Devotee suffers heart attack, trapped in Nazarene crush

MANILA - A member of the Hijos del Nazareno died of a heart attack while protecting the image of the Black Nazarene in Rizal Park Friday morning.

Renato Burion, 44, of Sampaloc, Manila, was one of several frontliners who protect the Black Nazarene image.

"The devotee had a heart attack and was rushed to the Manila Doctors Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival," Johnny Yu of the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Office said.

Barangay kagawad Adam Sanding said Burion was trapped on top of the carriage as devotees scrambled on top of him in order to touch the image.

"Naipit yung katawan niya sa taas dahil sa pagsampa sa ibabaw, sa pagpunas sa mahal na Señor, malas isa na rin nag trigger sa kanya. Nahirapan siyang huminga," he said.

"Siksikan talaga, gusto makahalik, makapunas sa krus ng Señor," he added, referring to the image of the Black Nazarene.

He said it took 15 minutes for the official escorts of the image to remove Burion from the top of the carriage.

"Nandoon pa rin siya sa ibabaw ng andas, dun siya nakalupaypay. Nung inaangat na namin, sa sobrang daming sumasampa, nahirapan din kami sa pag-angat. Naipit pa rin," he added.

Sanding said Burion had only been serving as member of the Hijos del Nazareno for five years.

He said official escorts of the image are willing to lay down their lives to protect the Black Nazarene.

"Ang trabaho nga ng alagad o official escort ay protektahan number one ang Señor. Pangalawa na lang siguro ang buhay namin," he said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Some devotees try to divert Nazarene procession to old route

Some devotees are trying to divert the direction of the procession of the Black Nazarene back to its old route.

Radio dzMM's Noel Alamar said the devotees were divided as the procession approached the detour leading to Jones Bridge and MacArthur Bridge.

Alamar said some devotees removed a number of 40-footer container vans supposed to block the way to MacArthur Bridge, which was already filled with devotees waiting for the image.

The new route, however, was eventually followed.

Radio dzMM reporter Ruby Tayag, however, said the carriage or "andas" was already at the foot of Jones Bridge, as of posting.

The container vans toppled by the devotees were also brought back to their original position.

Supt. Raymund Liguden, Manila Police District Station 11's officer-in-charge, said some 110 policemen from the Northern Police District were deployed to Escolta area where the procession was supposed to pass through.

"Nagpadala tayo doon ng 110 police augmentation from Northern Police District para walang magda-divert sa ulo ng procession…Tinitiyak natin na malinis ang Escolta, at walang paparadang sasakyan. Ang mga business establishments, parang sarado po sila," Liguden said.

From Quirino Grandstand, the statue of the Black Nazarene passed through Katigbak Drive, Padre Burgos, straight through Taft Avenue.

From Jones Bridge, the procession should turn right to Escolta, left to Quezon Boulevard, Arlegui, Fraternal, right to Vergara Street, and Duque de Alba Street.

From there, it should pass through Castillejos, Farnecio, Arlegui, Nepomuceno, Aguila, Carcer, then straight to Hidalgo towards Plaza del Carmen, Bilibid Viejo, Puyat, Guzman, Hidalgo, Barbosa, Globo de Oro, Palanca, Lanace, Villalobos, and then back to Plaza Miranda.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) earlier approved the usage of the bridge in the annual procession but took back permission due to concerns over the bridge's stability.

DPWH Undersecretary Romeo Momo warned that the bridge may not be strong enough to carry the huge crowd that will pass through it.

"Iyung four lanes, kung mao-okupa ng tao lahat iyan, iyan ay nasa 7 to 8 thousand kilograms. That is from one abutment to the other abutment, and from one bank to the other bank. Assuming nasa 50 kilos per person, eh di nasa 40,000 kilos o 40 tons, which is way beyond our design load capacity of 20 tons," Momo told dzMM in an earlier interview.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Angeline Quinto to brave Black Nazarene feast

In an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN News' Marie Lozano, the 24-year-old singer recalled turning to the Black Nazarene when her mother was gravely ill.

"Nag 50-50 siya. Hindi ko alam kung mabubuhay pa talaga siya. Kaya everyday akong pumupunta sa kanya [Black Nazarene] noon. 'Yun lang yung dinasal ko tapos biglang naging okay si mama," she shared.

Narrating a time she took part in the Black Nazarene feast in Quiapo, Manila, Quinto said, "Nagulat na lang ako nakasampa talaga ako [sa float]. Tapos noong una, kinakabahan ako dahil nakita kong parating na lahat nung tao na kasama nung Nazareno. Pero sabi ko, hindi. Nandito na ako. Gusto ko naman talaga ito gawin."

"Nahalikan ko po 'yung kamay niya," she said.

Asked to recall how she felt when she touched the Black Nazarene, Quinto was at a loss for words.

