Every year over a thousands of devotees flocks to the streets of Manila just to partake in the annual procession of the Black Nazarene. This has been historic and unique when compared to other festivities that occur in the Philippines. First when it comes to the number of attendees in the said event is large that can fill up and block a three to four lane high way. Second this this procession was first started during the time of Spanish occupation, which means this tradition has been on going for over a four centuries.
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| The procession starts with a mass from the Quirino Grandstand |
The procession or popularly known as the "Translacion" traditionally starts with a mass in the morning at the Quirino Grandstand. The Translacion starts from the Quirino Grandstand because formerly there was church situated there and every feast of the Black Nazarene the statue was transported to church and will be brought back by a procession.
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| Devotees climbed up on a waiting shed on P. Burgos St. just to get a glimpse or throw towels to the Black Nazarene. |
The route of the procession was filled with devotees even before the Black Nazarene reach every streets of intended for the route, it is for them to prepare for the clash and get a good spot for throwing their towels or a spot to grab the rope that pulls the carriage or the "Andas" the carries the Black Nazarene.
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| The Black Nazarene as it passes the sea of devotees along the street of P.Burgos, Manila |
One must be physically strong enough to get through these sea of people in order for you to reach the Andas of the Black Nazarene or even just the rope of the Andas. It is believed that just touching could make your prayers come true it is almost equivalent with throwing towels on the Black Nazarene.
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| The devotee was overpowered and overthrown upside down after he reached the Andas and letting himself go with the flow of the procession. |
If your are not strong enough to go with this sea of people, your fate will be most likely the same with the man at the photo above. The man in the photo was safe and was helped to get up by the devotees nearby, he was lucky enough to make it to stand and walk away normal. However, there are devotees that needs medical attention due to difficulty in breathing because of the heat and the crowd.
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| The man collapsed due to difficulty in breathing because of the heat and the large number of the crowd. |
Volunteer groups are on standby to provide medical attention to the devotees in need. The Philippine Red Cross had their first aid station on every corner and as well as the Metro Manila Development Authority are also their to provide health care and traffic management services.
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| After the Black Nazarene had passed their spot the devotees took a rest at the shadow cast by the flag pole in Luneta Park. |
There are sayings that prayers can move mountains. Well, literally it can move mountains, mountains of container vans. These container vans are used as a blockade to prevent the devotees to bring the Black Nazarene across using the Jones Bridge. However, the said bridge is old and weak enough to carry and support the huge number of devotees .
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| Crew from the Solar News are forced to get down from the container vans after the devotees forcibly pushed away the huge blockades. |
The devotees overpowered the size and weight of the huge containers ending up to set aside the blockades. Members of the media from Solar News and a number of Photographers are forced to get down to avoid accidents.
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| The devotees help each other to climb on the top of the container vans |
After the procession have passed, the devotees always left a trail to be followed by the great sweepers, to make the road just like nothing happened there. We should be thankful to them, your soul may be cleaned by your faith, but don't forget that you have your environment to be kept clean, it is what your creator made for you.
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| Sweepers take a rest after cleaning a truck load of trash left by the devotees |
Remember it is your heart what God's looking after you, and not your actions.
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