The accident-prone procession attended by close to a million Catholic devotees claimed the life of a 45-year-old man who died when he fell in an open manhole and was crushed in a stampede at the height of the observance yesterday.

"Ever since the Black Nazarene rid me of my asthma in 1997, I’ve made a panata to be here on his feast day and my boss knows it, that’s why he allowed me to take the day off today," said Rommel Reyes, 54, a family driver from Quezon City.

Liezel Aguirre, 32, a resident of Tondo, said she went to Quiapo to give thanks to the Black Nazarene who she said granted her wish to find a stable work. "I’ve applied almost everywhere, and if ever I got a job, it’s always on a contractual basis. But when I went here to pray, I suddenly got a call from my friend saying that their office was looking for a secretary, and since then I’ve been a regular visitor here," she said.

Rommel and Liezel are two of the many who have actually experienced the miraculous and healing power of the blackened image of Christ.

No wonder the number of devotees continues to grow every year, some of whom are known personalities in the country such as Vice President Noli de Castro.

Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales, who presided the 6 a.m., fiesta mass yesterday, urged the people to be like Jesus of Nazareth in faith and in life. He said by doing so, the country can attain unity.

As in previous years, the devotees greeted the start of yesterday’s procession of the life-size statue of the Nazarene with thunderous cheers and applause as they tirelessly accompanied the image through the streets of Quiapo, with some even walking on barefoot.

After nearly six hours of procession, the image was finally brought back to the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, where it has been housed for years now.

Those who were not able to attend yesterday’s festivities will still get a chance to honor the Nazarene when it is again brought out of the church on Good Friday, April 14.

The Feast of the Black Nazarene is one of the most celebrated religious festivals in the country.

Man falls in an open manhole, dies during Quiapo rites

By RIZAL S. OBANIL

A 45-year-old man was confirmed dead after he fell into a manhole and was crushed in a stampede during yesterday’s feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo which was attended by more than 600,000 devotees.

Supt. Romulo Sapitula, station commander of the Manila Police District (MPD) Station 3 identified the fatality as a certain ‘’Ruben’’ who was immediately rushed to the emergency room of the Philippine General Hospital. He was declared dead on arrival.

Attending physicians, however, identified the fatality as a certain ‘’Dante’’ and described him as dark complexioned and heavily built. The victim also had a noticeable scar on his abdomen, which doctors said might have been due to a surgical operation.

Seven other devotees were injured during the stampede. They were identified as Rolando Santos, 38, of Malabon City, Cris Sta. Clemente, 33, of Meycauyan Bulacan, Eduardo Marisol, Gary de Guzman, Ian Dilaytili, 22, Feliza Villalba, of Pasay City and Ricky Flores, 25, of Quiapo, Manila. They all suffered minor injuries.

Witnesses told investigators that the fatality and four other devotees were caught in a rush of devotees as the statue of the Black Nazarene was being taken out of the church.

The crowd rose into a frenzy, pushing and shoving towards the image. As a result, the piece of wood covering the manhole, which the victim happened to be stepping on, cracked and gave way, causing him to fall.

The victim tried to pull himself out of the hole but a stampede had already started, pinning him down. The victim suffocated as the crowd toppled over him.

Sapitula said the crowd that had gathered swelled to more than 600,000, causing a massive gridlock even in streets that did not directly lead to Quezon Blvd. and C. Palanca Street in Quiapo.

Compared to last year’s celebration, Sapitula said that this year’s observance of the feast of the Black Nazarene was relatively peaceful since no petty criminals were arrested by police.

Some 150 uniformed and 100 plainclothes policemen were deployed in the area around the Quiapo Church.

Vice President Noli de Castro attended the fiesta mass inside the Quiapo Church.

Prominent personalities who attended the event were Mayor Lito Atienza and his son Kim, Philippine National Police chief Director General Arturo Lomibao, National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Vidal Querol, Rep. Roilo Golez, Rep. Miles Roces and Manila Police District director, Chief Supt. Pedro Bulaong.