FEAST OF BLACK NAZARENE (QUIAPO, MANILA)...FACES OF DEVOTION....PROCESSION DAY, JANUARY 7, 2016


The feast day of the Black Nazarene, patron of the Quiapo district of Manila is celebrated every 9th of January but it is preceded by activities such as the unannounced transfer of the relic to the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta for the ritual kissing on the 8th, the procession on the 7th around Quiapo area, and finally, the return or "translacion", of the relic to the Quiapo Basilica Basilica Minore on the 9th, early in the morning after the Mass. As soon as the relic has been transferred to the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta, devotees stage vigils until the day of the Nazarene's return to Quiapo Basilica Minore. On those days, the whole Luneta park is practically jampacked with strollers and devotees.

The Black Nazarene has millions of devotees throughout the country, from Luzon to Mindanao but the nucleus of devotion is at Quiapo. Among the rituals during the procession is the wiping of any part of the relic with a face towel or handkerchief. For this, not only is the real Quiapo Black Nazarene wiped, but other relics that are part of the procession. On hand to do the wiping for the devotees are members of contingents that own the relic that catches their fancy, who are posted beside it, and to whom devotees throw their towels. The following photos were taken prior to the procession.