'Pahalik' starts early for some Nazarene devotees

MANILA – Some devotees managed to get close to the image of the Black Nazarene on Tuesday morning as organizers allowed them to start the "Pahalik," a tradition of kissing of the statue which leads up to the annual procession towards the minor basilica in Quiapo. The image of the Black Nazarene was transferred to Quirino Grandstand on Monday evening. Security around the image remains tight, even as organizers have started allowing devotees to begin the "Pahalik" which is supposed to formally start at 1 p.m. tomorrow, January 8. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras have been installed around the image and bomb-sniffing dogs are roving the area round-the-clock. As of Tuesday morning, organizers were still setting up the stage for the vigil that will start at 7 p.m. on January 8 and end at 4 a.m. on January 9. The procession of the image towards the basilica will begin 7 a.m. on January 9 right after the mass presided by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle. Some 12 million devotees are expected to join the procession. - Umagang Kay Ganda, 7 January 2014