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Whenever I see the massive crowds that take part in the Traslación, the traditional way of honoring the Feast of the Black Nazarene (celebrated January 09 annually), I could not but help but be strongly reminded of the deep and unshakeable faith of Filipinos in God.
The celebration is marked by a very long procession that begins in the early morning till late at night around Quiapo, Manila, with hundreds of thousands of devotees from all walks of life and from all over the Metropolis, and even from nearby provinces, following the carro which carries the Black Nazarene, whose image is seen kneeling from the weight of the cross He bears.
Devotees believe if they could touch the carro or the ropes that are used to pull it, they will have taken part in the struggle of the Nazarene to carry His heavy cross on the way to Calvary. Also, if the carro bearer was able, for the devotees, to wipe their towels or handkerchiefs on the image itself, then they were better assured of the power of the Nazarene to work wonders in their lives.
The religious fervor of Filipinos is not confined to the Nazareno; it cuts across the full panoply of our faith. Another favorite devotion — this time at the National Shrine in Baclaran — is the Nuestra Senora del Perpetuo Socorro (Mother of Perpetual Help), whose image depicts Mary holding the child Jesus upon her chest.
Both images are believed to have power and a source of blessings to those who believed in them.
Each day, more prominently on Wednesday, countless devotees may be seen going to and from the Baclaran Church in search of healing, good fortune, traveling mercies, success in board exams, and the fulfillment of personal intentions.
The popular Novena to the Mother of Perpetual Help is said to be miraculous. It has prayer lines worth quoting such as, “Merciful Father, you sent your Divine Son to redeem us by His death and resurrection and to give us new life. By this, you make us your children to love one another in Christ. How many times in the past we have forgotten this sublime dignity.”
Another popular religious devotion is directed at the Child Jesus (Santo Niño) in Cebu, home of what many devotees believe to be the original and oldest relic in the Philippines that honors Jesus as a child. Brought by Spanish Conquistador Magellan when he landed in Cebu in 1521, it was given to Datu Humabon and his consort
Reyna Humamay, when the two were baptized.
Reputed to be the source of many blessings, miracles protection, and good fortune, the diminutive 12-inch image of the Santo Niño became the most duplicated religious icon in the country.
Today, just about every sector of society has its own version of the
Santo Niño. Nurses have their image clothed in white and wearing a face mask and hospital garb. Jeepney drivers have their version where the image is depicted as driving a mini-jeepney. Even police officers have their own version of the Niño dressed in smart blue.
Such is the attachment of Filipinos to these devotions that they invoke the Nazarene’s help, the
Santo Niño’s help, and that of the Mother of Jesus in every challenging situation that seems too much carry alone.
When disasters strike our nation — the devotions enable Filipinos to be resilient and rise above the tragedy and look forward to another day with renewed hope. Because of our strong faith in God, their disposition is that there is no misfortune rather there is an opportunity to pray.
We Filipinos generally have a utilitarian view of religion and religious icons, but the more serious in their devotions seek not just favors but most of all inspiration from the works of the Heavenly beings represented by the icons so that they can be closer to God.
“When disasters strike our nation — the devotions enable Filipinos to be resilient and rise above the tragedy and look forward to another day with renewed hope.