Okay, I may not be that be a devout Catholic but I am really fascinated about on how our fellow kababayans would really put their faith to the test through devotion to a certain patron saints and images. Seemingly, Christmas here in the Philippines isn’t done yet as thousands of devotees flock Manila’s Quiapo District for the upcoming feast of The Black Nazarene this 9th of January.
I’ve been to big fiestas of the country such as those of the Santo Nino and Candelaria but nothing compares to the devotion and intense drama that is happening in Manila’s street every January. Tourists be warned: People die here or get injured…yet with their faces usually aglow seeing their patron touched their lives with miracles and wonders. 
So what’s the history behind the devotion? The Nazareno was first brought by Agustinian Recollects in 1600′s from Mexico. They say that it wasn’t black then and was sculpted by an Aztec. The Recollects promoted intesely the devotion to the suffering of the Christ…Now that is different from that of Visayans which venerates the child image of Christ. In 1787, Archbishop of Manila Sancho de Santas Junta y Rufina ordered the transfer of the image to Quiapo from the Recollect church. From then on, it survived several fires, earthquakes and the destructive 1945 “Liberation” efforts of Manila.
Remember that Quiapo is a place of intense devotion, even during the Spanish colonial era. It was even a place of envy for several priests like the one mentioned in Rizal’s “El Filibusterismo.”
Every January 9, the streets of Quiapo fill up with maroon and yellow clad men and women who are waiting for the procession of the image. A lot of people believe by touching the image, all of their problems will be removed, even if they throw the hanky and pat it on the image and thow back to the crowd. Another focus of devotion is pulling the cart of the image. Even if they’ll get injured or die during the feast, it is somehow their way of fulfiling their life because they do believe that the suffering that they experience during the feast and the life here on Earth will be rewarded with salvation and eternal life. Its like replicating the passion of Christ also as a sign of penance.
If you’re talking about strict Catholicism, you may consider this as “folk Catholicism” which is syncretic of the old traditions of pre-Hispanic Philippines which people then held feasts of same aspect to the anitos or dieties and images.
These are the things that devotee would like to do during the feast. Its so crowded and sometimes so rowdy that casualties are inevitable due to stampede or any accident or heart attack. The drama and the atmosphere is very intense…To be honest, I want to witness this upcoming Friday…well wish me luck..and to the devotees, ingat po at nawa’y maging mapayapa ang inyong pag-diwang sa Pista ng Poong Nazareno.
The intense devotion to the Suffering Image of Christ has been a landmark for most Manilenyos and devotees a like. Their unwavering faith and resolute panata to their image is a manifestation on how colourful Filipino culture is.
2009 Feast Route Changes. This was taken from Wikipedia and was announced last Friday. Those people heading to Manila, please be advised that the route would include Santa Cruz, Lawton and Luneta area starting morning.
On January 2, 2009, the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene decided to change the route of the procession of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo. Instead of beginning the procession at 3 P.M. from the Quiapo Church, the procession will begin from Jose Rizal’s Park in Luneta and will end its procession ending in the Quiapo Church. The Archdiocese of Quiapo has decided to change routes to prevent injuries and deaths that has happened in the previous years due to the large crowds and stampede of the procession.
-Wikipedia
And here are the details from Inquirer.net
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakin…arene-schedule
Black Nazarene schedule
By Maila Ager | INQUIRER.net | 01/02/2009MANILA, Philippines — This year’s January 9 celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene will start a day earlier with a healing mass at the Luneta Park in Manila, Monsignor Jose Clemente F. Ignacio, parish priest of Quiapo Church announced Friday.
At 5:00 pm on January 8 (Thursday), Ignacio said the healing mass would be followed by the traditional “Pahalik sa mahal na Poong Nazareno [A Kiss for the Black Nazarene]” and the vigil.
A concelebrated mass at 7:00 a.m. the following day, January 9, will be officiated by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales, after which the procession of the image of the Black Nazarene will start from Luneta to Quiapo Church at 8:30 a.m., Ignacio said in a statement Friday.
The planned route will be from be from the Quirino Grandstand, passing through Burgos St., McArthur Bridge, Rizal Avenue, Claro M. Recto, Legarda, Arlegui St., Quezon Boulevard, Palanca St., Villalobos, Plaza Miranda, and then Quiapo Church, where the procession is expected to end at 3:00 p.m.
“Upon the request of our beloved Cardinal [Rosales] and Manila Mayor [Alfredo Lim] and for the safety of our devotees, the celebration will start at the Luneta so that we would not be too crowded at Quiapo Church,” Ignacio said in Filipino.
“At the same time, the procession will pass only through the wide streets to avoid accidents,” he said.
And since many devotees from Mindanao might not be able to join the celebration in Manila, Ignacio said the pilgrimage image or “Callejeron” would just be brought to Cagayan de Oro.
Novena masses, however, began last
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More Random Quiapo pictures:
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