Happy Easter! He is Risen!

 

The Black Nazarene: History, Devotion, and a Tradition That Moves a Nation

Image generated with AI

Every January, Manila transforms. Streets fill with barefoot devotees, yellow and maroon banners rise above the crowds, and the familiar rhythm of prayer echoes not only in Quiapo but even across the archipelago. The Feast of the Black Nazarene, reverently called Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno by his devotees, is more than a religious event.  It is a cultural phenomenon that reveals how faith, identity, and collective memory continue to shape Filipino life.

The Black Nazarene is a representation of a dark-skinned Christ carrying His cross on the right shoulder, wearing a maroon robe. He looks up towards heaven with a pained expression on His face.

The story of the Black Nazarene traces back to 1606, when Augustinian Recollect missionaries brought a life-sized image of Christ carrying the cross from Mexico to Manila. Carved from dark mesquite wood, the image’s color has long sparked myths. One popular belief I heard as a child was that the reason for the dark color of the image was that during its trip from Mexico to Manila, the ship it was on caught fire, and the image was burned, but only on the surface. People considered this a miracle. Later on, I learned that its origins are simpler: the wood it was made from itself was naturally dark.

The image quickly became a major focus of devotion from its first home in Bagumbayan to its later transfer to Intramuros.  In the 1700s, it found its permanent home in Quiapo Church, where it later on survived fires, earthquakes, and even the devastation of World War II. For the devotees, its survival through these almost catastrophic events reinforced their belief that the image is miraculous.

Over the centuries, the Black Nazarene has drawn people from every corner of the country: workers, students, vendors, professionals, families, and pilgrims who carry stories of struggle and hope. The church has become a sanctuary for those seeking healing, guidance, or simply a moment of contemplative surrender to the Poong Nazareno.

The heart of the devotion to the Poong Nazareno is the annual Traslación, held on January 9. This reenactment of the historic transfer of the image from Intramuros to Quiapo took shape at the 400th anniversary of the image in 2006, and has grown into the largest yearly expression of Catholic devotion in the Philippines.  I remember that before that time, the procession was only around the Quiapo district and its environs.  I even had an experience when I was in the area during the procession when there was a rush of people wanting to get near the Nazareno.  I had to take cover along with other people inside a bakery; otherwise, we would be crushed by the surge of devotees.

Millions of devotees join the procession each year, many walking barefoot as an act of humility and solidarity with Christ’s suffering. Others reach for the ropes of the andas, a wheeled platform heavily adorned with flowers and lights bearing the image, and pulled by devotees.  They believe that even the slightest touch of the ropes can bring healing or protection.

Even as I write this post, the celebration is already underway, and crowds are already gathering at the Luneta Park for Masses and other devotional activities.  There is even a nine-day novena prayer in Tagalog available from the Hallow app, which I pray after the Angelus. The novena includes the hymn Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno, composed by National Artist of the Philippines, Lucio San Pedro, to honor the image.

from hallow.com

The Pahalik, which takes place a day before the Traslación, is an act of devotion where pilgrims and devotees, some coming from far provinces, line up to touch, kiss, wipe with a handkerchief, or just pray before the life-sized statue of the Black Nazarene.   The scale of participation, often reaching millions, reflects not only religious fervor but also the deep cultural roots of this tradition. Devotees would line up for hours, yet they patiently wait and consider this part of their sacrifice and an expression of their faith.

Image generated with AI

The enduring devotion to the Black Nazarene reveals something essential about Filipino spirituality: faith is not a passive act. It is embodied, communal, and resilient. Some experts theorize that the Poon’s dark complexion forms a rich connection to the devotees.  Here is a Christ who looks familiar, who feels close, who understands the weight of human suffering.

In a country shaped by colonial history, natural disasters, and social challenges, the Black Nazarene stands as a symbol of perseverance. Every year, the Feast acts as a reminder that hope is not abstract; it is lived, carried, and shared.

Hallow: The App for Catholic Meditation and Prayer for the Holy Week

The Holy Week begins tomorrow, and many of us Catholic Filipinos will observe the practices we usually do during this period.  For some, this is an excellent time to meditate on the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ.  While some Filipinos do the “pabasa,” reading of the passion narrative through song, not all of us can do it. We would just observe through the recitation of the Way of the Cross, and praying of the rosary, and others.  Now, there's a new app that could help us in our meditation and prayer life named Hallow.

Hallow is a popular Catholic meditation and prayer app that offers audio-based guided meditations, daily reflections, and Bible-based content to help users deepen their spiritual practice.  The app has gained popularity among Christians looking to incorporate meditation into their daily lives.