"Sobrang nakakaiyak lalo na pag nandoon ka sa taas tapos nakikita mo 'yung mga tao na nagkakandarapa makaakyat tapos ikaw 'yung nandoon. Parang hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman ko kung hindi thank you lang," she said.

Since then, Quinto said she has had a lot to be thankful for to the Black Nazarene, especially when it comes to her career.

"Sa totoo lang, ang hiniling ko lang noon ay magkaroon ng isang trabaho na regular sa pamamagitan ng pagkanta ko. Hindi ko po hiniling na kung baga na makanalo sa mga contests," she said.

Quinto was referring to her win in ABS-CBN's "Star Power" in 2011, which paved the way for her to become one of the most decorated and best-selling female artists in the country.

"Kaya talagang naniniwala ako na kahit anong hilingin mo sa kanya, hindi man ngayong dumating, basta marunong ka lang mahintay, darating at darating," she said.

This year, to express her gratitude for the Black Nazarene, Quinto said that she will once again brave the millions-strong crowd to touch the image.

"This year, pag ma-contact ko ulit 'yung grupo na tumulong sa akin, sasampa ulit ako," she said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

NCRPO ready for Black Nazarene procession

MANILA -- National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Carmelo Valmoria on Wednesday declared all systems go for the Feast of the Black Nazarene tomorrow where millions of devotees are expected to join.

According to Valmoria, they have already completed their security preparations for tomorrow's procession of the image of the Black Nazarene.

Valmoria declined to announce the number of police officers deployed for tomorrow's event, but assured the public that they have enough to ensure peace and order.

He also said that there is no need to jam cellphone signals like last year since there are no security threats to the procession.

Some 12 million devotees are expected to join the procession of the image of the Black Nazarene towards the Basilica Minore in Quiapo tomorrow.

The procession will begin right after the mass presided by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle at 6 a.m.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Police inspect Black Nazarene procession route

MANILA -- Security checks are now being done by authorities in Manila for the procession of the Black Nazarene on Thursday, January 9.

Officials from the Manila Police District (MPD), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Office on Tuesday convoyed towards the route in preparation for the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

A total of 6,000 security personnel with 15 ground commanders from the Philippine National Police (PNP) will be deployed in the procession route.

MPD director Chief Superintendent Isagani Genabe Jr. and DPWH's Engr. Eduardo Santos walked through the route and reminded the public that parking will not be allowed on the streets beginning early morning of January 9.

The DPWH ordered the raising and bundling of electrical and cable wires which can obstruct the passage of the Black Nazarene image.

Police also reminded the public that standing near and at the edge of Jones Bridge is strictly prohibited. Policemen will be deployed on the bridge itself.

Police will also block the original route via MacArthur Bridge with container vans and firetrucks to prevent devotees from passing through.

The Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Office, meantime, said medical and rescue teams will be present every 5 meters.

Task group Nazareno again advised pregnant women, persons with disabilities and children not to join the procession.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Crowds of Filipinos pray to statue for health, blessings

MANILA - Hundreds of thousands of barefoot Filipinos crowded around a black statue of Jesus Christ believed to bring miracles to the faithful, seeking the answer to prayers in a day-long procession through old Manila on Wednesday.



Roman Catholic devotees flocked around the carriage with the wooden, life-sized statue known as the "Black Nazarene" as it crawled through the city, praying that a slight touch would bless them, healing their illnesses and those of their relatives.

Others participated to give thanks for answered prayers, such as a new job, a baby and even winning lotteries.

"Everything we prayed for, He granted," said Girlie Tan, a mother of four, as she squeezed through crowds to get closer to the statue. "My children -- they used to study in a public school, now they're all in private schools."

Onlookers threw white towels and handkerchiefs to those on the carriage for them to wipe on the statue, which depicts Jesus kneeling with a heavy cross, in the hope of carrying away some of its healing powers.

The procession has been celebrated in the capital of the Philippines, nearly 90 percent of whose population is Roman Catholic, for more than 200 years. The Black Nazarene is also paraded through the city streets on Good Friday.

It is not known why the statue, which was carved in Mexico, turned black. There are myths that the original statue donated by Spanish priests was burned as a fire erupted on the ship that carried it to the Philippines in the early 17th century.

Police estimated that around 500,000 people gathered for an early morning Mass, and about half of them walked behind the statue at the start of the parade. Crowds were expected to swell to an estimated 10 million as devotees from all over the country flock to the annual festival.

Cornelio Cajampit has joined the procession every year for the last 15 years, ever since surviving colon cancer.

"Even if its' s a struggle, I pray that my life be prolonged," he said, adding that his health had improved since he began praying to the statue. "As long as I'm still capable, I will come to this feast."

 source: abs-cbnnews.com