Traslacion 2017 : Feast of the Black Nazarene

Traslacion 2017 had begun and millions of devotees of the Black Nazarene troop to Quirino grandstand , Manila Cityhall , Santa Cruz , Quiapo and nearby areas .

route of the procession

According to organizers, this year’s feast was centered specifically on the passage from Collosians 3:14, which reads “Pag-ibig ang buklod ng ganap na pagkakaisa.”

Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene

The Black Nazarene which left the grandstand at past 5:30am is slowly paraded around the streets of Manila.

Black Nazarene devotees

I was accompanied by my friend Darwin Arnuco and a Black Nazarene devotee since 2009 . He would normally visit Quiapo church and attend the mass before opening his store .

Black Nazarene statues

Aside from the devotion , ambulant vendors , merchants and street vendors are making a brisk business . Selling popular t-shirts , towels , statues , pins , key chains , mugs , calendars among other items.

Quezon Avenue around past 9:00am 

I manage to walk past Liwasang Bonifacio , Mehan Garden , Manila Cityhall and National Museum and back to Quiapo before going home.