Learn more about the Feast of the Black Nazarene in the Philippines.
WHAT IS BLACK NAZARENE
To understand this annual celebration in the Philippines, let's get to know the reason why it is celebrated.
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| The Black Nazarene at Quiapo Church, Manila 2007 |
The Black Nazarene is a life-sized image of a dark-skinned, kneeling Jesus Christ carrying the Cross enshrined in the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene or mostly known as Quiapo Church in the Quiapo district of the City of Manila, Philippines.
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FEAST OF THE BLACK NAZARENE
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| Traslación in 2012 |
The Feast of the Black Nazarene (Filipino: Pista ng Itím na Nazareno), also known as the Traslación after the mass procession associated with the feast, is a religious festival held in Manila, Philippines that is centered around the Black Nazarene, an image of Jesus Christ. It is celebrated annually on January 9.
WHEN DID IT BEGIN?
The Feast of the Black Nazarene commemorates the anniversary of the translation or the transfer of the image from its original location at a church in modern-day Luneta Park to Quiapo.
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| Devotees flocked at Quirino Grandstand in Luneta to start the Traslacion in 2015 |
The image was brought to the Church of San Juan Bautista in Bagumbayan (now Luneta) until May 31, 1606 by Augustinian Recollect priests.
In 1608, the icon was enshrined at the Recollect church of San Nicolás de Tolentino in Intramuros.
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| The Procession of the Black Nazarene during the Spanish period |
It was moved to the Saint John the Baptist Church, which is now commonly referred to as the Quiapo Church, on January 9, 1787. The "solemn transfer" eventually became the date of the Feast of the Black Nazarene.
In 2021, the Basilica’s parochial vicar Fr. Douglas Badong explained that the Feast of the Black Nazerene is a proper term for the religious event, and could be called a fiesta as the event is similar to the typical Filipino festival.
WHERE TO STAY IN MANILA
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WHY IS IT CELEBRATED?
There are opposing views on whether to consider the Feast of the Black Nazerene as a proper fiesta due to the fact that the January 9 observance celebrates the transfer of the image and not the liturgical "feast day" of the image. The proper liturgical commemoration of the Black Nazerene is on Good Friday.
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| A devotee wiping Black Nazarene's foot at Quiapo Church in 2015 |
In 2021, the Basilica’s parochial vicar Fr. Douglas Badong explained that the Feast of the Black Nazerene is a proper term for the religious event, and could be called a fiesta as the event is similar to the typical Filipino festival.
The event is also colloquially referred to as "Nazareno" after the image itself, or the Traslación after the January 9 procession. The word “Traslación” is often corrupted to the incorrect "translacion".
The Traslación procession is taken from the Spanish term for translation, referring to "passage" or "movement".
WHAT IS 'LA MIRATA' OR THE DUNGAW RITE?
On January 9, 2014, the traditional Dungaw (a Tagalog calque of the rite's Spanish name Mirata, "to see" or "to view") was revived and reincorporated into the Traslación after the discovery of old documents attesting to its practise. The rite, which was discontinued in the early 1900s for still-unknown reasons, involves the Black Nazarene, coming from R. Hidalgo Street, being made to stop briefly at Plaza del Carmen, a square along the southwest flank of the neo-gothic Basílica Menor de San Sebastián, before proceeding towards Bilibid Viejo Street.
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| The first Dungaw of the Nazareno and Virgen del Carmen Coronada at the Balcony of Basilica Minore de San Sebastian after being halted for centuries for unknown reasons. |
The resident Recollect priests remove the image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel from the principal niche of the retablo mayor, or use a replica which is termed its vicária. The image is dressed in its primera vestida (used only on the most solemn occasions) in its camarín, or private chamber. Only Augustinian nuns and other women may enter the camarín at this point; men, including priests, all exit as they are forbidden from watching the Virgin "change clothes". During the entire vesting process, the rosary is recited.
