More than 360, 000 devotees had trooped to the Quirino Grandstand early Tuesday morning for the annual “Pahalik” of the Black Nazarene hours before the slated Traslacion 2018. The Manila Police District (MPD) said the crowd estimate at the Grandstand was 365,000 as of 3:30 a.m., while those at the Quiapo Church were more or less 20,000. Police and medical kiosks were set up around the route of the Traslacion to assist devotees. Erwin Margarejo said the traditional Pahalik was generally “peaceful,” and around 7,000 uniformed personnel were on the ground to secure the procession. The week-long feast that started last Dec. 31, 2017 and will culminate with the Traslacion, recalls the transfer on Jan. 9, 1787, of a copy of the image of the Black Nazarene from its original site at the San Nicolas Tolentino church in Intramuros to the Quiapo church.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer January 08, 2018 20:48 UTC