ALL roads lead to Quiapo Church today.
Tens of thousands of devotees will jam the streets around Quiapo district as the yearly rites and procession of the Black Nazarene will take place.
* * *
Although women in the Philippines are generally more demonstrative of their piety than the men, the feast of the Black Nazarene is clearly a male bastion.
* * *
The great majority, clad in the traditional maroon t-shirt emblazoned with the image of a pathetic, suffering Christ, will walk barefooted; the men will jostle for position to pull the lengthy rope of the "carro."
* * *
Why does the feast continue to attract huge crowds every year?
Most devotees I talked to claimed they have a "panata" (vow) to join the procession annually. To break the vow is believed to bring misfortune or miss God’s blessings for themselves and their families.
* * *
Others believe that by touching a part of the highly-revered image, they are either blessed or obtain healing or their sins are forgiven. Those who cannot touch the image of the Señor Nazareno throw towelettes to those manning the carro to be wiped to the image, then thrown back.
* * *
Tens of thousands of devotees will jam the streets around Quiapo district as the yearly rites and procession of the Black Nazarene will take place.
* * *
Although women in the Philippines are generally more demonstrative of their piety than the men, the feast of the Black Nazarene is clearly a male bastion.
* * *
The great majority, clad in the traditional maroon t-shirt emblazoned with the image of a pathetic, suffering Christ, will walk barefooted; the men will jostle for position to pull the lengthy rope of the "carro."
* * *
Why does the feast continue to attract huge crowds every year?
Most devotees I talked to claimed they have a "panata" (vow) to join the procession annually. To break the vow is believed to bring misfortune or miss God’s blessings for themselves and their families.
* * *
Others believe that by touching a part of the highly-revered image, they are either blessed or obtain healing or their sins are forgiven. Those who cannot touch the image of the Señor Nazareno throw towelettes to those manning the carro to be wiped to the image, then thrown back.
* * *
ref: manilabulletin
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