By Christina I. Hermoso RELIGIOUS FERVOR – A devotee kisses the feet of the image of the Black Nazarene at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, Manila, Monday, while thousands more await for their turn. As tens of thousands of devotees prepare to join the grand Traslacion procession of the revered Black Nazarene from theQuirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church early morning today, a RomanCatholic Church leader reminded the faithful “to remember his own traslacion” and “live like Jesus.” “Remember your own traslacion, your earthly journey.Remember your mission, the reason we are here on earth,the meaning of our life. Our life on earth is our journey, ourtranslacion to heaven,” said Balanga Bishop Ruperto C. Santos,chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of thePhilippines-Episcopal Commission on Migrants and ItinerantPeople. “Remember that we are not permanent residents here. Our true home and our final destination is to be home with God.With our traslacion here, which could be rough and rugged,long, difficult, and worrisome, much like the traslacionprocession of the Black Nazarene, we can expect a meaningful and fulfilling ending. That is, to reach heaven and finally residewith God,” said Santos. The prelate reminded the faithful that hardships and sacrificesare part of our traslacion. “Much like the bruised and bloodied SeñorNazareno, weshould realize that difficulties are part of our traslacion to God. The Pahalik is the final ritual before today’s Traslacion, the procession that will bring the Nazarene’s image back to Quiapo Church. (Ali Vicoy)

Live like Jesus

We are born for sacrifices. Jesus gave up everything for us. He suffered to redeem us. He carried the cross for our sake. Like Him, we should also be ready to sacrifice our personal interests,our personal agenda for the good of our fellowmen, and for the best of our country. Resolve to fulfill our duties andresponsibilities with honesty and with hard work rather than resort to corruption and half hearted efforts,” the Church leaderstressed. Santos, likewise, reminded the faithful on how to live during his traslacion on earth – that is, “to live like Jesus.” “We are born for services. Jesus served us. He does what is best and beneficial to us. Jesus gives everything for our salvation. Be Jesus. During our traslacion on earth, strive toserve faithfully and with integrity. Work to make your life and those of other people safe and meaningful. Do your share. Be just and fair. Live like Jesus. And love like Jesus,” said Santos. Meanwhile, a sea of barefoot devotees of the Poong Hesus Nazareno, who are mostly clad in maroon and yellow shirts, are expected to join today the much-anticipated grand Traslacion procession of the revered Black Nazarene from the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta, Manila, to the Quiapo Church. Done every January 9, the traslacion or procession commemorates the transfer of the miraculous image from Bagumbayan (Luneta) to Quiapo Church. ‘PAHALIK’ SECURITY – Members of the Philippine National Police Special Weapons and Tactic Force (PNP-SWAT) secure the perimeter surrounding the Quirino Grandstand during the traditional ‘Pahalik’ yesterday. Tens of thousands of devotees wait in line for hours for the chance to touch and kiss the foot of the image of the Black Nazarene during the ‘Pahalik’ ceremony prior to the ‘Traslacion’ or the procession of the image on the streets of Manila today. (Ali Vicoy)

