True to its theme, "Dapat Siyang Tumaas, at Ako Nama'y Bumaba" (John 3:30), this year's celebration of the Feast of the Jesus Nazareno in Manila saw thousands of devotees humbled by their faith and devotion. Attendees sacrificed time, sweat, and tears just to have the chance to touch and pay tribute to the Nazareno -- even for a few seconds -- who has become both their savior and guiding light.

As the Manila Bulletin covered the annual event, particularly the traditional Pahalik of the holy image -- where devotees line up  for hours to touch and wipe cloths on the statue, believing that doing so transfers the Nazareno's healing and blessing powers to them -- a man caught the reporter's eye. His shirt bore the photo of a woman and a young girl, along with the words: "Hesus Nazareno, alagaan niyo po sila" (Jesus Nazareno, please take care of them).

The man introduced himself as Gener, a 46-year-old dispatching officer at a delivery company in Valenzuela City.

Gener told the Manila Bulletin that he has been an ardent follower of Jesus Nazareno since the 1980s, when he and his parents regularly attended Mass at the Quiapo Church during the Feast of the Nazareno. He continued this tradition through his teenage years and into adulthood, eventually joining the Traslacion procession. 

"Kinalikahan ko na po 'yung pagiging deboto ng Nazareno kasi deboto din po 'yung mga magulang ko. Wala hong mintis 'yun kada taon pag Pista nagsisimba ho kami dito. Dinadayo talaga namin tapos rekta Kim Chong Tin para kumain ng hopia. Pinagpatuloy ko ho 'yung ganung tradisyon kahit na nung nagkapamilya na po ako (I grew up being a devotee of the Nazarene because my parents were also devotees. We never miss its Feast and regularly went to church here. Afterwards, we would go straight to Kim Chong Tin to eat hopia. I continued that tradition even after starting my own family)," Gener said.

His devotion also led him to the love of his life, Isabel, whom he met in a chance encounter at the Quiapo Church.

"Nagkasabay po kami sa may tirikan ng kandila. Talagang na-hook ako sa ganda n'ya tapos nakalimutan ko na 'yung dapat na ipagdarasal ko nung araw na 'yun. Pagkatapos namin magtirik nagpakilala na ako sa kanya tapos 'yun matinding ligawan na. Nagkataon din po taga Retiro lang siya kaya naging madalas 'yung pagkikita namin at pagsisimba dito sa Maynila. Madalas dito sa Quiapo, minsan sa Binondo Church, San Sebastian Church, Manila Cathedral, church-hopping baga (We met at the area where candles are lit. I was so captivated by her beauty that I forgot what I was supposed to pray for that day. Afterwards, I introduced myself and began courting her. She happened to be from Retiro, so we often met and and attended Mass together in Manila -- frequently here in Quiapo, sometimes at Binondo Church, San Sebastian Church, or Manila Cathedral. You could even call it church-hopping)," he shared.

Gener and Isabel eventually married and were blessed with a daughter, Cristina.

"Sobrang saya po talaga sir kasi nung una nalaman namin na may problema sa matres asawa ko so may possibility na hindi kami magkaka-anak. Pero hindi po kami nawalan ng pag-asa. Sinubukan namin nang sinubukan hanggang sa ayun nabuntis din ho asawa ko. Talagang todo dasal kami sa Nazareno kasi parang blessing n'ya na dumating samin anak namin. Tinupad n'ya 'yung hiling namin (We were overjoyed because at first we learned my wife had a uterine problem, and there was a possibility we couldn't have children. But we never lost hope. We kept trying until she eventually became pregnant. We prayed fervently to the Nazarene, and it felt like our child was His blessing. He fulfilled our wish),"

TRAGEDY AND LOSS

A speeding car driven by an intoxicated driver crashed into a tricycle with Isabel and Cristina onboard. Gener's wife, daughter, and the tricycle driver were all killed.

The loss devastated Gener, plunging him into deep depression and addiction to drugs and alcohol.

"Nawalan na po akong direksyon sa buhay eh. Nawalan na po ako ng gana mabuhay. Minsan naisip ko pa pong magpakamatay nalang sasama na ako sakanila. Hindi na po ako umuwi dito sa Valenzuela doon na ako nag-stay sa Mindoro. Doon na rin po ako nalulong sa droga. Kumbaga 'yun na lang naging goal ko para mabuhay, kailangan ko makasinghot ng shabu (I have lost my direction in life. I have lost the will to live. Sometimes I even thought about committing suicide and joining my family. I didn't go back to Valenzuela and just stayed in Mindoro. That's where I got addicted to drugs. I guess using shabu was my only reason to live that time)," he said.

Gener was eventually arrested by the police in an entrapment operation and spent two years in prison. He was later released for good behavior and lived with his cousin's family, who helped restore his faith in the Nazareno.

"Sinabihan ako ng pinsan ko na sumama sakanilang mag-anak sa Pahalik sa Quiapo nung 2017 bilang pasasalamat sa pagbibigay sakin ng bagong buhay ng Panginoon. Pagpunas ko po ng panyo ko sa paa ng Nazareno, bigla pong nangamoy pabango ng asawa ko 'yung panyo ko. Doon na ako humagulgol ng iyak talaga (My cousin told me to join their family in the Pahalik last 2017 to give thanks to Him for giving me a new life. When I wiped my handkerchief on the feet of the Nazarene, my handkerchief suddenly smelled like my wife's perfume. That's when I started to break down and cry)," Gener said.

"Para bang pinaalala sakin ng Poon na nasa piling na niya 'yung mag-ina ko kaya wala na akong dapat pang ipag-alala. Kumbaga parang sinabi niya na hindi pa tapos ang lahat. Madami pa akong pwedeng gawin sa buhay ko para magbago ako ng tuluyan kahit wala na 'yung mag-ina ko (It was as if the Lord reminded me that my wife and daughter were with him, so I had nothing to worry about. It was as if He was telling me that everything was not over yet -- that I still have much to do in life to change completely, even without my family," he added.

Gener's story shows that Jesus Nazareno is not merely an image made of wood and other materials. It is a centuries-old tradition that continues to guide people towards humility and strengthens their faith despite life's challenges.