Manila Standard - 2024 January 9 - Tuesday

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VOL. XXXVII • NO. 328 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2024

Traslacion to draw 2 million devotees Church hopes for peaceful procession By Vito Barcelo, Vince Lopez and Macon Ramos-Araneta

HE first Traslacion procession in three years to mark the Feast of the Black Nazarene today is expected to draw at least 2 million devotees—less than half the previous record of attendees—who will join in the six-kilometer-long procession from the Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church.

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At its height before the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual lice estimates, but that number slowly tapered off before rite that draws Catholics from across the country and even the coronavirus forced churches and public places everyabroad drew 4.5 million devotees in 2018 according to poNext page

Draw strength, inspiration from Nazarene—Marcos PRESIDENT Marcos urged the public to draw inspiration and strength from the Feast of the Black Nazarene, as the country celebrated the occasion Tuesday. “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,” Mr. Marcos said in a short message. The President also urged the faithful to reflect on the virtue of embracing suffering, as it is during moments of hardship that one undergoes renewal and spiritual transformation.

BLACK NAZARENE’S DAY. This file photo shows the actual image of the Black Nazarene usually housed in

Quiapo Church, which will be carried in a transparent tempered glass case (inset) today in the Traslacion procession that starts from the Quirino Grandstand at the Rizal Park in Manila.

LAWMAKERS FILE RESOS TO PROBE PANAY BLACKOUT NEWS / A2

POPE FRANCIS CALLS FOR GLOBAL SURROGACY BAN NEWS / A2

PHILIPPINE National Police chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. filed a complaint against a former soldier who used his name and photo to peddle fake information about an alleged plot to oust President Marcos. PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said Acorda went to the Prosecutor’s

MAJORITY of Filipinos disapprove of the administration’s efforts to rein in the rising cost of goods and services, noting that inflation remains the most urgent national concern that must be addressed immediately, a Pulse Asia survey showed.

showed that 68 percent of Filipinos approved of President Marcos’ performance, a three-point rise from his 65 percent rating in September 2023. Next page

‘Oppenheimer’ tops Golden Globes on bittersweet night for ‘Barbie’ “OPPENHEIMER,” Christopher Nolan’s drama about the inventor of the atomic bomb, topped the Golden Globes on Sunday – but its fellow summer smash hit “Barbie” missed out on best comedy film honors to “Poor Things.” “Oppenheimer” took five prizes including best drama, best director for Nolan, best score, as well as acting trophies for Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr. Nolan told journalists backstage he was drawn to the “tragedy” of J. Robert Oppenheimer, a scientist who remained loyal to his country and never apologized for his actions, yet was “wracked by tremendous guilt.” Emma Thomas, the film’s producer and Nolan’s wife, said his work about “one of the darkest developments in our history” was “unlike anything anyone else is doing.” Murphy, who plays the title char-

December survey says efforts to tame inflation not enough By Othel Campos

Office in Quezon City to file the complaint against retired Army Brig. Gen. John Lacsamana Macanas Sr., who goes by the handle “The Vlogging General” on YouTube. “The complaint is for spreading false information that our Chief PNP has

acter in the three-hour epic, hailed his “visionary director,” while Downey Jr, portraying the protagonist’s bitter rival, praised the movie as a “masterpiece.” In winning best director, Nolan fended off Greta Gerwig, who helmed “Barbie” – the other half of the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon that grossed a combined $2.4 billion last year at the box office. Turning nostalgia for the beloved doll into a sharp satire about misogyny and female empowerment, “Barbie” was the leading film heading into the night with nine nominations, but ended the gala with just two prizes. It won the award for best song, for a tune written by Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas. And as the year’s highest grossing movie, it claimed a newly created trophy for box office achievement. Next page

FilipinoAmerican comedian Jo Koy. AFP photo

Seven in 10 respondents were unhappy with how the government tried to tame inflation, a double-digit increase from only 56 percent in the third quarter survey to 73 percent in the fourth quarter poll. The results of the survey, conducted from Dec. 3 to 7, 2023, also showed Next page

BIG WINNER. British director Christopher Nolan (left) and spouse British film producer Emma Thomas pose in the press room with the awards for Best Director - Motion Picture and Best Motion Picture - Drama for ‘Oppenheimer’ during the 81st annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on Jan. 7, 2024. AFP

Jo Koy’s joke falls flat before Swift By Angelica Villanueva SPARKS didn’t fly when FilipinoAmerican comedian Jo Koy, hosting the 2024 Golden Globe Awards, cracked a joke involving American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and her high-profile relationship with NFL star Travis Kelce. Sitting stoic beside actress Keleigh Sperry, Taylor re-

mained unmoved as Koy referenced the constant camera cuts toward her during Kelce’s games. “The big difference between the Golden Globes and the NFL? At the Globes, we have fewer camera shots of Taylor Swift,” Koy quipped. Taylor seemed unhappy with Jo Koy’s joke as she responded with a nonchalant sip of her drink as the camera panned to her.

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