The Tagalog term for sacrifice, the act of exchanging one’s comfort in trade of something that the heart desires, would be fittest way to describe the faith of the Nazarene’s devotees. It is the one thing that drives them to procession of the Black Nazarene each and every year. The exhaustion, pain, sweat, and all these things that you could get along the not less than 12 hours of non-stopping procession all around Quiapo could make you wonder for what the devotees are wishing for or what do they exchanged it with. Health maybe on the first list and wealth maybe the last. Those Millions of bare-footed, faithful devotees that I am talking about had stayed in the Quirino Grandstand for the overnight vigil and in the morning they marched their way from the Quirino Grandstand towards Quiapo church, passing along the way some familiar spots like Hidalgo, the photographer’s haven.
The replica, which was actually the one being paraded around the town because the original image was too fragile to move, was being pulled by two very sturdy ropes. Sometimes those ropes intertwined and they name it “Otso” or 8 because it is similar to the figure of the number eight. Devotees consider that clinging on to the rope and helping to pull the Black Nazarene is part of their undying devotion. Aside from devotes, the yearly procession also attracts tourist and photographers alike. I hope that whatever brings you there, we must always put to mind that faith alone is not enough. What we do to our neighbor counts. Thank you and God Bless!
