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MANILA – With the Feast of the Black Nazarene drawing closer, Malacañang reminded the public that the 30 percent venue capacity in churches across the country still stands.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made this comment following calls to increase the seating capacity in Quiapo Church from 30 to 50 percent in time for the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Jan. 9.
“Hanggang 30 percent lang po ang ating pupuwedeng religious services so hindi po ‘yan nababago pa. Hanggang mabago po ‘yan, kinakailangan sundin natin ang 30 percent capacity (Churches are still allowed to open up only 30 percent of their capacity so that hasn’t changed yet. Until that has changed, we have to follow the 30 percent capacity rule),” Roque said in a virtual presser.
Currently, mass gatherings remain prohibited under quarantine restrictions due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
Last Dec. 18, Fr. Douglas Badong, parochial vicar of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, said the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene would be "localized”, which means church officials will bring the Black Nazarene to different places to discourage the public particularly the devotees from going to Manila to celebrate the feast.
“There is no procession, but the celebration will push through but there will be big and many changes in commemorating the feast of the Black Nazarene,” Badong said in a press conference.
The initial schedule of the Black Nazarene visits to different areas particularly in Manila and nearby cities started on Dec. 31, Hospicio de San Jose; San Lazaro hospital, Jan. 1, 2021; Manila Cathedral, Jan. 2; Greenbelt Chapel in Makati City, Jan. 3; Manila City Hall, Jan. 4; Bureau of Fire Prevention NHQ, Quezon City, Jan. 5; Manila Police District, Jan. 6 and Barangay 394, Jan. 7 and NCS-BEC’s Community, Sto. Domingo Shrine, Quezon City, Jan. 8.
It will also visit churches in Southern Luzon: Jan. 5, San Isidro Parish Las Piñas City and Sto. Niño Parish, Signal Village, Taguig City and Jan. 7, Baclaran Church.
Already visited were Antipolo Cathedral, Antipolo, Rizal (Dec. 30-31); Shrine of Padre Pio, Sto. Tomas, Batangas (Jan. 2); San Vicente Ferrer Parish, Biñan, Laguna (Jan. 3); and the San Roque Parish/Porta Vaga, Cavite City (Jan. 4).
Quarantine restrictions must be followed
Officials of the Quiapo Church and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have agreed to close the church and suspend the mass if the quarantine restrictions will not be followed during the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Jan. 9.
“So worst to worst scenario nag-commit naman yung mga rectors natin na kapag ayaw sumunod ay willing isara yung pintuan ng Quiapo, palabasin yung iba then i-hold muna yung mass (church rectors agreed that if the people will not follow, they will close the door of the Quiapo Church, ask others to go out and suspend the mass),” PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas said in a press conference at Camp Crame.
Sinas said laymen and PNP personnel will be deployed to control the churchgoers inside and outside the church.
“Meron mga nilagay na mga designated areas, saan ang labasan, saan ang pasukan at seating capacity sa loob yun lang pinapasok. So far sinusunod naman (There are designated areas, exit, entrance and seating capacity. So far these are being followed),” he added.
Directorate for Operations chief and Joint Task Force Covid-19 Shield commander Lt. Gen. Cesar Hawothorne Binag said there is localize celebration of mass in three other churches aside from Quiapo Church during the feast day to discourage the public, particularly the devotees from going to Quiapo.
Binag said the three churches are San Sebastian Basilica, Sta. Cruz Church and Nazarene Catholic School Gymnasium.
In January last year, the traditional 'Traslacion' was attended by some 4 million devotees. It was among the fastest in recent history as it lasted for only 16 hours.
Many Filipinos have a devotion to the Black Nazarene, an image of a dark-skinned Jesus Christ carrying a cross, while some have even claimed to have experienced healings and answered prayers.
Theologians said that the image, whose annual procession in January draws millions of people to the city of Manila, was sculpted from mesquite wood and not dark because it was burned. (With reports from Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)
