January 9 is when the general public is told to avoid going to Quiapo because it is the Feast of the Black Nazarene when hundreds of thousands of devotees (last week authorities estimated some eight million) join theprocession called traslación (which literally means transfer) started more than 200 years ago.
The annual ritual is a gripping display of amazing faith and deep devotion. It’s always a breathtaking sight.
The atmosphere is loud and raucous. There’s a lot of jostling among devotees, mostly barefooted, to get closer to kiss and rub towels on the cross of the glass-cased image of Jesus of Nazarene, it is not surprising that many get injured.
Photos and video by Bullit Marquez for VERA Files