PHILIPPINES: Philippines celebrates Feat of the Black Nazarene

More than half a million devotees join the Black Nazarene procession, an annual event where people follow a centuries-old wooden statue of Jesus that is paraded around the streets of Manila. The 400-year-old anniversary of the Feast of the Black Nazarene was celebrated by hundreds of thousands on Tuesday (January 9), when people prayed for personal miracles and cures for diseases. The annual event is the largest religious procession in the mainly Roman Catholic country. About 600,000 devotees gathered at Luneta grandstand and followed the centuries-old wooden statue of Jesus Christ. Catholics come from all over the Philippines for a chance to get close enough to touch the Christ image and perhaps be blessed with a miracle. "When you get to wipe your towel on our Nazarene's face, body or his cross all our sickness will be healed. If you have problems? It will all go away. So even if we get very tired or hurt from the procession, when we get to touch him all the pain will disappear," said Nestor Lase, president of Apor Roque, an organisation devoted to the Black Nazarene. Women are usually seen at the back of the procession holding candles and singing. In the past few years have seen more women taking part in the pulling of the float. "Yes, miracles can happen. That is why we vowed to join the procession every year. He will answer all our prayers." said Nancy Orbita, a mother who has attended the procession with her neighbours for the past three years. The Black Nazarene was purchased in Mexico by a Roman Catholic priest and brought to Manila in 1606. Since 1787, the statue has been housed at the church in Quiapo. For more than two centuries, the statue has been paraded every Jan. 9.

ITN Source | January 13, 2007

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