Procession route

The procession, which will start after the 5 a.m. Liturgy for Procession or morning rrayer at the Quirino Grandstand, will take the following route: from Quirino Grandstand right to Katigbak Drive straight to Padre Burgos St. (Westbound lane) going to P. Burgos (southbound lane) through Jones Bridge, right to Dasmariñas St., right to Plaza Sta. Cruz St., left to Carlos Palanca St., left to Quezon Blvd, right to Arlegui St., right to Fraternal St., right to Vergara St., left to Duque de Alba St, left to Castillejos St., left to Farnecio St., right toArlegui St., left to Nepomuceno St. (counterflow), left to Aguila St., right to Carcer St., right to Hidalgo St. through Plaza del Carmen, left to Bilibid Viejo through Gil Puyat, left to JP De Guzman St., right to Hidalgo St., left to Barbosa St., right to Globo de Oro St. through under Quezon Bridge, right to Palanca St., right to Villalobos St. through Plaza Miranda all the way to Quiapo Church. It will be the eleventh time since 2007 that the annual procession will take off from Luneta, where devotees have been lining up for the traditional “Pahalik sa Poong Nazareno” since early yesterday morning. This year’s theme is “Poong HesusNazareno: Ang Daan, Ang Katotohanan at Ang Buhay.”Quiapo Church rector Monsignor Hernando Coronel appealed to pregnant women, those with smallchildren, the elderly, the disabled, the sick, and individuals who are intoxicated not to join the procession or to keep a safedistance from the crowd for security and safety reasons. Moving in wave-like motion, many will follow the procession barefoot as a sign of respect, humility, or in fulfillment of a“panata” (vow). Amid shouts of “Viva Senor!” the devotees will each try to touch the ropes, believed to have healing and miraculous powers, attached to the gilded carriage of the imageof the Black Nazarene. Others will throw white towels to the men surrounding the image and who will in turn throw thetowels back to the crowd after wiping them on the image ofChrist.

12 prayer stations

The Quiapo Church has set up 12 prayer stations along theprocession route “to make the procession more religious andspiritual.” The 12 prayer stations will be located at the Manila Hotel; National Museum; Pedestrian underpass in P. Burgos cor. Victoria (in front of Manila City Hall); Pedestrian underpass in LiwasangBonifacio; Escolta Arc; Sta. Cruz Church; Arlegui cor. Quezon Boulevard; Pedestrian overpass in Arlegui cor. P. Casal; Canopy of Manuel L. Quezon University( San Sebastian Church; Barangay hall in Guzman St.; and at Globo de Oro. "We are hoping that our sound system will be loud enough for the prayers so that even before the image arrives (at the station), waiting devotees will not just stand idly or chat with each other but instead pray the rosary and sing religious songs," Father Douglas Badong, parochial vicar of Quiapo Church, said. At the Quiapo Church, masses will be celebrated by the hour from 3 a.m. to 12 midnight.  In other parts of the country, atleast four to five million devotees are expected to celebrate thefeast in their respective dioceses such as in Naga City, Laoag inIlocos Norte, Tagum in Davao del Norte, and in Cagayan deOro.

Weather today

Today, Metro Manila will experience passing rain showers in the afternoon or evening during this year's grand Traslacion, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). PAGASA said good weather condition will prevail in the morning but passing showers will be felt in the afternoon or evening, especially in Manila City where the annual Black Nazarene procession is held. The forecast temperature range will be from 23°C to 31°C, PAGASA said. Light winds coming from the northeast isexpected and waters in Manila Bay will be slight, it added. With the unpredictable weather, the image of the Black Nazarene now has His own raincoat. The special raincoat with hood was made for the Nazareno this year in case it rains, especially during the Traslacion. Meanwhile, the warm and humid easterly winds will prevail in Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogon, North Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Agusandel Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, and Quezon province.

Black Nazarene history

The life-sized black wooden statue of the Black Nazarene was brought to Manila by a group of Augustinian Recollect friarsfrom Mexico on May 31, 1607. First enshrined at the firstRecollect Church in Bagumbayan(now part of Rizal Park), theBlack Nazarene was transferred to a bigger Recollect Church inIntramuros, Manila in1608. In 1787, Archbishop of Manila Basilio Sancho de Santas Junta y Rufina ordered the transfer of the image to the Quiapo Church where it has survived great fires that destroyed thechurch in 1791 and 1929, strong earthquakes in 1645 and 1863,and the bombing of Manila in 1945 during World War II. Today’s celebration commemorates the transfer of the image from the Recollect Church in Intramuros to Quiapo Church in1787. The Recollect Fathers worked to spread devotion to the Black Nazarene all over the country. During the 19th century, PopePius VII granted indulgence to those who piously prayed beforethe image of the Black Nazarene. The Black Nazarene is also brought out for a procession on its feast on Good Friday and on December 31. (With reports from Leslie G. Aquino and Ellalyn De Vera Ruiz)