‘Andas Wall’ dampens spirits of Black Nazarene devotees
Thousands of barefoot men and women, mostly clad in yellow and red, formed a sea of people moving like waves on the streets of the “Traslacion” procession in Manila on Thursday as the annual ritual of the revered image moved toward Quiapo Church.
The procession started after hundreds of thousands of devotees estimated at some 150,000, gathered at the Quirino Grandstand as early as midnight heard Holy Mass at dawn. Many devotees were caught unaware when the procession started
shortly after 4 a.m. not at 5 a.m. as expected.
The route also was not the usual – this time crossing the Ayala Bridge towards Quiapo Church some six kilometers away.
As the image moved along the route, the crowds of devotees thickened and authorities said the number had risen to about 2.3 million six hours later.
Among the devotees waiting at the side of the route were Kenneth Ocampo, 35, and his friend, Paul Tambe, 28, who had left their hometown in Bulacan province at midnight just to get to where they were at 2 a.m.
“We left Bulacan early so we could still rest and have energy to climb the ‘andas,’” Ocampo said.
Despite the thick crowds, devotees boldly push their way to climb and touch the “andas” or the carriage of the Black Nazarene, as they believe touching any part of the holy image can heal illness or answer fervent prayers.
“My only request is a stable income. In God’s grace, my wife, who has been working abroad, has a good employer. And our junk shop business is flourishing,” said Tambe, a devotee for four years now.
Shouts of “Viva! Viva! Viva!” filled the air as the image moved on. Meanwhile, more people elbowed their way closer to the carriage of the Black Nazarene statue.
“I did not mind getting hurt. It’s a sacrifice to show gratitude. I used to be sickly before, but when I started believing in Him, I got better and healthier,” 41-year-old Rafael Pador told the Manila Bulletin. “For 22 years, I have been doing this to show him how I am thankful for him.”
Meanwhile, devotees who could not climb waved their towels, and threw them towards the men on the carriage, called the “hijos del Nazareno.” The men would then wipe the statue with the towels and throw them back into the crowd.
Other fervent devotees tried to touch the ropes attached to the carriage as they believed that also had miraculous power.
Despite the crowded situation, an air of brotherhood hang over the devotees. People called each other “kap,” for ‘kapatid’ (sister or brother). They also helped devotees to get nearer to the image or lifted those who were getting suffocated by the crowd out of the way of danger.
The procession knew no age, from toddlers to senior citizens. They were united in the country’s capital to pay respect in the dark-skinned, kneeling image of Jesus Christ.
Albert Doguiles, 36, brought along his wife and his four children aged 11, 9, 7, and 2 during the procession “so they would know the Black Nazarene from an early age.”
“I want them to be guided,” the father said, while carrying his 7-yearold son on his back.
“I will leave them later somewhere, so I can join the crowd in reaching the image,” added Doguiles, a devotee for 20 years.
Andas wall
More than 2,000 police and military personnel were positioned at the front and flanks of the carriage to form the “andas wall” to prevent devotees from climbing the carriage.
Unlike previous years, devotees were only allowed to climb from the rear.
Several men trying to break the police formation protecting the carriage were hurt and injured.
Eugene Navarro, 20, sustained abrasions from stones after police allegedly shoved him off. But this did not stop him from showing his devotion.
“I still climb. All the exhaustion is gone when I touch him,” said Navarro, who began joining when he was 10 after friends “would throw” him at the Nazarene carriage.
Police forming the “andas wall” later left the scene somewhere along Palanca St. around 9 a.m. They started letting the people pull the image, which led to the procession taking about an hour to travel just 100 meters.
Police and the local government unit recorded several injuries, but no untoward incident has yet occurred.
First procession with Black Nazarene
Meanwhile, Thursday's "Traslacion" was the first time that Monsignor Hernando Coronel actually walked and joined the procession ever since he became rector of Quiapo Church in 2015.
"It's my first time. Before, I don't join it. Why did I join? Out of solidarity because the top brass of the PNP (Philippine National Police) and the BFP (Bureau of Fire Protection) are also here," he said in an interview.
Coronel walked from Quirino Grandstand to Palanca St. together with his fellow priest Fr. Douglas Badong, and some members of the Hijos del Nazareno.
In the past, the priest just presided the vigil mass for the Feast of the Black Nazarene and the morning prayer in Luneta preceeding the "Traslacion."
When asked of his initial assessment of the procession, Coronel said it was good particularly referring to the fast transfer of the image to its andas or carriage and the smooth start of the procession.
"It was good. There was a time it was very very long. This time it was very smooth...everybody cooperated," he said.
"Every year we are trying to improve with the help of many... this time it was smoother. So every year we make it better. It was according to the plan that the devotees were at the back while the police, military, and other men and women in uniform at the perimeter. We are grateful," added Coronel. (With reports from Leslie Aquino and John Aldrin Casinas)