Rough Groove

Black Nazarene, 2006 - devotees

Just some of the devotees that I’ve encountered while walking along the narrow streets before the procession.

Darna/Narda
At first I was attracted at the small image of the Nazarene that this lady, together with other devotees were busily attending too. When I got closer to take pictures, she approached me with a smile, came near and whispered: “Alam mo, ako si Darna. Yung Narda sa una.” (”You know, I’m Darna. The Narda before”). I was suprised and really didn’t know if I should treat it as a joke and laugh but she seemed to be very serious. I just nodded and smiled and asked to take her picture which she gamely posed. By the way, Darna/Narda is the name of a fictional local heroine in the mold of Wonder Woman who, as the ordinary Narda, is transformed to the sexy and superhuman character that is Darna that flies and saves the world from evil.

I really don’t know what to make of her claim. Just too possibilities:
- she is indeed Narda/Darna in her younger years doing screen work for the movies. And,
- she may be dillusional, a given in this festivity where sects and cults with messianic complexes abound

Victor Serrano
While sitting on the ledge, I chatted up with Vic as he was waiting for the image to pass. He has been joining in the festivities for the past 30 years, starting when he was still 33 years old and hasn’t missed a single procession (there are two each year: 9 January and Good Friday). I asked him if he has a reason for joining, probably a promise, a penitence or a thanx for having a loved one cured or something. He just answered that he does this for the good of mankind.

Those 30 years of going barefoot and joining the procession are attested on his broken toe nails. A family man from Mandaluyong, he accompanied around 50 other devotees in his area. When I asked if there are other family members with him, he answered that he does not intend to bring a kin or a son since he fears that they may not be upto the demands of participating in such a risky event.

Devotees come from different backgrounds, from different walks of life from the downtrodden, poor to the wealthy with different reasons ranging from a promise to the pure thrill of just experiencing it. But seeing their faces light up after the act of endangering their lives in the name of God and, for others, the the experience, makes me wonder if I will have the guts to do it.

Related posts:

Quiapo - Black Nazarene Feast
Quiapo, 2 - Insight
Quiapo, 3 - The Devotion
Quiapo, 4 - The Vendors
Quiapo, 5 - The Religious Sects
Quiapo, 6 - The Male Devotees
Quiapo, 7 - The Media
Quiapo, 8 - Other Images
Quiapo, 9 - Two Politicians in Contrast
Quiapo, 10 - Ma Mon Luk
Black Nazarene, 2006

Black Nazarene, 2006

9 January and I filed a leave from work to be in Quiapo for the Black Nazarene festivities to take photos. Once again, devotees as well as the curious flocked to this part of Manila whose church houses the much revered and venerated image of the Christ (a 400 year old image from Mexico that got burned, thus its called the Black Nazarene) to honor a panata (promise) or marvel at the display of (blind?) faith, daringness and spectacle that marks this annual feast.

The barefoot male (and a very few female) devotees await 1400H when the closed gates of the church are flung open as the thick ropes rapidly are drawn from the portal dragging the familiar carroza holding the sacred image accompanied by the explosion of firecrackers, shouts of Viva! Viva! Viva! and emphatic cry of devotion as pilgrims and devotees raise their hands and white kerchief.

Preceeding the carroza are two thick ropes that the male devotess tug. Die hard believers would risk life and limb just to touch or hold the rope, climb on the carroza to touch the image while others are content watching, following or having their kerchiefs and towels dabbed at the image’s face.

I was fortunate that I stayed at the elevated road leading to the bridge going to Manila City Hall that gave me a good vantage point for the procession as it happened. As the spectacle above unfolded before my eyes, I can’t help but feel the surge of excitement as well as thrill of the frenzy that was happening. Male and female devotees were pushing and pulling, there were shouts and cries of pain as well as ecstasy as I was also frantically taking shots upon shots! The whole atmosphere was filled electric!

Of course, the procession is not complete without the casualties. One was reported dead on arrival at the hospital as he was probably crushed in the seeming melee. More than 20 have been injured and as for these two men above, they were lucky to just suffer a cut or a bruise.

While waiting for the image to come out of the church, this devotee took his time to take a brief rest before the impending push and pull of the crowds as they jostle against each other starts. A calm before the storm!

Fervent devotees handing over their towels and kerchief for this men on top gets them to wipe the face of the image. They consider it sacred and the kerchiefs, after dabbing, is transformed into a sacred salve, a holy cloth that can cure sickness and pain of the body and soul.

Related posts:

Quiapo - Black Nazarene Feast
Quiapo, 2 - Insight
Quiapo, 3 - The Devotion
Quiapo, 4 - The Vendors
Quiapo, 5 - The Religious Sects
Quiapo, 6 - The Male Devotees
Quiapo, 7 - The Media
Quiapo, 8 - Other Images
Quiapo, 9 - Two Politicians in Contrast
Quiapo, 10 - Ma Mon Luk
Black Nazarene, 2006 - devotees

Christmas displays at Policarpio St.

