Rough Groove

Black Nazarene at Quirino grandstand

A break from tradition, the image of the Black Nazarene, in celebration of its 400th anniversary, was transported Monday afternoon to the Quirino Grandstand where a vigil was done. The following day, the procession was held at around noon. Despite that I don’t have my camera with me during this time, I went to the Luneta to see the image. Alas, it was far from the grounds and fenced off. One way to touch the image is to fall in line which at 0900H was already snaking almost a kilometer!

Series 24: Black Nazarene 06

A series nearing completion at Binary Silver that focuses on the awesome, feeling invoking drama and passion of the devotees of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila.

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

Quiapo, 9 - Two Politicians in Contrast

Noli de Castro, Vice President of the Philippines, doing his yearly panata or devotional promise to the Black Nazarene, was whisked away from the rioting crowd and guarded in a roadside. A sure security nightmare.

Roilo Golez, Representative, Paranaque City, is comfortably standing on the stage beside Plaza Miranda for a brief chat. Once in a while waving to the crowd or taking pictures and texting through his NOKIA 9500 mobile phone.

Two contrasting politicians in the same place.