IN PHOTOS: First 12 hours of Traslacion 2019

MANILA, Philippines – As the Traslacion, the annual procession of the Black Nazarene, reached its 12th hour on Wednesday, January 9, the carriage bearing the venerated image and the mammoth crowd was still inching through the tiny streets of Quiapo district.

The image of the Black Nazarene started moving out of the Quirino Grandstand at 5:03 am on Wednesday, after a midnight Mass led by the Quiapo Church rector, Monsignor Hernando Coronel. The homily was delivered by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle.

Based on previous years, the procession is expected to last about 20 hours, culminating in the image entering Quiapo Church to the cheers of thousands of devotees. That would likely be past midnight Thursday, January 10.

Here are photos of the Traslacion so far:

BEGINNING. The Black Nazarene begins its traslacion at dawn from the Luneta Grandstand, January 9, 2019. Photo by Jire Carreon

I BELIEVE. A devotee reaches out to the hand of the image of the Black Nazarene. Photo by Jire Carreon

OVERFLOW. Thousands of devotees attend the midnight mass of the 2019 Black Nazarene Traslacion at the Quirino Grandstand. Photo by Ben Nabong

 

A BRIDGE TOO FAR. It took almost 7 hours for the andas of the Nazareno to reach Jones Bridge from the Quirino Grandstand. Photo by Angie de Silva/Rappler

BINONDO. The procession negotiates the streets of Binondo after passing through the Filipino-Chinese Friendship Arch Wednesday, January 9. Photo by Lito Borras/Rappler

BREAK. Devotees take a meal break at a spot just after Jones Bridge. Photo by Angie de Silva/Rappler

PULL. The devotees pull the rope attached to the carriage bearing the image of the Black Nazarene. Photo by Alecs Ongcal

– Rappler.com

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