Devout Filipino Catholics brave heat, terror fears
MASSES of Catholic devotees in the Philippine capital braved sizzling weather and terrorist fears yesterday in a frenzied bid to touch a centuries-old statue of Jesus Christ that is believed to have miraculous powers.
The annual parade, which police said attracted more than one million people, is one of the world’s biggest displays of Catholic devotion and showcases the Philippines’ status as the church’s bastion in Asia.
Many Filipinos believe touching or getting close to the life-sized statue, brought to the Philippines in the early 1600s when the islands were a Spanish colony, can lead to the healing of otherwise incurable ailments and other good fortune.
Lolit Gonzales, 45, said as she sat on the pavement after taking her turn pulling on a thick length of rope that moved the statue’s carriage forward, said: “If you seek a favour it will be granted as long as you pray hard.”
The Manila manicurist attributed the healing two years ago of a painful right knee, which her doctor had told her required surgery and medicines she could not afford, to taking part in the procession at that time.
Gonzales said she had returned yesterday to ensure that her knee ailment did not recur, since she had no health insurance and was her family’s only breadwinner.
The pilgrims walked Manila’s concrete streets as the temperature climbed above 30°C without footwear as a sign of penance and to imitate a barefoot Jesus carrying his cross.
As the procession continued into the night, the Philippine Red Cross said its medical staff had treated about 1 200 people along the route for dizziness, bruising and sprains. However, there were no major casualties.
The statue is called the Black Nazarene because of its charred colour, believed to have occurred when it survived a fire aboard ship as it was brought to the Philippines from Mexico.
This year’s event was held under the threat of Islamic militant attacks, with authorities reporting that more than 5 700 police had been deployed to provide security.