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The government announced on Friday the relaxation of more quarantine restrictions, including increasing the number of people authorized to pray inside churches, but for the mayor of Manila, Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, these were not enough to allow the ” Translation “next year.
For the first time since it began in January 1787, the annual religious procession will be canceled due to the continuing threat of the new coronavirus, which causes the severe respiratory illness COVID-19.
‘Not viable’
The procession, the highlight of the Feast of the Black Nazarene, attracts hundreds of thousands of devotees who walk barefoot in front of and behind the life-size image of Christ carrying the cross as they push themselves into a position to touch the statue, which is believe it to be miraculous.
It begins at the Luneta rostrum early in the morning on January 9, runs through the main streets of Manila to its destination, the Quiapo Church, and takes 18 to 22 hours to complete. Hundreds of thousands more line the streets to watch the procession, making it a potential virus super-spread event.
Douglas Badong, Parish Vicar of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, said they were saddened by the cancellation, but urged the faithful to follow health protocols as the decision was driven only by the pandemic.
“We understand the decision. We proposed to the local government, but the mayor believes that the procession is not viable. It is very difficult to do the procession from Luneta to Quiapo, ”said Badong.
Localized ‘translation’
He said there were options to bring people to the Nazarene like Localized Translation.
“We will ask the local Churches for help for the Masses of the Feast of the Nazarene. If you can organize your own processions in your areas, you can. If the procession does not occur in Quiapo, it will occur elsewhere. They can do simultaneous procession, caravan and this depends on the situation, ”Badong said.
There will be more novena masses every hour during the nine days of the festival, instead of the usual daily mass, to make up for the absence of the procession, he added.
Citing Domagoso, Badong said the decision to cancel the Transfer may change if the situation improves, such as the availability of a vaccine.
10% to 30%
At an evening mass on Friday, Badong thanked God for new quarantine rules that increased the number of people allowed in a church for Masses from 10 percent to 30 percent of capacity.
The increase in the number of parishioners was added to the relaxation of other quarantine restrictions, including the resumption of motorcycle taxi operations, decided by the Interagency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
Speaking on the government television network PTV4 on Friday, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the decision to expand religious gatherings would give Filipinos the opportunity to observe the traditional sunrise masses leading up to Christmas.
He noted that the mayors of Metro Manila agreed to shorten the curfew hours, from midnight to 3 am, in December.
Roque said the Angkas and Joyride motorcycle taxi operations would still be under study, as the law currently prohibits the use of motorcycles as public transportation.
The Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board would issue guidelines on its operation.
“The good thing is that there are no more obstacles [to their operation]”Roque said.
Foreigners in PH businesses
The IATF also removed the negative antigen test requirement for Filipinos traveling abroad, but said the airline or destination country may still require a negative COVID-19 test.
It also allowed foreigners doing business in the Philippines to enter the country starting November 1.
The IATF said that those with investor visas, special non-immigrant visas issued by the Department of Justice, and visas issued by the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Free Port Authority and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority could enter the country as of next month.
They should have a pre-booked and accredited quarantine facility and would be subject to the maximum inbound passenger capacity at the port and the date of entry.
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