Filipino Catholic Fever!
By David Asta Alares.- Manila, Jan 9 (EFE).-
More than half a million Catholic devotees participated on Thursday in the centuries-old Black Nazarene procession in Manila, seeking blessings and miracles while navigating massive crowds that left nearly 470 injured.
The annual procession, one of the largest displays of Catholic devotion worldwide, commemorates the transfer of the revered Black Nazarene statue of Jesus Christ along a six-kilometer route through the capital city.
The dark-skinned statue, encased in glass, was carried through throngs of worshippers, many of whom jostled for a chance to climb onto its platform or touch the crucifix, believing it could bring blessings or cure illnesses.
The Philippine Red Cross reported that at least 467 devotees were injured during the event, with most incidents involving fainting or minor trauma caused by the dense crowds.
“This is my first time at the Nazarene, and I came to pray for good health for my family and a decent job,” Jessa, a devotee who waited for hours to touch the statue, told EFE.
The procession began at dawn, moving the Black Nazarene statue from Quirino Grandstand to its permanent home in Quiapo Church in Manila.
Although the route typically requires just one hour to traverse, the event often takes 10 to 20 hours due to the sheer size of the crowds.
By early morning, over half a million devotees, dressed in maroon and gold, many wearing headbands, had joined the procession.
The crowd continued to swell as the statue approached Quiapo Church. Officials deployed around 15,000 security personnel along the route to maintain order.
The procession honors the statue’s historical transfer from the Intramuros district to Quiapo, a densely populated area of Manila.
The Black Nazarene procession, which dates back to the 16th century, is a key cultural and religious legacy of Spain’s nearly 300-year colonization of the Philippines, now the largest Catholic nation in Asia.
The statue was carved in Mexico and transported to the Philippines via Acapulco. It is said that the statue acquired its dark complexion after catching fire during the voyage near the Philippines, though some accounts suggest the Mexican artist intentionally gave it darker skin to reflect his heritage.
“The Black Nazarene is God, and this God with black skin is suffering,” psychologist Randy Dellosa told EFE.
He said that for many Filipinos, participating in the procession and enduring its challenges, the touching of the statue is an act of faith and a way to connect with the divine.
“For many, it’s a form of escape, as most Filipinos experience some form of hardship, whether due to poverty or personal circumstances,” Dellosa said. Those seeking a miracle “feel they must show their effort by enduring some suffering” in the crowded procession to touch the statue.
Earlier this week, event organizers said that the statue’s name would be officially changed to “Jesus Nazarene,” clarifying that “Black Nazarene” is an unofficial name. EFE
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