Manila: Black Nazarene Festival

We arrived in Manila on 1/8 in order to catch the Black Nazarene Festival on 1/9. Black Nazarene from the Quiapo Church is a much venerated image dating from the 16th century. As far as festivals go, it is a rather underwhelming festival for spectators. In the afternoon of 1/8, we walked by thousands of devotees in a snaking line waiting to kiss (post COVID the new protocol is to wipe with a towel) the image. On the day of the festival, a single image zigzags along the procession route in a swirl of mob. The zeal of religion is palpable.

It wasn't until recently I realized a big motivation for me to travel is to get a feel of a place that's unattainable from reading text or looking at photos/videos. Not without trepidation, we approached the church first. There were too many people to get near. In fact we tried the following two days, but we still couldn't get near the front door.



Next we worked our way to the procession route, we soon came across the image realized. Seconds after my video, John was separated from his phone seconds after my video (See SL's 37-second video below - watch until the end when the throngs push around us), on our first full day in the Philippines. The possibility of losing something during the procession had occurred to both of us. When it did happen, it was upsetting nonetheless. At the same time, I was much relieved it was only a phone, neither of us was physically hurt. Were we foolish?





Below: the scene in Rizal Park the night before the procession. Thousands are camped on the green lawn in front of the sacred image on the far grandstand. Thousands more form an endless queue to venerate the image of the Black Jesus of Nazareth up close.


Although my phone was lost, my point-and-shoot camera remained attached to my body ;-) that day. Here are some photos of activities related to the procession