Policarpio St. in Mandaluyong City located near the intersection of Boni Avenue and the street going to Acacia Lane is definitely a must go to place for the holidays. The Christmas displays and spectacular lights that deck the houses are just awesome. Not only were the people and other visitors merry with such grand spectacles, Meralco, the electric company was happier.

The night tiangge (market/bazaar) is now a fixture of the street’s holiday attractions. This is an opportunity for the subdivision and maybe the home owners considering the very high electric bills.

Another vendor at the street bazaar briskly selling Christmas holiday trinkets.

The House of Santa Claus is another attraction. A houseful of lights and holiday decors with a multitude displays of Santas of different sizes. Here, visitors pose on a life size version.

A rich nativity scene with moving figures in one house, while another, the main attraction, is a house that’s blanketed with thousands of christmas lights from the roof down to the trees and grasses in the garden! A very opulent display that dazzle the eyes but hard on the owner’s pocket. In an interview in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the owner spent around P75,000 (around $1,700) in electric bills alone. This time, they made it a point to cut costs and target around P35,000.

23rd Southeast Asian Games

The 23rd Southeast Asian Games formally opened at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta last Sunday even if the other venues like Cebu and Bacolod had already opened theirs and games were already played. As of yesterday, the Philippines’ medal tally was: gold, 53 silver, 31 bronze, 37 for a total of 121. This amid the soundings of Thailand on alleged cheating which, POC officials are denying.

On the other hand, last Sunday’s opening was a bit of a bummer. The last time the games were held here in the country was way back in 1991 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. I was there and the venue was more conducive to an international games event than at the Quirino Grandstand. When I arrived at the Luneta, I was quite aghast at the number of people at the park. Not sure though if this was brought out by the games considering that the LRT and MRT were free that day or just regular Sunday visitors enjoying their free time with family and friends.

On to the Quirino Grandstand, I was surprised to see that the bleachers were occupied by uniformed military personnel at one side and VIP’s on the other while the people who came to witness the event were just relegated to the flat field infront. This was not just good for me since you can only witness the events at the stage and not at the parade grounds when the different country participants enter amidst the pomp and revelry of colors. It was just disappointing for me that I just lingered for a while and left.

The different Southeast Asian flags are aflutter while these three men at the Quirino Grandstand grounds were happily posing while holding a gigantic PEACE banner.

Left, the stage of the event where a choral group was performing, background. Foreground, students from the different Manila schools added to the color. Right, a spectator wearing a SEAG headband with the familiar logo that is reminiscent of the mask used in the Bacolod Masskara festival.

Left and right, spectators proudly waving miniature Philippine flags.

At the sidelines, while the event was unfolding, right, a delegate from the Indonesian contingent happily posed with Manila students infront of the Rizal Monument while, left, a celebrity, was signing autographs to curious but starry-eyed school girls.

Anti-GMA rally - Makati City

The Anti-GMA crowd held its largest rally against the president yesterday at the country’s financial district. Despite the large number, the biggest since they’ve started the series of rallies numbering at around 35,000, they failed to muster the originally planned 200,000 bodies. Again, the left, right and some mid forces ranging from ERAP loyalists, FPJ diehards, militants and the so called United Opposition, the were united in this one goal: to have Gloria resign. But beyond that goal, is uncertainty and division on what they should do. Such strange bedfellows that before, they were at both sides of the fence but now, locking arms together. To regal the crowds, showbiz personalities, comedians, plays and dances were staged and at around 1900H, the highlight of the rally, was the speech of the wife of the late FPJ, Susan Roces. but curiously, after her speech, the crowds started to thin out. Did they really come here to voice out their sentiments? Stargazing? Or doing their role after being paid P300.00?

Her sentiment stuck at her back.

Members of a militant group cheering and clapping as a performer was belting out a song.

Trash the constitutional process. This posters also would want that the Vice President resign. And then what?

Another militant group asking for the president’s resignation.

And still another member of a militant group.

Ninoy Aquino’s statue at the intersection of Ayala and Paseo Roxas Avenues sprouting the rallyists’ banners while an effigy of the president (its hideously done), whose whereabouts are unknown, is being paraded.

A TV reporter at the rally relaying the afternoon’s events while the militants at the back, after seeing the reporter, rushed behind her and held their banners.

Tired protesters. But when I pointed my camera at them, gamely posed and did the thumbs down sign.

Hakot (coloquially, rent-a-crowd)? One of the buses lining Ayala Ave. that came all the way from North Luzon loaded with people and sacks of rice and other foodstuff. Looking at the faces of these people, frankly, I don’t think that their there to air their views. Bringing people by the busload and paying them for their participation is a normal activity in this kind of rallies.

On the lighter side, this man was gamely posing while holding an apt ad for Bonamine, another enterprising opportunity