One thing that sets Hallow apart is the quality of its content. The app offers a wide range of meditations and reflections based on scripture and the teachings of the Catholic Church and designed to meet the needs of users with different spiritual backgrounds and preferences. Aside from guided meditations, it includes audio recordings of various prayers, such as the Rosary, Angelus, and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. The app also provides prayer challenges, which focus on specific themes and are usually time-bound. The current challenge is the #Pray40 Challenge for Lent. If you want to test your knowledge, there's daily trivia on the Catholic faith.

I downloaded the app from the AppStore and now regularly listen to the Daily Reflections on the day’s Gospel with Jeff Cavins and Jonathan Roumie, the actor who plays Jesus Christ on the TV series “The Chosen.”  I listen to the Sunday Sermons of Bishop Barron, the founder of the Catholic organization Word on Fire. I started listening to the Catechism in a Year with Father Mike Schmitz, which started early this year.  

I also like the music section, which contains chants, and contemporary and traditional music. Last Christmas season, the app featured the entire album of Christmas songs from Andre Bocelli and his family. They recently added a lo-fi playlist that you could play while getting ready in the morning, studying, or working. 

With over 400,000 Filipino users across the globe, Hallow started offering meditations and prayers in Filipino in October last year. Yes, you can pray the rosary, Divine Mercy prayer, selected novenas and other prayers in Tagalog. I follow Fr. Franz Dizon's daily reflection on the gospel in Pagninilay Ngayon. There is also a section on the life of the saints named "Buhay ng Mga Banal."  

Many users praise the Hallow app for helping them deepen their faith and improve their prayer life. The app's user-friendly interface is easy to navigate, making it easy for users to find the content they want. The app also offers a community feature that allows users to connect with other members and share their spiritual journey.  

I have just one issue with this app, and that is the voice and delivery of some of the prayer guides. I know that prayer should be meditative, but the guides speak so slowly that some of the prayers take longer to finish than usual. 

Hallow is also affordable. The app offers a 14-day free trial period, after which users can choose to subscribe to the premium version of the app. The premium version gives users access to more meditations and features but is still affordable compared to other meditation apps on the market. At about PhP600 a month, the subscription is worth the cost.

Overall, the Hallow app is an excellent tool for Christians who want to deepen their spiritual practice through meditation and prayer.  The app's high-quality content, user-friendly interface, and affordability make it popular among users.

Images from Hallow

A Blessed Easter to Everyone!

 

Visita Iglesia 2019: Visit to Seven Churches in Manila and Quezon City

Last Maundy Thursday, we joined thousands of Catholic Filipinos to perform the Visita Iglesia, a tradition observed on this particular day of Lent.  Pilgrims visit seven churches to pray the Stations of the Cross and meditate on the suffering and resurrection of our savior Jesus Christ.

UST Parish Church

Traditionally, one walks from church to church, but we used our car, and so did the other devotees.  This created huge traffic jams on the roads leading to the churches, and parking spaces became battlegrounds.  Mercifully, volunteers managed the traffic inside the church grounds.

We first stopped at Sto. Domingo Church, which is near our place and is the shrine of Our Lady of Naval.  We prayed our first two Stations of the Cross and then lighted candles for our special intentions.

Our next stop was the UST Parish church along España Boulevard.  After praying the next two Stations of the Cross, we exited the church and found a group of people distributing copies of the Way of the Cross booklets.

At the back part of the booklet, the group explained that they aim to stop the spread of communism and socialism, which destroy the basic beliefs and teachings of the Catholic Church.

We were supposed to make Quiapo Church our next stop, but it appeared most of Manila's Catholic population converged there.  We decided to go straight to Manila Cathedral instead.  However, we made a wrong turn and ended up heading towards Binondo Church.  We decided to make it our next stop. It was still not too crowded inside, so we were able to do our prayers in peace.

Binondo Church

A popular deli store offered water and snacks outside the church. It's an old tradition practiced on Maundy Thursday called pa-caridad or charity.  It's almost forgotten, and very few devotees practice it now.

We finally found our way to Manila Cathedral, but the traffic jam was terrible, that we had to walk to the entrance.  People had to fall in line to get inside because of security checks.  The long line due to the high volume of people almost deterred us from going in, but it moved fast, so we decided to go inside.

The cathedral teemed with people inside, but not everyone was praying, and several people were taking selfies and groupies!  Okay, some people were actually doing the Stations of the Cross, and their prayers mingled with discussions of other groups on what part of the cathedral they would take their next selfies and groupies in.

The Manila Cathedral

From the cathedral, we took another trip to the Shrine of Saint Michael and the Archangels, or the San Miguel Church.  We could not drive to the church because of the tight security since its neighbor happens to be the President of the Philippines.  So we had to walk, and I immediately noticed the number of food stalls near the church.  It appeared that none of the well-to-do residents of the area made a pa-caridad.

