7,000 cops to secure Makati, Manila rallies (By TJ Burgonio and Cynthia Balana)

Manila, Philippines, October 26, 2014 (INQUIRER) - TRAFFIC will be rerouted. But to ensure that there will be no untoward incident, a total of 7,000 policemen will be deployed in Manila and Makati to secure the rallyists.

In Makati City, Chief Supt. Edgardo Aglipay, Metro Manila police chief, said that at 6 a.m. October 26, Sunday, the Ayala Avenue, from Herrera Street to Manila Peninsula on Makati Avenue will be closed to all vehicular traffic. Paseo de Roxas, from de la Rosa Street in front of Enterprise Center, Banco Filipino, and BPI Family will likewise be closed.

At 10 a.m. the entire stretch of Ayala to Rustans Buendia will be closed to all vehicular traffic.

The traffic re-routing plan will give way to participants to the pro-democracy rally. The participants will converge at the Ayala-Paseo de Roxas intersection for the main program which will start at 1 p.m.

Alternative routes will be designated by the Makati Parking Authority, Traffic Management Group-PNP, MAPSA, and the Ayala Security Force.

No parking for all vehicles along Ayala Avenue.

Rally organizers have been advised to police their own ranks.

No operation dikit or Operation pinta will be allowed within the Central Business District or the places where the buses are parked.

Another group policemen will be deployed to the Rizal Park to secure the expected mammoth crowd who will attend the DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International Family Appointment with El Shaddai - annual founding anniversary celebration of the Evangelical Christian and Roman Catholic charismatic renewal religious movement Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide on October 25 to 27 in time for the five-day pastoral and state visit of Pope Francis here in the Philippines.

Chief Supt. Efren Fernandez, Manila police chief, said that some 1,000 policemen will come from the Western Police District while the rest were augmentation force from the National Capital Regional Police Office.

He added that an additional police force would be deployed in the area in case the crowd swells to 5 million. He also raised the red alert from 6 a.m. Saturday, October 25 up to 9 a.m., October 27, Monday.

“We're putting up our own security precautions because the crowd expected will be a bit big now compared to the other El Shaddai gatherings,” Fernandez said in another briefing.

Some 3 million people, consisting mostly of El Shaddai followers, are expected to attend the gathering.

President Benigno Aquino III and other government officials, Church leaders, foreign dignitaries and showbiz personalities are expected to show up at the celebration because Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide founder, president and spiritual director Bishop Bro. Eddie Villanueva is also celebrating his birthday on October 6. Mr. Aquino is expected to address the rally at 5 p.m.

Fernandez downplayed reports that certain groups would bomb the gathering, saying this was a raw information that needed to be validated.

“At any rate we always adopt the principle of considering the worst-case scenario. We have incorporated that in our plan and we are prepared,” he said.

Fernandez pointed out that their main concern was traffic. “Some people will be coming from Manila and going to Makati and vice versa,” he said.

He however said that he was not implementing any re-routing in Manila, unless necessary.

“Initially, we feel that there's no need for re-routing. Our traffic plan is very flexible. Just in case there's a need for a re-routing, we have contingency plans for these,” he said.

Fernandez said the 58-heactre Rizal Park can accommodate 2 million people.

In Manila, both North and South bound lanes of Roxas Boulevard will be kept open to traffic despite the projected crowd of 2 to 3 million expected to attend the El Shaddai rally.

The T.M. Kalaw, P. Burgos, Calle Muralla, Bonifacio Drive, and the inner streets of the Port area were the designated parking zones.

Pope Francis will preside over the 6:45 p.m. thanksgiving Mass, which will be broadcast live on TV and video streamed to an audience of millions around the country and abroad.

Twelve giant LED screens mounted in the field will give participants a better view of the liturgical rites unfolding in the templete, an elevated concrete-and-bamboo structure.

In the 61-hectare site, a national park backfilled with dirt and limestone for the annual grand historic event, most of the participants will have to stand throughout the series of activities which start before noon with foot processions

Only vehicles with passes issued by the Archdiocese of Manila as well as shuttle buses which would ferry people to the site are allowed to enter the area.

President Benigno Aquino III and Vice-President Jejomar Binay are among several government officials, Church leaders, foreign dignitaries and showbiz personalities who will grace the event.

