Nazareno Feast health protocols enforced, kissing discouraged

Nazareno Feast Adviser Alex Irasga and spokesperson Fr. Robert Arellano urged devotees attending the 'pahalik' ceremony at Quirino Grandstand to follow health protocols.

Devotees were advised to sanitize their hands before touching the image of Jesus Nazareno and use a towel or handkerchief instead of kissing it, as emphasized by Fr. Arellano in a radio interview on Tuesday.

Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna echoed the advice, stressing the importance of wearing face masks if possible during the event from January 7 to 9.

The Feast organizers called on devotees to refrain from kissing the image for hygiene reasons and encouraged them to do 'pagpupugay' instead. On Thursday, however, the church announced that the Pahalik or Pagpupugay was terminated around noon.

At least 20 health emergency response teams have been mobilized for the Traslacion, with referral hospitals on standby to provide medical assistance if needed.

Church officials allowed devotees to begin lining up ahead of schedule on Monday evening due to long queues, and by Wednesday morning, the crowd had reached 22,327. The procession (Traslacion) started at 4:41 a.m. on Thursday with a different image being carried for protection of the old relic.