The Black Nazarene

After 20 hours grueling hours, the image of a charred Christ is back in its rightful place at Quiapo church. This year’s Feast of the Black Nazarene, which starts with a mass at the Quirino Grandstand, followed by a procession on a fixed route towards Quiapo church, was fraught with mishaps. It all started when one of the wheels of the carriage that transports the image broke an axle, either due to the excessive weight brought about by people forcing themselves to get on the carriage, or by sheer wear and tear. Then the fabled rope that is used to pull the same, snapped. This is a common occurrence because people actually help themselves to pieces of the rope, believing it possesses magical and healing powers. Typical Filipino, if I may say.

But what caused the monumental delay was the sheer number of devotes and attendees this year. By PNP estimates, around eight million people showed up for the annual celebration. I guess this is the Philippines’ version of the Haj. Unfortunately, that enormous amount of people in a common place brings with it its share of unfortunate incidents. More than a thousand people had to be administered first aid, mostly the elderly who braved both the crowds and the threat of terrorism to attend the event. Fatigue, exhaustion, thirst, hunger, even a mini-stampede were all to blame for the high number of casualties. But still, the procession went on.

With the wheel broken and the rope shortened, the carriage proceeded at a snail’s pace. That is actually an overstatement. This prompted the rector of the holy image to decide that a shorter route be taken in order to speed up the return of the image. But this did not sit well with the devotees who got into a shoving match with police just to keep the procession on its original route. They prevailed. So as the sun set and rose, the Black Nazarene is once again back in Quiapo.

Such is the following of the most popular religious icon in the country. No other event even comes close. Why so many people showed up this year is anybody’s guess. Even a word of caution from the Palace with regards to a possible terrorist plot to disrupt the feast did not deter those who attended. I was impressed with the authorities asking telcos to shut off cellphone signals within the vicinity of the procession, in case a cellphone-activated bomb was to be used. Good thinking! We’re finally starting to resemble a country serious about security! Thank God nothing of the sort happened. That would have been a disaster!

Still, much is to be learned from this year’s blunders, such as the broken axle. I guess a military grade carriage must be built for the coming celebrations. I would like to say that people should be more disciplined and authorities should be more authoritative, but in this country, that’s just like telling people to stop breathing. Pretty hard to tell a mob to do anything. The route should be made clear, so the procession can advance in a decent amount of time. Although some may see the delays this year as another form of sacrifice that translates to blessings, 20 hours is just too long.

But I guess no one is really complaining. Anything for the Black Nazarene!