January 9 is the feast day of the Black Nazarene. And it’s one of the popular feast days in the Philippines. In Quiapo, Metro Manila, the Quiapo church (St. John Baptist, the minor basilica of Nazarene, Wikipedia) has the biggest and most popular procession during the feast of the Black Nazarene. Almost a hundred thousand people joins the procession. They strive to get hands on the statue of the Black Nazarene which is said to be brought Spaniards some centuries ago. They strive to at least touch the rope of statue used to pull it, they strive to try wipe the statue with their towels, they even do anything just to be one of the people who will help pull the statue. The procession sometimes go on for about 20 hours, it’s not because the route is long but because of the number of devotees of the Black Nazarene. Why the number of devotees is so huge? The statue of the Black Nazarene brought by the Spaniards is said to give a lot of miracles. And many people experienced it, thus the number of devotees. To the point that it seems like they were praising the statue itself already. Because of the popularity of the said miracle Black Nazarene statue of the Quiapo church, some even sell parts of the ropes used by it and said to have miracles as well. Some devotees who don’t join the procession often cook and prepare some food to the devotees. This is their way to give thanks to the Black Nazarene. The feast of the Black Nazarene is not only celebrated in the Quiapo church but on some other sub-chapels and parishes as well. Like in a sub-chapel near us, they held a procession yesterday and my family joined the procession.
I joined to procession yesterday in St. Jude chapel and here is the shot of the largest statue of the Black Nazarene that was brought in the procession. There were also small Black Nazarene statues that were brought in the procession. This is how we celebrate the feast of the Black Nazarene in the Philippines.
Blogged through my smartphone.
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