Manila police to deploy 7,000 personnel for Traslacion 2024

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 17) – The Manila Police District will deploy at least 7,000 personnel for the grand procession of the Black Nazarene on Jan. 9 as the traditional Traslacion resumes after three years.

“We expect the same fervor. Iyong pagpunta, baka mas madami pa ngayon kasi tatlong taon na-deprive iyong mga namamanata natin sa Traslacion at pista ng Quiapo,” Manila Police District chief PCol Thomas Arnold Ibay said on Saturday.

[Translation: More people might participate in the procession this year because the Traslacion and the Quiapo feast celebration were postponed for three years.]

The Traslacion had been postponed since 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Authorities, including officials of Quiapo Church, inspected the route and prayer stations of the grand procession.

“Itong paghahanda natin ay mahalaga para maging tapat tayo sa layunin natin na iyong ating Nazareno 2024 ay maging mapayapa, banal at ligtas,” said Fr. Jesus Madrid Jr., parochial vicar of Quiapo Church.

[Translation: Our preparation is important to fulfill our goal to have a peaceful, sacred, and safe Nazareno 2024.]

Devotees are also prohibited from climbing onto the andas, the carriage bearing the image of the Black Nazarene, but they may toss towels to be wiped on the image.

Held every Jan. 9, the Traslacion commemorates the transfer of the Black Nazarene from the San Nicolas de Tolentino Church in Intramuros to Quiapo Church in 1787.

The feast day of the Black Nazarene is celebrated on Good Friday while Quiapo Church, canonically named the Parish of St. John the Baptist, observes its anniversary every June 24, the feast of St. John the Baptist.

CNN Philippines’ Bey Pinlac and Celine Serquiña contributed to this story.