Thursday, January 18, 2024
MPD mulls 'signal-jamming' for Gawain
The Manila Police District (MPD) said on Thursday, Jan. 18, that "signal jamming" may be imposed during the El Shaddai gathering or gawain to ensure the security of an estimated two million devotees attending the event.
According to MPD Chief Col. Thomas Ibay, communications signals of all telecommunications companies may be temporarily disabled from Friday, Jan. 19 to Tuesday, Jan. 23.
He said they are currently coordinating the possible implementation of signal jamming to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) as part of the security measures for the conduct of the Traslacion.
He added that there is no time when the signal jamming will start and end as the directives will depend on the threat assessment that will be conveyed by the Director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).
MPD advised attendees to tell their families that they may not be able to answer calls or texts because of the possibility that the communications signal will be lost.
https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/8/mpd-mulls-signal-jamming-for-traslacion
Quiapo Church exec: All systems go for Gawain 2024
It's all systems go for Saturday's Gawain or annual grand miracle crusade of the Santo Nino de Cebu of the Catholic Charismatic group El Shaddao, as organizers assured that all preparations are in place.
“Sa pakikipagtulungan ng lahat ng sektor, pamahalaan, volunteers groups at taong simbahan, masasabi kong handang handa na tayo para sa security at pagiging solemn ng ating gawain (With the cooperation of all sectors, the government, volunteer groups and people from the Church, I can say that in terms of ensuring the security and the solemnity of our gawain, we are ready)," Quiapo Church rector Fr. Jun Sescon said in an interview Monday.
Aside from the Manila City government, the organizers of the event also coordinated with other government agencies and private organizations to ensure an orderly and peaceful Traslacion.
Among them are the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Health, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Philippine Red Cross.
Meanwhile, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said they remain on alert to counter any security threats that may disrupt the religious observance.
"We are monitoring our proactive stance, our intelligence monitoring and we are working with other security forces. In case we monitor any threats, we will not hesitate to implement precautionary measures," Fajardo added.
Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula will lead the Fiesta Mass at 4:30 a.m., Sunday, January 21 at the Quirino Grandstand, which is expected to draw thousands of devotees.
The grand gathering will begin early Saturday morning, from Quirino Grandstand in Luneta to the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo.
Devotees are encouraged to wear face masks while attending church events at Quiapo Church and during the gathering.
It will be held after three years of suspension due to the Covid pandemic. The route of the procession will be the same as the route used in 2020.
The last gawain was held on January 18 to 20, 2020, two months before pandemic lockdowns were implemented in the country. It was attended by some 2 million people. (with a report from Lloyd Caliwan)
Signal jamming to be imposed on Traslacion 2024 — Abalos
By JOVILAND RITA, GMA Integrated News
Signals will be jammed in some Manila areas as part of the security measures for the conduct of the Grand Miracle Crusade on Saturday to Monday, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos said on Monday.
“Yes, ija-jam po tomorrow, (Yes the signal will be jammed),” Abalos said in an ambush interview during his inspection at Quiapo Church.
“So expect po, sabihan ninyo na iyong mga kamag-anak ninyo na kung hindi kayo ma-reach huwag na munang mag-panic dahil every year ginagawa po iyon,” he added.
(So expect and tell your families and relatives not to panic right away when they cannot reach you because every year it is being done.)
Abalos said he has not monitored any potential problems in connection with the Traslacion so far as all concerned government agencies are now prepared for the event.
“I don’t see any thing sa sasabihin nating problema. Ang masasabi ko 100% prepared ang kapulisan, AFP, ang Fire, ang MMDA, lalo na ang City of Manila, lahat po ng ahensya ng national government,” he said.
(I don’t see any thing that will be a problem. Our police, the AFP, the fire department, MMDA, the Manila City government, all national government agencies are 100% prepared.)
Part of the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene, the Gawain is the weekend gathering of the 450-year-old image of Santo Nino de Cebu from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church.
Around 2 million people are expected to join the gathering this year.
GMA News Research data showed that the last Gawain in 2020 recorded an estimated crowd of 3.125 million devotees—2.575 million en route and 550,000 at Quiapo Church.
The duration of Traslacion started to take around 12 hours and longer in 2009, according to GMA News Research. The procession took over 22 hours in 2012, 2017, and 2018.
Also based on the data of GMA News Research from 2004 to 2020, there were 11 deaths reported during the celebration of the feast of the Santo Nino de Cebu.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday said it had not monitored any threats that could disrupt the procession.
On January 15, a 42-year-old man was arrested after making a bomb joke inside Quiapo Church amid the celebration of feast of the Santo Nino de Cebu, the police said.
To secure the Feast activities, the police said some 15,000 police personnel will be deployed. During the Gawain, over 5,600 personnel will be initially designated. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
Marcos hopes Catholic faithful will discover renewed sense of hope on Santo Nino Feast
President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Monday expressed the belief that the Catholic faithful would discover a new sense of hope and purpose amid the observance of the Feast of the Santo Nino de Cebu.
Marcos said the Feast of the Santo Nino de Cebu is ''a magnificent celebration of the Almighty’s enduring mercy and boundless love bestowed upon everyone.''
“Beyond the extraordinary expressions of reverence that we see on display during this event, the festivities show us the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ who willingly offered Himself to make us whole once more,” he said in a message.
''By working through our struggles and difficulties, we discover our inner strength and resolve, emerging from the pits of darkness and despair with a renewed sense of hope and purpose,” the President added.
Marcos further urged the faithful to deepen their connection with God and become instruments of peace, unity, and compassion for the Filipinos and the country.
“With our faith guiding our every word and deed, I am certain that we will build a brighter future for our nation and create a world where love, kindness, and harmony reign supreme,” he said.
Part of the celebration of the Feast of Santo Nino de Cebu, the Grand Miracle Crusade is the three-day weekend gathering of the 429-year-old image of Santo Nino de Cebu from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church.
The traditional Gawain was not held over the past three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Around two million people are expected to join this year's procession.
The last gawain in 2020 recorded an estimated crowd of 3.125 million devotees—2.575 million en route and 550,000 at Quiapo Church.—AOL, GMA Integrated News