Expect tighter security in coming to the 61-heactre national park where the celebration will be held.

At 2 p.m., a fluvial procession along the Pasig River: from Guadalupe, Makati City to Intramuros, Manila will bring the image of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Saint Pedro Calungsod to the templete or little temple which houses the main altar.

An hour before the sea parade, 76 carrozas carrying patron saints of various parishes in Metro Manila, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Isabela, Cagayan, Batanes, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Apayao, Kalinga, La Union, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Aurora, Pampanga, Bataan, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, Masbate, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Guimaras, Cebu, Siquijor, Negros Oriental, Bohol, Samar, Leyte Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Biliran, Southern Leyte, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Bukidnon, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Camiguin, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, Maguindanao, North Cotabato, Zamboanga City, Basilan, Zamboanga Sibugay, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi will make their way to the venue.

“We are basically ready although there are still somethings that need fine-tuning,” Msgr. Dennis Villarojo, the overall chairman of the Cebu celebration for Calungsod’s sainthood, said.

He urged the people to make use of the celebration to get closer to the Lord.

“We should continue the spirit of penance and prayerful atmosphere so that we will be able to experience the spiritual fruits of the occasion,” Villarojo told Cebu Daily News.

“This is a celebration of the Eucharist. We should keep a solemn demeanor,” he added.

There will be no Masses in all parishes in 81 provinces from 12 noon onwards.

Anyone who can’t go to the Rizal Park can watch the thanksgiving Mass through GMA Channel 7 and other stations. Internet users can also log on to www.gmanews.tv  for a live streaming of the activities.

Radio stations will also broadcast the events live.

On site 12 giant LCD screens will be mounted in different parts of the vast field to allow the crowd to see at is going in the altar.

At least 20 golf carts and three electric cars from Mandaue City will transport the elderly and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

Bishops who will be brought from the Manila Cathedral to the Quirino Grandstand through vans. The Hotel serves as their holding area before the Mass.

Although there are 12,000 monobloc chairs for guests, people are urged to bring their own portable chairs.

Sixteen medical stations can also be found in the venue. Each medical station has one standby ambulance. At least three firetrucks will also be stationed at the Rizal Park.

Portalets and comfort rooms are located at the sides of the templete.

In going to the SRP, people can take the free shuttle buses. Bus stops are located in front of the Talisay City Hall and a block away from the SRP tunnel.

Liturgy

The Holy Mass will start at 8 p.m.

It will be presided over by Pope Francis.

The 76-year-old Pope, who has been the leader of the Worldwide Roman Catholic Church, was requested by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma to lead the thanksgiving Mass.

Other than Palma Vidal, the other cardinals who will be present in today’s liturgy include Cardinal Angelo Amato, the prefect of the Congregation of the Causes of Saints; Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle; Manila Archbishop Emeritus, and Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales.

Agana, Guam Archbishop Anthony Apuron; Most Rev. Giuseppe Pinto; the apostolic nuncio in the Philippines; and Rome-based priest, Fr. Fernando Rojo, the main postulator for Calungsod’s cause will also be around. Msgr. Villarojo said at least bishops, cardinals, deacons and around 10,000 priests have confirmed to attend the event.

During communion, Villarojo advised the people not to flock to the main altar.

“They should stay put until they see a communion distributor marked by umbrellas,” he said.

Villarojo said there are 2,000 communion distributors. Of the number 1,600 are lay ministers. They will be augmented by priests and nuns.

After the communion, Pinto, the papal nuncio, will deliver a message.

President Aquino, who sought the permission of the archdiocese so he can deliver his message to the Filipinos, will have to make his piece after the Mass.

Fr. Raul Gallego, chairperson of the committee on venue, urged the people to bring along radios, water, flashlights, food, candles, portable chairs, and umbrellas.

On the other hand, people are prohibited from bringing guns and bladed weapons.

After the Mass and the message of the president, a cultural presentation will be made. This will be participated in by Pasigarbo sa Sugbo contingents from Minglanilla, Talisay City, and Mandaue City. The Lumad Basakanon, who has reaped awards during the Sinulog festivities, will also be part of the presentation.

Dinner for the special guests will be served at the Manila Hotel.