Feast of the Black Nazarene

Viva Senor Nazareno!

January 9 is the feast of the Black Nazarene, and this is when the biggest procession in the Philippines happen, the procession where the image of the Black Nazarene is paraded in various streets of Manila. This year the procession started at the Quirino grandstand in Luneta.

 This is the first time that I am documenting by photographs one of the religious events of the Philippines.  The first photo above was a shot of the silkscreen that an enterprising man is using to print the image of the Nazarene on T-shirts right on the sidewalk.

Next photos would tell many stories of the procession.

 The image of the Black Nazarene is expected to be at Quiapo church early in the evening yet, but even as early as noon time, Quezon boulevard was already a sea of devotees and merchants.

 The next photos were taken atop a waiting shed near the Metropolitan theater along P Burgos street. I was at the wrong side because the face of the Nazarene was blocked by escorts and the cross.




 
The photogs on the other side are at a better vantage point.

I admire the courage of these two women who also tried their best to climb the Nazarene's carriage just to be able to wipe their towels on the image.