Early start for Traslacion 2020

Catholic devotees chant "Viva! Viva!" as the Traslacion of the Black Nazarene begins a few minutes after 4 a.m. at the Quirino Grandstand on Thursday. Millions of devotees are expected to join the annual procession of the Black Nazarene to Quiapo Church.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Black Nazarene returns after 22 hours

Devotees flock toward the image of the Black Nazarene as it reaches outside the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene during the annual Traslacion in Manila on Tuesday. The carriage arrived at the Quiapo Church around 3:30 a.m., 22 hours after it started from the Quirino Grandstand on January 9.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Filipino Muslims celebrate Eid'l Adha

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino Muslims all over the country celebrated Eid'l Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) Friday.

The Eid'l Adha is a major celebration for Muslims worldwide to commemorate prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his young firstborn son Ishmael. It also marks the end of the Hajj, or the pilgrimage to Mecca.

In Manila, thousands of Muslims trooped to the open field at the Quirino Grandstand to pray. Manila's Quiapo district is home to one of the capital's largest Muslim communities.

Some 1,500 Muslims also gathered at the Quezon City Memorial Circle to pray.

Over a thousand Muslims also held prayers in Marikina. Some of the gathering sites were the Marikina Sports Complex and a mosque in Barangay Tumana.

The Muslims started their prayer at around 7 a.m. In Marikina, Imam Amir Makaurug led the Muslim community.

The community also feasted on goats as a practice of the Qurban, or the sacrifice of a livestock animal during the Eid'l Adha.

In Taguig's Maharlika Village, some 3,000 Muslims gathered the Blue Mosque.

President Benigno Aquino III, though still in Australia, greeted the Muslim community in the Philippines for today's important occasion.

"The Eid'l Adha or the Festival of Sacrifice retells and commemorates the beautiful story of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his beloved son to demonstrate his trust and devotion to Allah. His readiness to carry out God’s command despite the specter of personal loss and his fortitude against temptation make him an exemplar of obedience for us all. May his example inspire us to be righteous and courageous in our undertakings, that we may follow God's will for the betterment of ourselves and our world," Aquino said.

"I join our Muslim brothers and sisters in observing this important celebration. Let this be an affirmation of our solidarity in pursuing the causes of peace and development for the greater good. May your reflections lead you to an even deeper engagement in our efforts towards creating a united and equitably progressive Philippines," he added. - with reports from dzMM

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Freed hostages in Manila undergoing stress debriefing

The nine mostly foreign hostages released in Monday’s hostage-taking incident in Manila are undergoing stress debriefing, a Malacañang official said.

The debriefing is being spearheaded by the departments of Tourism and Social Welfare and Development, said Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning head Ricky Carandang in a text message.

Carandang said the freed hostages have been brought back to their hotel and are being provided free food and accommodation.

“[The Philippine government is] doing everything [it] can to help [the freed hostages] cope with the stressful situation and make the remainder of their stay as comfortable as possible," Carandang said.

The hostage-taker, dismissed police Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza, armed with an automatic rifle, held over 20 passengers of a tourist bus hostage near the Quirino Grandstand Monday morning. He is reportedly demanding his reinstatement to the police force.

Negotiations are ongoing for the 17 remaining hostages as of posting time. – Jam L. Sisante/KBK, GMANews.TV