San Miguel Church

The stations were outside, in the courtyard, and as in other churches we've already visited, many people were busy taking their selfies and groupies.  Inside the church, the priests and their assistants were already preparing for the Mass of the Lord's Supper.  Also, the parish has a museum dedicated to the Blessed Mother and the angels.

We ended our Visita Iglesia this year at the two churches in Bustillos: the Shrine of Saint Anthony and Our Lady of Loreto Parish Church.  We did not get inside both churches because the Lord's Supper Mass has already started in both of them. However, like in San Miguel, both churches placed stations of the cross on their grounds.

We finished all 14 stations of the Way of the Cross and the seven churches needed to complete the Visita Iglesia.  By the way, I remember that a lay minister once told me that the Visita Iglesia should be done when the Eucharist has been removed from the main altar following the Maundy Thursday mass.  This is a response to what Christ said when He found the apostles sleeping in the Garden that they could not stay with Him for even just one hour.

Also, I hope next year, the pilgrims will be more aware that the Visita Iglesia is not a road trip, and they should be more considerate of the others who were doing their prayers.  They should also learn to be more caring about their surroundings and not just throw their trash anywhere.

PHLPost Celebrates National Stamp Collecting Month with Exhibit of Papal Postage Stamps

We visited an ongoing exhibit at the PHLPost main office in celebration of National Stamp Collecting Month.  The exhibit named "Papal Visits Stamps"  features postage stamps memorabilia issued by PHLPost during the apostolic visits of Popes Paul VI, John Paul II, and Pope Francis from 1970 up to 2015.

Each of the visits has its own display featuring the stamps issued during the occasion.  The panels also provided information about the apostolic visits.  It's a good lesson for kids interested in stamp collection and the country's religious history.  For those like me who experienced the Papal visits, it was a nice experience to look back at those days.  

The 1995 visit by Pope John Paul II was especially memorable because I participated in the World Youth Day celebrations.  

   

The PHLPost also used the occasion to give the public a preview of the stamps that it will issue to commemorate the visit of Pope Francis in January.  This exhibit runs at the Manila Central Post Office from November 10 to 14. It will also be held at the Manila Cathedral (November 17 to 21) and the University of Santos Tomas (November 24 to 28) before going to Cebu and Davao.

The celebration is mandated by Presidential Proclamation Number 494 signed by former President Fidel V. Ramos, declaring the month of November as National Stamp Collecting Month (NSCM). with this year’s celebration carrying the theme “PHLPost: Going Beyond Tradition.”

Pope Francis

photo from reuters

Habemus Papam!

The Catholic Church has a new pope in Pope Francis. The conclave of cardinals chose  Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J., the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, who became the first South American Pope.  He takes the name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, a venerated 13th Century religious figure who live in poverty and wanted to reform the Church. 

Aside from being the first Pope Francis and the first Latin-American Pope, he is also  the first Jesuit Pope, an order considered within Vatican as one of the most liberal.

After his election, Pope Francis prayed for his predecessor Benedict XVI and then asked the people to pray for him before he gave his first Urbi et Orbi.  

"My hope is that this journey of the Church that we begin today, together with the help of my Cardinal Vicar, may be fruitful for the evangelization of this beautiful city." Pope Francis told his flock.

Sto. Nino Exhibit 2013

January is the month of the Sto. Nino. As a sign of their love to the Holy Child, Filipinos hold many festivals in His honor during this month.  Once again, we went to the Sto. Nino Exhibit at the Philippine National Bank. Here are some of the sacred images that were exhibited there.

The exhibit was sponsored by the Congregacion de Niño Jesus, a group of devotees of the Child Jesus.

It's the End of the World... Again

Today is the end of the world.

That is if we would believe the prophecy of Harold Camping, a radio broadcaster and author who claimed that today, May 21, Jesus Christ will come to gather His believers and bring them to heaven.  In the meantime, those who will be left behind will witness major natural disasters never before seen by humankind.

Camping's followers in the Family Radio Ministry wasted no time and took to the street to spread his warning.  In fact, I've been seeing this announcement  for months now posted on the back of city buses proclaiming that the Kingdom of God is coming today.

So how could Camping, an engineer, came up with this date with destiny?  He claimed he got it through his numerical calculations and passages hidden in the bible.  He published a book called "We're Almost There"  that is now available freely online.  Here he explained fully what the end would be like,

I am not buying it though.  Even Jesus Christ himself told his followers that nobody could tell when the Judgment Day is coming.

