Manila City is preparing for this year’s feast of the Black Nazarene as it announced road closures starting January 6, 2023.
The Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, commonly known as the Quiapo Church, said that the traditional translacion or procession will still not be held this year. This is due to the continued threat brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Quiapo Church attached priest Fr. Earl Valdez told CNN Philippines that the traditional translacion of the Black Nazarene from the Quirino Grandstand to the Quiapo Church will not be pushing through.
The Quiapo Church previously clarified that while the usual translacion is still suspended, the church will be bringing the Black Nazarene to different barangays, sectors, and communities. The said event is called pagdalaw or visit, a religious event that was held last December 2022.
The Quiapo Church added that it will be conducting a procession dubbed Walk of Faith on January 8, Sunday but without the Black Nazarene.
As such, the Manila Traffic & Parking Bureau (MTPB) released the list of roads to be closed for the 2023 Black Nazarene festivities. Motorists are advised that as early as January 6, Friday, select roads in Manila City will be closed.
The MTPB said that the following roads will be closed from 10 p.m. onwards on January 6, 2023.
January 6, 2023 (10 p.m. onwards)
- Stretch of Katigbak Drive
- Stretch of Independence Road
- Stretch of South Drive
- North- and South-bound lanes of Roxas Boulevard
Additional roads will be closed come January 8, 2023. Based on MTPB’s announcement the following roads will be closed from 12:01 a.m. onwards on January 8.
January 8, 2023 (12:01 a.m. onwards)
- North- and South-bound lanes of Quezon Blvd. from A. Mendoza / Fuguso to Quezon Bridge Straight to P. Burgos (Park n’ Ride)
- West- and East-bound lanes of España Blvd. from P. Campa to A. Mendoza
- Stretch of Evangelista Street from Plaza San Juan to C.M. Recto Avenue
- Stretch of Raon Street from Quezon Boulevard to Evangelista
- Stretch of Carriedo Street from Rizal Avenue to Plaza San Juan
- Stretch of C. Palanca Street from MacArthur Bridge to Quiapo Ilalim (Quinta Market) straight to P. Casal
- Stretch of Bustos Street from Plaza Sta. Cruz to Rizal Avenue
- Northbound lane of Rizal Avenue from Carriedo to C.M. Recto Avenue
- Northbound lane of MacArthur Bridge
- East- and West-bound lanes of C.M. Recto Avenue from Rizal Avenue to Nicanor Reyes Street
- Stretch of Nicanor Reyes from España Boulevard to C.M. Recto Avenue
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