#Traslacion2019: Road Closures, Class Cancellations, and Everything You Need to Know
Jan 8, 2019 • Kaira Guererro
This year the procession of the Feast of the Black Nazarene will fall on January 9, 2019, a Wednesday. It’s an event that serves as an annual commemoration of the arrival of the image of the Black Nazarene to Quiapo, Manila. Millions of devotees barefoot and armed with their faith flock to Quiapo annually to get a glimpse of the Black Nazarene and kiss, touch, hug, or rub a piece of cloth on the statue.
For motorists or students in Manila, there will be minor changes in the following days. Here’s everything you need to know:
Class cancellations
#WalangPasok – Mayor Herbert Bautista has ordered the suspension of classes, all levels, on 9 January 2019. pic.twitter.com/wLVSkZibpp
— Quezon City PIO (@QCPublicAffairs) January 8, 2019
As early as last week, Manila Mayor Erap Estrada announced that classes in public and private schools will be suspended due to the Feast of the Black Nazarene.
Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista has also announced a suspension for classes in all levels on Wednesday to aid in the orderliness of the event.
Work cancellations
Via Inquirer.net
City administrator Ericson Alcovendaz said work in Manila city’s government offices will be suspended following Mayor Joseph Estrada’s Executive Order No. 1. Offices with a direct role to Traslacion 2019 are not included in the suspension.
Road closures and alternate routes
Via The Atlantic
ROAD CLOSURE
Tuesday (January 8 – 10 pm onwards)
- Katigbak Drive and South Drive (one lane accessible to Manila and H2O Hotel)
- Northbound lane of Quezon and McArthur Bridge from Bonifacio Shrine onward
- Taft Avenue from Ayala Blvd to Bonifacio Shrine
Wednesday (January 9 – 12 am)
- Stretch of McArthur, Jones and Quezon Bridge
- Roxas Boulevard from Katigbak Drive to TM Kalaw St.
- Both lanes of Quezon Blvd. (Quiapo) will be closed to traffic, from A. Mendoza/Fugoso St. and España Ave / P. Campa St. for southbound and from Taft Avenue/Ayala Blvd for northbound
REROUTING
Tuesday (January 8 – 10 pm onwards)
- Vehicles coming from southern part of Manila intending to utilize the northbound lane of Roxas Blvd. from TM Kalaw St. to P. Burgos St. shall turn right to TM Kalaw St. left to Orosa St. going to Intramuros left to A. Soriano Ave. to point of destination.
- Vehicles traveling along P Burgos St shall turn right to Finance Road to Ayala Avenue to point of destination.
- Vehicles using Taft Avenue northbound shall turn right to Ayala Blvd to point of destination.
Wednesday (January 9 – 12 am)
- Vehicles coming from Quezon City using the stretch of España
- Avenue shall turn right to P. Campa St., then turn left to A. Mendoza St., then turn right to Fugoso St., turn right to CM Recto Avenue or left to Nicanor Reyes St., turn right to CM Recto Avenue to point of destination.
- Vehicles coming from Legarda St. shall turn right to CM Recto Avenue or turn left to Mendiola St. to their point of destination.
- Vehicles coming from Caloocan City utilizing Rizal Avenue shall turn right to Fugoso St. or CM Recto Avenue, to point of destination.
- Heavy vehicles/Cargo Trucks shall take Pres. Osmeña, to Pres. Quirino Avenue to Nagtahan via AH Lacson Avenue to Capulong St. (vice-versa).
- All buses using Taft Avenue northbound shall turn right to Ayala Ave to point of destination.
- Vehicles coming from Reina Regente St. utilizing southbound lane shall turn right to San Fernando St. or make a U-turn at Plaza Ruiz to point of destination.
- Light vehicles intending to utilize the stretch of Bonifacio Drive and Roxas Blvd southbound shall turn around to Anda Circle going to Delpanor Moriones to point of destination.
You can check here and here for further information.
Traslacion 2019 route
The six-kilometer long procession will start from the Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church. Below is a map of the route:
Schedule of activities
Via Inquirer.net
January 8 (Quirino Grandstand)
- 7:00 AM – Send-off mass for Nazareno 2019 volunteers
- 8:00 AM – Start of Pahalik
- 5:00 AM – Evening prayer and start of vigil
January 9 (Quirino Grandstand – Quiapo Church)
- 12 AM – Fiesta Mass at Quirino Grandstand
- 3:00 AM – Start of hourly masses at Quiapo Church
- 4:00 AM – Morning prayer at Quirino Grandstand
- 5:00 AM – Start of Traslacion 2019 (see route above)
January 10
- 2:30 AM – Estimated arrival of Black Nazarene at Quiapo Church
No-signal, no-fly, and no-sail zones
The National Capital Region Police Office has announced that they will be implementing security measures such as no mobile signal, no fly, and no sail zones in Manila during Traslacion on January 9. This is to prevent direct threats to the masses such as bomb attacks which are usually triggered by mobile phones.
There’s a Liquor Ban in Manila this week
A Liquor Ban has been declared by National Capital Regional Police Office Chief Director Guillermo Eleazar starting January 7 to 10, 2019 to pay respects to Traslacion 2019.
Safety measures for a peaceful Traslacion 2019
The Manila Police District has prescribed the following safety measures:
- Don’t bring deadly weapons. This includes pointed objects such as sticks for food.
- Don’t bring firearms or firecrackers.
- Don’t bring backpacks.
- Don’t bring colored canisters or water jugs.
Pregnant women, children, and the elderly are also discouraged to join for their safety.
Those who would like to attempt to climb the image of the Black Nazarene are discouraged to continue the practice so as not to cause any unnecessary accidents.
Environment group EcoWaste Coalition is calling for a “trash-less” Traslacion, reflecting on the mounds of trash collected from Rizal Park last Christmas. There are proper trash bins to dispose of your waste. Let’s all make Traslacion 2019 a clean event!
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