2010 Black Nazarene Feast: Procession Route and Traffic Scheme

Tomorrow Saturday January 9, 2010 is the 403rd Black Nazarene feast, and Filipino Catholics are known to join the celebration by going to Quiapo Church, Manila.

Every year, millions of Black Nazarene devotees usually barefooted and maroon-clad gather together and shouting Viva Señor! (Long live the King!), while waving white towels high in the air. They also believe that touching the image or pulling its carriage will bring miracles to them.

This year, Metro Manila police and the city government of Manila joined forces to make the procession smooth and peaceful.

Below is the Black Nazarene feast procession route and traffic scheme released by the Manila District Traffic Enforcement Unit of the Manila Police District (MPD), which was published at Manila Bulletin.

Procession Route

From Quirino Grandstand going to Katigbak Drive thru P. Burgos
straight to McArthur Bridge
turn right at Palanca
turn left at Estero Cegado
turn right at Carriedo
turn left at Evangelista
turn right at Raon
turn right at Quezon Blvd. thru under Quezon Bridge
turn left at Palanca
turn left at Globo de Oro
turn left at Gunao
turn right at Arlegui
turn left at Nepomuceno
turn left at Aguila
turn right at Carcer
turn right at Hidalgo thru Plaza del Carmen
turn left at B. Viejo thru G. Puyat
turn left at Guzman
turn right at Hidalgo
turn left at Barbosa
turn right at Globo de Oro St. thru under Quezon Bridge
turn right at Palanca
turn right at Villalobos thru Plaza Miranda going to Quiapo Church.

Traffic Scheme

The southbound of Quezon Blvd. from Andalucia, Fugoso to Plaza Miranda and the stretch of Lerma from P. Campa to Quezon Blvd. will be closed to traffic to all types of vehicles from 5 a.m. onwards.

The rerouting plan directs all vehicles from Quezon City using España to turn right to P. Campa, left to Andalucia, right to Fugoso, and then left to Mapua.

All public utility jeepneys and light vehicles coming from España bound for the Port Area will be advised to turn left at Nicanor Reyes, right to Rector, straight to JAS, left to Reina Regente, take Jones Bridge, and right to Magallanes Drive.

Vehicles from northern Manila intending to use the southbound stretch of Bonifacio Drive must turn right to Roberto Oca St., left to Delgado, left to Bonifacio Drive or turn right to A. Soriano, to Magallanes Drive, right to P. Burgos, straight to Lagusnilad and to Taft Ave.

All vehicles coming from southern Manila intending to use the northbound stretch of Roxas Blvd. from P. Ocampo to P. Burgos are to turn right at T.M. Kalaw and left to Taft Ave.

Those using northbound stretch of Taft Ave. are to turn right at A. Villegas and right to Quezon Bridge.

Motorists intending to proceed to northern and southern Manila are advised to use the stretch of Lacson to Nagtahan and vice-versa or utilize the stretch of Road 10 to Roxas Blvd.

Buses coming from southern Manila using Taft Avenue will be denied entry from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and they may only go as far as President Quirino and Remedios Street.

You can also view the The Black Nazarene Procession Route 2010 prepared by Habagat Central

Peace and order

Advanced monitoring technologies like Global Positioning System (GPS) and closed-circuit television (CCTV) which was used last year will again be in place.

Manila Police District head Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay said 1,500 uniformed police personnel, including reinforcements from other Metro Manila police units, are in place at the Quiapo and Quirino Grandstand areas.

Medical teams from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Manila City Hall, as well as volunteer organizations, will be on standby at the Plaza Miranda for assistance. Ambulances and firetrucks will also be positioned in strategic areas along the procession route

Activities

On that day of the procession, a Holy Hour and Pananalita will be observed at 3 a.m., followed by a concelebrated Mass at 6 a.m. to be officiated by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales.

The procession from the Quirino Grandstand to the Quiapo Church will follow immediately after, which is expected to last for 12 hours with an estimation of more than three million devotees to attend the feast procession.

Meanwhile, EcoWaste Coalition president Manny Calonzo and a pollution watchdog, expressed hopes that devotees will be more sensible by keeping the streets litter-free this time.

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