22,000 Black Nazarene devotees join pahalik

Over 22,000 devotees joined the pahalik or kissing of the Black Nazarene's image at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila yesterday.

- By EVELYN MACAIRAN

As of 8 a.m. yesterday, 22,327 people had lined up for the pahalik, according to the Nazareno Operations Center of the Quiapo Church.

Up to 9,404 attendees were recorded from Monday to Tuesday.

The crowd for today's Feast of the Black Nazarene is expected to exceed the 6,113,598 devotees who joined the traslacion last year.

While politicians are not prohibited from attending masses, Quiapo Church rector Fr. Rufino Sescon Jr. said they should not take attention away from the occasion.

Tutok to Win party-list Rep. Sam Verzosa, who is running for Manila mayor in the midterm elections, had participated in the pahalik.

Verzosa has been posting traslacion-related content on Facebook, saying he has been a devotee for 16 years.

Candidates in the midterm polls in May were urged not to take advantage of the religious event.

Devotees who will join the procession from the Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church should follow protocols, Sescon said.

Hand washing, sanitizing and wearing face masks should be observed during the traslacion to "safeguard public health amid large gatherings," the Manila city government said on Tuesday.