01/09/2009, 00.00
PHILIPPINES
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Manila: tens of thousands of faithful take part in the Black Nazarene procession

by Santosh Digal
The sculpture, which represents one of the most popular Catholic traditions in the country, arrived in the Philippines in May 1606. Many pilgrims believe it possesses miraculous powers. This year the authorities have changed the route to avoid incidents as first aid stations and more than 1,500 police agents with global positioning satellite devices are put in place for safety reasons.
Manila (AsiaNews) – “Looking at the Black Christ is a source of strength and courage to face daily struggles’” said Myerna Castro, a 43-year-old mother of three daughters, one of the thousands of people who took part in Manila’s traditional Black Nazarene celebrations.

“We live a hands-to-mouth existence, but our daily concern to provide food and education to our children makes us draw strength from meditating on the suffering of Jesus,” said the homemaker, who is married to a street vendor.

Every year on January 9, the streets of the Filipino capital are invaded by crowds of faithful, celebrating the ‘Black Nazarene’, one of the liveliest popular traditions the country’s Catholic community has. The life-sized black wooden figure representing Christ bearing the cross to Calvary is carried through the streets of Manila. Thousands of faithful follow, believing in its ‘miraculous” powers.

This morning at 7 am, Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, archbishop of Manila, celebrated Mass together with about 50 bishops and priests.

The prelate said that many Filipinos, who live in poverty and suffering, are devoted to the Black Nazarene because they identify with him, and thus follow the sculpture as it makes its way through the city.

The figure arrived in the Philippines on May 31, 1606, when the first Augustinian missionaries set foot in Manila. Carved in Mexico, it depicts the Saviour kneeling under the weight of the cross.

Its fame comes from surviving a fire that destroyed the missionaries’ ship that brought it to the country.

This year the procession route was changed a bit to avoid incidents. Last year two people were crushed to death by the crowds. Many people in fact do their utmost to get to a good spot from which they can see, and if they are lucky, touch the sculpture.

First aid stations were set up and more than 1,500 police agents were deployed with global positioning satellite devices to make it easier to track the flow of people and ensure safety.

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