Prayers for peace urged amid Iran-US tensions

AS DEVOTEES join the procession and celebrate the Feast of the Black Nazarene Thursday, January 9, 2020, a prelate has urged them to offer prayers for peace amid the tensions between Iran and the United States.

Monsignor Perseus Cabunoc, parish priest of the Nazareno Parish, said while each devotee has his or her own prayers and intentions, saying a prayer for peace to the Black Nazarene who, for Filipino Catholics, has become an emblem of passion, struggle and faith, should not be too much.

Iran fired Wednesday, January 8, more than a dozen missiles at two Iraqi bases that hold US troops in what appears to be a retaliation for the American airstrike that killed a top Iranian general last week.

"Naa man tay personal intentions and wishes, pero ang simbahan nagahangyo sa malinawon nga kasaulogan dili lang sa tibuok Pilipinas, apil na sa tibuok kalibutan, ilabina sa kagubot sa Iran ug US nga walay giyera nga mahimo," he said.

(We have personal intentions and wishes, but the church is asking for peace not just for the Philippines, but for the whole world, especially with the tensions between Iran and US.)

Some 300,000 devotees are expected to join the Traslacion Thursday, January 9. The Traslacion is the transfer of the Image of Black Nazarene from the St. Augustine Cathedral back to the Nazareno Parish.

Cabunoc said the church is ready to welcome the devotees.

The Traslacion will start at 5:30 a.m. From the Cathedral, the procession will pass Fernandez Street, turn left to Velez Street and take a right turn to the highway near Shell station, and end at the Nazareno Church.

Meanwhile, the local environment office called on the devotees to observe cleanliness during the procession.

City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office chief Armen Cuenca said they will deploy all its personnel starting 4 a.m. to ensure a clean environment. They also put up garbage bins along the Traslacion route.

Cuenca said they will penalize people littering along the route.

"Ibutang gyud sa insakto nga butanganan ang basura dili lang sa bisan asa. Naa naman garbage bins (Don't throw your garbage anywhere. Put them in the proper bins), so there should be no more excuses to litter," he said.