2-million barefoot devotees
Millions of Filipinos from all walks of life, most of them barefoot, endured more than 12 hours of relentless pushing and shoving to get a glimpse of and to touch the revered image of the Black Nazarene during the traditional traslacion to the Quiapo Church in Manila last Saturday.
The Manila Police District said that as early as 9 a.m., an estimated two million people were already lining the streets of Manila or toughing it out in the main procession from the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park to the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo.
he Manila Police District said that as early as 9 a.m., an estimated two million people were already lining the streets of Manila or toughing it out in the main procession from the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park to the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo.
Senior Supt. Lito Mirasol, MPD deputy chief for operations, said they received reports of many devotees collapsing starting from the 6. a.m. mass at the grandstand aside from the ensuing commotion as the procession made its way.
“We observed close to two million devotees and still increasing” as of 9 a.m., he said, adding that they expect the crowd to balloon further as the procession winds its way along narrow streets in the city.
