After cancelling the Black Nazarene procession in January, the administration of Quiapo Church in Manila called off the traditional kissing of the revered image due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Instead of the “pahalik,” or kissing of the image, church rector Monsignor Hernando Coronel said they will replace it with “pagtanaw,” or viewing of the image from the church’s balcony.
“The pilgrim image of the Nazarene will be brought up to the balcony of the church fronting Plaza Miranda two weeks before the actual feast day,” said the priest.
“It will be on display for two weeks so people will have more time to venerate,” he said.
It will be the first time that there will be no “traslacion,” or the traditional religious procession, in over 200 years, but Monsignor Coronel said some adjustments have to be made as safety precaution against the deadly virus.
The “pahalik” is usually held at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila a day before the procession of the image of the Black Nazarene to the church Quiapo district.
The Manila city government has earlier announced the cancellation of the religious procession on January 9.
Metro Manila is under partial quarantine restrictions due to the pandemic and mass gatherings are prohibited.
