Quiapo Church to replace ‘pahalik’ with ‘pagtanaw’

Ater cancelling the Black Nazarene procession, Quiapo Church has also called off the traditional kissing of the revered image due to Covid-19 pandemic.

Instead of the “pahalik”, church rector Msgr. Hernando Coronel said they would replace it with “pagtanaw” or viewing of the statue 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,” Coronel said.

“It will be on display for two weeks so people will have more time to venerate,” he said.

It will be the first time there will be no “traslacion” in over 200 years but Coronel said some adjustments have to be made as safety precaution against coronavirus.

The pahalik is usually held at the Quirino Grandstand a day before the procession of the Black Nazarene to the Quiapo Church.

Manila City has earlier announced the cancellation of the procession on January 9 next year, which is usually attended by millions of devotees.

Metro Manila is under partial quarantine restrictions with mass gatherings prohibited. (CBCP News)

A version of this article was first published on CBCP News.