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Feast of the Black Nazarene

© Eva Goyena

I was onboard a jeepney going to Recto (a Manila locality where cheap appliances abound) last Thursday (January 9, 2003) when I noticed two barefoot men seated beside me. They were wearing shirts with a combination of yellow body and maroon sleeves; on the upper left side of their shirts were embroidered what I supposed were their names and the district they came from.

The area of Sta. Cruz is usually heavy traffic due to groups of sidewalk vendors and quite a lot of public utility jeepneys, but that Thursday was exceptionally chaotic. When the two men beside me got off in Sta. Cruz I noticed on the back of their shirts printed were images of Jesus Christ crowned with thorns. I know what it is today, I uttered to myself, and today is the Feast of the Black Nazarene!

I got off the jeepney and decided to join the two men going to the Quiapo church, less known as the Basilica of the Saint John the Baptist. Before long, I lost sight of the two devotees because as I surged forward the throngs of people on the streets going to different directions I felt I was about to faint. Then I realized that I was too lean to survive the way to the church. I settled on a fast food center to rest my feet and grab something to eat, and unsurprisingly it was overflowing with devotees, many of whom came from outside of Metro Manila and were not able to take their breakfast at home.

While I waited for my turn on the counter I eavesdrop the conversation of people lined-up. Three women in late 50s were talking about their hopes of heavenly grace in escorting the statue of Black Nazarene when it is brought out of the church and taken in a procession through the streets of Quiapo. An old man on the other line was sharing his experience to a younger man in the line, as he claimed that for five years he religiously joined the procession and it has indeed helped in renewing his troublesome son. I felt it was the day for the old devotees, but I was wrong as I saw a group of young adults seated on the near table chatting and comparing this year feast as of last year.

Yearly we hear many people tell tales of healed diseases and answered prayers after joining the procession and touching the image of the Black Nazarene. But it was only that Thursday that I heard some first-hand.

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