IN PICTURES: MOMENTS DURING THE FEAST OF THE BLACK NAZARENE

FEAST OF THE BLACK NAZARENE

JANUARY 09, 2012

MANILA PHILIPPINES

Barefoot Catholic devotees jostle to kiss the cross being borne by the wooden statue known as the Black Nazarene as they gather at the Rizal Park Monday, Jan. 9, 2012 during it's annual festival in Manila, Philippines. More than 3 million devotees paraded the charred Christ statue, believed to have healing powers, through the Philippine capital despite a warning from President Benigno Aquino III that terrorists might target the gathering. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

A steel railing is removed to pave the way for the procession of the image of the Black Nazarene to celebrate its annual festival at the Rizal Park Monday Jan.9, 2012 in Manila, Philippines. More than 3 million devotees paraded the charred Christ statue, believed to have healing powers, through the Philippine capital despite a warning from President Benigno Aquino III that terrorists might target the gathering. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

Fireworks light up the sky during a dawn mass at the Rizal Park Monday Jan. 9, 2012 to celebrate the feast of the Black Nazarene in Manila, Philippines. More than 3 million devotees paraded the charred Christ statue, believed to have healing powers, through the Philippine capital despite a warning from President Benigno Aquino III that terrorists might target the gathering. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

A devotee climbs and kisses the wooden cross of the Black Nazarene during a procession in Manila January 9, 2012. The Black Nazarene, a life-size wooden statue of Jesus Christ carved in Mexico and brought to the Philippines in the 17th century, is removed from the Quiapo church on January 9 each year. Believed to have healing powers in the predominantly Roman Catholic country, it is paraded through the narrow streets of Manila's old city from dawn to midnight. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco (PHILIPPINES - Tags: POLITICS RELIGION SOCIETY)

Monsignor Jose Clemente Ignacio gestures besides a statue of a Black Nazarene during a procession in Manila January 9, 2012. The Black Nazarene, a life-size wooden statue of Jesus Christ carved in Mexico and brought to the Philippines in the 17th century, is removed from the Quiapo church on January 9 each year. Believed to have healing powers in the predominantly Roman Catholic country, it is paraded through the narrow streets of Manila's old city from dawn to midnight. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco (PHILIPPINES - Tags: POLITICS RELIGION SOCIETY)

A Filipino devotee carries his daughter to be able to kiss the foot of a centuries-old wood image of Jesus Christ known as the Black Nazarene at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila, Philippines on Sunday Jan. 8, 2010. Philippine President Benigno Aquino III warned of a possible terrorist attack, including bombings, during an annual Roman Catholic procession tomorrow Jan. 9 to mark the feast day of the Black Nazarene in Manila that is expected to draw millions of devotees. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Catholic devotees take part in the annual religious procession of the statue of the Black Nazarene in Manila January 9, 2012. President Benigno Aquino warned on Sunday that officials were bracing for a possible Islamist militant attack in the capital on the eve of a religious procession to be joined by millions of barefoot devotees. The Black Nazarene, a life-size wooden statue of Jesus Christ carved in Mexico and brought to the Philippines in the 17th century, is removed from the Quiapo church on January 9 each year. Believed to have healing powers in the predominantly Roman Catholic country, it is paraded through the narrow streets of Manila's old city from dawn to midnight. REUTERS/Erik De Castro (PHILIPPINES - Tags: RELIGION SOCIETY ANNIVERSARY)

Catholic devotees wave white handkerchiefs as they chant "Viva Nazareno" during the annual religious procession of the statue of the Black Nazarene in Manila January 9, 2012. President Benigno Aquino warned on Sunday that officials were bracing for a possible Islamist militant attack in the capital on the eve of a religious procession to be joined by millions of barefoot devotees. The Black Nazarene, a life-size wooden statue of Jesus Christ carved in Mexico and brought to the Philippines in the 17th century, is removed from the Quiapo church on January 9 each year. Believed to have healing powers in the predominantly Roman Catholic country, it is paraded through the narrow streets of Manila's old city from dawn to midnight. REUTERS/Erik De Castro (PHILIPPINES - Tags: RELIGION SOCIETY ANNIVERSARY)

Catholic devotees jostle to hold a rope for pulling a carriage that transports the statue of the Black Nazarene during the annual religious procession in Manila January 9, 2012. President Benigno Aquino warned on Sunday that officials were bracing for a possible Islamist militant attack in the capital on the eve of a religious procession to be joined by millions of barefoot devotees. The Black Nazarene, a life-size wooden statue of Jesus Christ carved in Mexico and brought to the Philippines in the 17th century, is removed from the Quiapo church on January 9 each year. Believed to have healing powers in the predominantly Roman Catholic country, it is paraded through the narrow streets of Manila's old city from dawn to midnight. REUTERS/Erik De Castro (PHILIPPINES - Tags: RELIGION SOCIETY ANNIVERSARY)

