MANILA – Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, some 400,000 devotees of the Black Nazarene flocked to Quiapo Church to hear Mass between Friday and Saturday last week, according to authorities.
Lieutenant colonel Jenny Tecson of the Metro Manila police admitted that while some devotees forgot about COVID-19 safety protocols, majority of them had observed physical distancing during the feast.
“Generally, as a whole, masasabi naman po nating nasunod naman po ang minimum health standard protocols,” Tecson said in an interview with ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo on Sunday.
“But may areas po na minimal po na medyo nakalimot, but somehow na-remind naman po sila. Generally po, naging peaceful ang ating selebrasyon,” she added. “Sa side po ng PNP at saka organizers, talaga naman pong nagtulong-tulong sila d’yan.”
The Department of Health (DOH), meanwhile, several times called the attention of Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno for the alleged crowding around Quiapo Church during the annual Catholic tradition.
Health undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said they cannot still determine whether the feast can be considered as “super spreader” event of COVID-19 as they have to wait for the cases in the coming days.
“With circulating photos and reports of crowding in different areas around Quiapo, Secretary Francisco Duque III and the DOH reiterate the call for devotees to opt for the virtual masses and refrain from physically visiting Quiapo,” Vergeire said.
The feast of the Black Nazarene is traditionally participated by thousands of devotees who attend the Pahalik (kissing of the image) and the Mass at Quirino Grandstand in Luneta before a huge procession called Traslacion.
However, this year’s edition of the Traslacion was canceled by the local government due to the COVID-19 pandemic./PN
