IT was like seeing an army of ants climbing up a colony – only imagine it to be chaotic, more than a few stepping on heads and shoulders in order to touch a moving target.
In a predominantly Catholic country, religious festivities such as this are commonplace but the Feast of the Black Nazarene definitely stands out in terms of scale. This year’s estimates put the number of attendees by the millions.
During this day, the image of the Black Nazarene is paraded from Quiapo Church around Manila’s city streets and back. This year, though, the mass was held instead at the Quirino Grandstand (fronting Luneta or Rizal Park), followed by a procession leading to Quiapo Church.
Dressed in maroon and carrying white towels, hankies and other pieces of clothing, devotees started converging by the thousands during the mass.
Of course, any large gathering – religious or not – is bound to attract commerce. I saw vendors silk-screening T-shirts with image of Jesus Christ right there in the grandstand.
What followed afterwards was literally a Black Nazarene showcase – a parade of replicas big and small owned by different parishes and devotees themselves. I’ve never seen so many statues of Christ before.
The bigger replicas were atop carriages. Wiping towels or any piece of clothing on the image of Christ is believed by devotees to carry blessings and makes one’s wishes come true.
Me and my colleagues Majo and Izah — shown here with her beloved SLR camera “Rash”) — had a great of view of the procession from the second floor balcony of the City College of Manila campus.
At the end of procession is the “real” Black Nazarene, a centuries-old statue brought from Spain to the country. The image is said to have survived a fire and from then on, it was believed by devotees to be miraculous.
This sort of explains why devotees are willing to risk life and limb just to get near it. On our way to Quiapo, we asked a few people how they became devotees of the Black Nazarene.
This video also shows clips we shot from where we were positioned, marveling at the great spectacle that was the Black Nazarene mob.
April 30th, 2009 at 1:31 am
I had a mixed feelings because I agree with Mr. Combalicer’s opinion. I must say that I enjoy reading it, because you write it with great sense of humor. To me religion is a private matter.
January 13th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Dear John,
First of all, thanks for reading our blog.
As defined by the link you sent, a “mob” is a large and disorderly crowd especially bent on riotous or destructive action.
I hope you were patient enough to watch the video because what we’ve witnessed embodies this definition.
There was one instance - although not completely captured on video - wherein a riot broke out between devotees and the police.
A firetruck was blocking the way en route to Quiapo Church. Seeing they were no match for the crowd (some were already pelting them with stones), the police had no choice but to retreat and go away.
I do not mean any disrespect to my fellow Filipinos. As a journalist, it is my duty to describe OBJECTIVELY what I see.
Sincerely,
Lawrence
January 13th, 2009 at 10:31 am
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mob
Lawrence i think your label at the people who attended the gathering is very inappropriate, you lack the respect on other people.
Calling them mob is unjustly.
Your are better educated but you preyed on them and capture on your expensive touting camera the real people.
But judging people and calling them names is very inapproriate.
January 12th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Great pics! This event is truly breathtaking!