Rain pours as Filipino devotees carry a replica of a centuries-old black statue of Jesus Christ, known as the Black Nazarene, during the blessing and procession of the replicas in Manila, Philippines, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012. Tens of thousands of devotees are expected to join a procession on the feast day of the Black Nazarene on Monday, Jan. 9 to seek redemption from sins, miracle cures for illnesses and a better life. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Women devotees walks barefooted while carrying a replica of the Black Nazarene during a procession in Manila January 7, 2012. Millions of Filipinos devotees will take to the streets on Monday to participate in the grand procession as part of celebrations of the black wooden statue of Jesus of Nazarene. It is believed by locals that a miracle can happen after touching it. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco (PHILIPPINES - Tags: SOCIETY RELIGION TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

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8.5M FLOODED THE STREETS OF MANILA DURING THE FEAST OF BLACK NAZARENE

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BLACK NAZARENE TRAVELS 22 HOURS ALONG THE STREETS OF MANILA

Nazarene procession ends after 22 hours

abs-cbnNEWS.com

Posted at 01/10/2012 7:12 AM | Updated as of 01/10/2012 10:40 AM

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) - After more than 22 hours, the procession of the image of the Black Nazarene has ended.

The image of the Nazarene reached the doors of the Quiapo Minor Basilica past 6 a.m., ending what could be considered as the longest procession in the annual religious celebration's history.

At least 2 million devotees from across the country took part in the traditional grand annual procession of the Black Nazarene. The Manila Police District estimated that a total of about 8.5 million participated during the event.

Waving their white towels, devotees welcomed the dark-skinned Christ as it was returned to its altar. A Eucharistic celebration followed.

Some of the devotees also scrambled to get a fragment of the rope used in pulling the carriage of the image.

Meanwhile, the swarm of people at Plaza Miranda is gone. Street cleaners from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the city government have started sweeping the trash left by the devotees along the route of the procession.

Tension ensued during the Black Nazarene procession in Manila after devotees refused authorities' efforts to shorten its route.

Manila police and some of the millions of devotees engaged in a shoving match at around 9 p.m. after authorities tried to implement the decision of Monsignor Clemente Ignacio, rector of Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, to no longer follow the original route and instead bring the religious icon directly to the Quiapo church.

Devotees of the Black Nazarene became angry when police tried to direct the carriage carrying the image left toward Villalobos Street in Manila.

People even made a human barricade to force the procession to follow its original route.

The procession was earlier stalled after the rear tires of the carriage of the image of the Black Nazarene broke down. The carriage’s third tire broke down at the corner of Katigbak Drive and Roxas Boulevard, radio dzMM’s Noel Alamar reported.

One of the ropes connected to the carriage also broke, causing a delay in the procession in the area of Roxas Boulevard and Padre Burgos Street near Manila Hotel on Monday.

Nevertheless, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Allan Purisima heaved a sigh of relief after the procession ended relatively peaceful, amid earlier threats of a terror attack aimed at the devotees of the procession.

“Naging matagumpay naman ang ating security operations sa kapistahan ng Quiapo,” Purisima said. “In general peaceful po ang situation…tuloy-tuloy pa rin po ang deployment ng mga police natin at hindi po inaalis yung mga nandito sa Quiapo Church.”

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, meanwhile, confirmed a report that a house in Baseco compound was raided after one of the suspected terrorists was spotted in the area.

However, police arrested several individuals but they were released after the search yielded no evidence of any explosive materials.

“Nadala naman yung tao, nai-mbestigahaan sa headquarters. Wala namang nakuhang ebidensya, kaya ni-release din,” Lim said.

The event highlights the 405th celebration of the feast of the traslacion, which commemorates the transfer of the sacred image from the Recollect Church in Intramuros, Manila to the Quiapo Church in 1787.

At least 1,000 devotees were injured during the 22-hour procession. - with reports from Henry Atuelan and Noel Alamar, dzMM; ANC

Other Headlines

• A day of deadspots: Was Nazarene terror threat real?
• Nazarene procession ends after 22 hours
• Nazarene finally arrives in Quiapo church
• Procession of Quiapo's Black Nazarene ends
• Almost 1,000 hurt in Black Nazarene procession
• Scores hurt in Black Nazarene procession stampede
• Terror threat casts pall over Nazarene feast

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