Nuestro Padre Hesus Nazareno 2011

"Viva Viva Viva..." These were the words repeatedly uttered by the devotees as the image of the Black Nazarene approaches our location at the roof of an underpass near the Manila City Hall.

Today is the feast day of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo. Another big day for the devotees of the Nuestro Padre Hesus Nazareno, another intense devotion and another large procession. Every 9th of January, this large feast is celebrated by thousands, probably millions of devotees around the country and some parts of the world. The life size image of the Black Nazarene is carried into the streets for procession, from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church, in a "Caroza" or carriage.

It is said that this event originated from the "Traslacion", or the transfer of the image of the Black Nazarene from Intramuros to Quiapo Church sometime between 1767-1790. Today the head and the cross stays on the Altar Mayor of the Minor Basilica, and the original body image of the Black Nazarene is used in the processions. Other, even smaller replica can be found in other churches.

I decided to take pictures of this event so I went to Manila City Hall at around 9:00 AM. I saw people climbing the roof of the underpass, a perfect station for photographers. When I got there also, the image was still far so we waited there until it arrived at around 11:30 AM. The devotees welcomed the image with claps, and they waved their white towel while shouting "Viva, Viva!" I got goosebumps when the bare footed rope-pulling devotees came to my sight. The sea of people was flowing fast. The devotees were throwing their towels into the men at the caroza which they will throw back after wiping it to the image. Some were climbing the caroza just to touch the image. I also learned several terms used in the procession: "Otso", the term shouted when the rope loops around the body of a pulling devotee, "Sasalang" , the term used to refer to the people who wishes to pull the rope of the caroza, and "Kapatid", the term used by a devotee to address his fellow devotee.
 

When the image already passed, I decided to walk my way to Quiapo Church.

Still, the devotees crowd the Quezon Boulevard, Plaza Miranda and the church itself. Vendors roam around as well as the MPD.  I somehow managed to enter the church and pray. After a few minutes, the rain started to pour, they say its a blessing. I got no umbrella with me so I returned home at around 2:00 PM.

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