Devotees are not allowed to climb into the Black Nazarene's andas or carriage during the annual procession, according to a Quiapo Church adviser on Wednesday, Jan. 3.
Interviewed during DZRH Damdaming Bayan, Feast of the Black Nazarene Adviser Alex Irasga noted that the new protocol aims to prevent accidents.
"Ang pinakikiusap ng ating simbahan ay wala nang sampahan sa andas. Ayun lamang ang pinakikiusap para maiwasan ang mga aksidente, nasusugatan, minsan may pumapanaw pa dahil sa hirap ng pag-akyat sa andas at nagkakaroon ng aksidente. Fiesta ay Enero 9, hindi dapat ito pagpipighati, dapat ito ay pagdiriwang," he underscored.
Alex Irasga, Adviser, Quiapo Church for the Feast of the Black Nazarene sa patakaran sa traslacion: Iyong mga kaganapan ng kapistahan bago ng pandemya, lahat ay mangyayari.#Nazareno2024#DamdamingBayan#SamaSamaTayoPilipino
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) January 3, 2024
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The Quiapo Church adviser said only the Black Nazarene would be up on the carriage.
"Maliwanag na maliwanag ang karosa kaya walang makakasampa sa pinakataas ng Senior," Irasga continued.
He said the Hijos, who were traditionally on the carriage and protecting the sacred image, would now be on the ground to ensure that no devotees would go up.
According to the adviser, the Quiapo church imposed the new protocol to also protect the centuries-old Image of the Black Nazarene.
"Yung kahoy nito, hindi na ito bago, lumang-luma na ito kaya medyo nabugbog na ang imahe kaya napagpasyahan ng simbahan na protektahan na yung imahe na wala nang tao ang nasa itaas, doon na lang sa baba," he remarked.
Irasga advised devotees to not attempt to come up in the carriage, noting that they can come close to the image during the Pahalik activity at the Quirino Grandstand or in Quiapo Church on normal days.
Based on Quiapo Church's Nazareno 2024 Schedule of Activities, the Pahalik will be from Jan. 6 until Jan. 8.
He, however, noted that devotees who are really eager to see to the Black Nazarene's image can touch the cross during the procession.
"Kung marubdob ang pangangailangan ng isang deboto at isang Hijos na makahawak doon sa Imahe, yung krus ang nasa likuran, pwede nilang mahawak iyon, mapahiran para sa kanilang pangangailangan," the Quiapo Church adviser said.
Irasga also encouraged devotees to just hold the rope tied to the andas or wipe the andas with their handkerchiefs.
