony goes back two centuries. The Black Nazarene is believed to have miraculous healing powers.

Manila, the country’s Covid-19, is still under the General Community Quarantine until the end of October. Mass gatherings will be banned while strict protocol shall be observed. Covid-19 has currently infected 363,888 people3 in the country with 6,783 fatality.