Well, if it's any comfort to his followers, their leader is not the first one to predict the end of the world.  Even the ancient people came up with their own doomsday scenario, especially when they saw something different in the sky like a comet or when planets align (which they do regularly).

I remember when I was younger, there was a group in the Philippines who actually went inside a cave and waited for the coming end of the world that was predicted by their leader.  Of course it didn't come and the group later claimed that their prayers helped to prevent it.

This won't be the last of these doomsday prediction.  The most "anticipated" of them all of course is the December 21, 2012 Armageddon predicted by the Mayan Calendar.  It's so popular that it a movie was made about it by someone who has a penchant for destroying earth in movies.   Science has already debunked this but people still choose to believe otherwise.

So what will I do on this supposedly last day of planet earth?  Why stay online, of course, and see the events unfold.

Taal Heritage Town: The Churches

I read about the town of Taal, Batangas and its treasures earlier last month.  I decided to go there with my family to experience first hand the old churches, the preserved colonial houses and of course, the local cuisine.

Going to Taal is a cinch.  It's a two to three hours drive from Manila.  We went there on an early Sunday morning so traffic was relatively easy.  We took the South Luzon Expressway and exited through Sta. Rosa.  We headed for Tagaytay City and took the road leading to Lemery, Batangas, which is a very scenic route because you can see Taal Lake and its volcano on the left side.  One must really be familiar with the place because there are very few signage pointing the direction to Taal town.  

Our first stop was the Taal Basilica or the Basilica de San Martin de Tours .  The church, made of adobe and coral stones, is considered the biggest Catholic Church not only in the Philippines, but in Asia.  It was first built in 1575 by Fr. Diego Espina of the Augustinian Missionaries in what is now the town of San Nicolas.  It was destroyed by the eruption of Taal Volcano in 1754 and transfered to its present site in 1755.  It was destroyed yet again in 1849 by a powerful earthquake.

Construction of the new church began in 1856 and was completed in 1878.  It was declared a minor basilica in 1954.  

While the exterior of the church is already awe inspiring, the interior is even more beautiful.  Artwork covers the arches and column of the building.  The altar is also a sight to behold, with its tabernacle fashioned out of silver.

It's also good to know that this basilica has withstood the test of time through efforts of the people of Taal.  It is something that we Filipinos should really proud of.

Another must see church in Taal is the Our Lady of Caysasay Church, which sits beside the San Lorenzo Ruiz Steps.  It is the shrine of the image of Our Lady which was fished out of the water by a native named Juan Masingkad in 1603.

Historical accounts say that when the image was found, it was given to a widow of a town official who placed it in an urn specially made for Our Lady.  However, the image would disappear at night, only to reappear the following morning.  This happened several times until the image disappeared one day and never found.

Years later, some women saw a reflection of the image in the river where it was found.  They looked up and saw her on a tree.  The women reported what they saw to  the parish priest who concluded that the image wanted to stay in Caysasay. In 1611, a church was built on the spot where Our Lady was found.

The story of Our Lady of Caysasay, including her apparitions to some native girls,  is depicted in a series of murals inside the church.  The image of Our Lady of Caysasay is encased in glass above the altar, with images of two angels on either side.

While the church may be smaller than the Taal Basilica, it is still filled with folk art.  Aside from the murals depicting the discovery and apparitions of its patron, visual representation of the passion of Jesus Christ fill the nave.  Just above the image of the Lady is a painting of the crucifixion.

The painting on the ceiling of the dome of the church depicts the Resurrection of the Christ on Easter Morning.

The people of Taal still believe that the Lady saved their town from the violent eruption of Taal Volcano in 1754.  In 1954, she was canonically crowned at the Basilica of St, Martin de Tours by the representative of the Pope.

Sto. Niño Exhibit

Filipinos love the Sto. Niño, the little child Jesus.  Come to any Filipino Catholic home and chances are you will see an icon of the Child Jesus occupying a special place in the altar.  

The image of the Sto. Niño first arrived in the country when the Spaniards came here.  History tells us that when our ancestors were baptized, the Spanish priest gave Queen Juana, wife of the chief, a sacred image of the Sto. Niño.  It has survived a number of fires, including one during World War II and remained unscathed.  The same image now resides in the Basilica del Sto. Niño in Cebu City where it receives thousands of devotees on the third Sunday of January every year.

Last January, to coincide with this feast, a group of devotees of the Child Jesus called Congregacion de Niño Jesus  exhibited hundreds of images of their patron.  We were able to go to that exhinit at the PNB Building at the Government Center in Pasay City.  Since taking of photographs was allowed, I took several pictures of the beautiful images.

As a sign of their love and devotion, Filipinos love to dress up the Child Jesus in fineries.

Here are some of the numerous Niños on display.