Once fully dressed in precious robes and regalia, the original image, which was given to the Recollects in 1617 by a Carmelite nunnery in Mexico City, is then solemnly and silently processed on its own small ándas to a temporary scaffold erected at the southwest face of the church. There, it is lifted up by several priests and attendants to "see" and "meet" the Black Nazarene as devotees fall silent. A Gospel lesson is followed by general intercessions, and several prayers (often the Lord's Prayer and the Hail Mary), are chanted fervently. The Basilica's bells are rung throughout the short prayer service.[12] The presiding priests then shout "¡Viva Jesús Nazareno!" to which the crowd replies "¡Viva!" and "¡Viva Virgen del Carmen!" to which the customary reply is "¡Guapa!"; this cheer is done thrice. Shortly thereafter, the priests slowly turn the Virgin's image so that it "watches" the Black Nazarene and its procession depart the vicinity of Plaza del Carmen. The image of the Virgin is then returned to the high altar, or the replica returned to its proper place, while the choir sings the devotional hymn Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno.
Theologically, the Dungaw rite reflects the fourth Traditional Station of the Cross, where Christ meets his Mother, the Virgin Mary, en route to Golgotha, and reflects the closeness of Christ and his Mother. The rite is also seen as a "courtesy" of the Virgin's image towards the Black Nazarene, as the former's shrine is along the processional route.
ATTRACTIONS TO SEE IN MANILA
Klook.comTRASLACION ROUTE
The route for the Feast of the Black Nazarene usually start at Quirino Grandstand (Rizal Park) in the morning. The Black Nazarene is already transferred from Quiapo Church and set up here prior to the procession.
The route continues as follow:
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| Traslación route in 2019 |
DURATION OF THE EVENT
The 2012 Traslación is currently the longest in the image's recorded history as it ended 22 hours after leaving the Grandstand, arriving at Plaza Miranda around 05:15 AM PST the next day (January 10). The procession took longer than usual since the wheels of the Ándas broke early on at a point near Manila Hotel, while the rope broke some distance away near Liwasang Bonifacio.
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| Devotees flocked for the procession at Jones Bridge |
There were also reports of groups of devotees diverting the image from the previously defined route in order to pass by business establishments outside the traditional route. This illicit act was done to allow homes and businesses off the planned route to receive the good luck and blessings of the image.
ACTIVITIES AND TOURS IN MANILA
OBSERVATION OUTSIDE MANILA
Similar processions replicating the Traslación are also held on 9 January in other parts of the country. The largest of these is held in Cagayan de Oro, which uses an official replica of the image given by the Minor Basilica in 2009. It has since become a centre for the devotion in Mindanao.
On March 4, 2014, a replica of the Black Nazarene from Quiapo Church arrived at the Old Chapel of St. Rock the Healer Mission Center, Bishop's Compound, Brgy. Cawayan, Catarman, Northern Samar. Since then, many devotees across Northern Samar came to venerate the sacred image, especially on Fridays. At that time, the said mission center was constructing a bigger church.
On January 9, 2015, the first Traslación was held when the sacred image was solemnly transferred from the old church to the new and unfinished church building. Crowds not only from Northern Samar but all over the island attended.
On September 12, 2016, the newly-constructed church was blessed, dedicated, and consecrated by Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle. The event was concelebrated by priests from Quiapo Church, Felomino G. Bactol, the Bishop of Naval, Bishop Emeritus Anghel Hobayan of the Diocese of Catarman, Emmanuel C. Trance, the Bishop of Catarman, the Mission Center's first administrator Rev. Fr. Alan Abalon and Mission Center's second administrator and rector Rev. Fr. Rico M. Manook. The event was attended by devotees from different dioceses in Eastern Visayas. During the ceremony, the Mission Center was elevated to the status of diocesan shrine, making it the first church in the Visayas to be declared a shrine in honor of this image.
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| Traslación in Tagum in 2017 |
On August 18, 2019, the said shrine became a parish, making it the first barangay-based parish in the whole Diocese of Catarman. Its current official name is St. Rock the Healer Parish, Diocesan Shrine of the Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno.
TRANSPORATION DURING TRASLACION
Travel within the City of Manila during the Traslación every January 9 might be difficult as heavy traffic is expected. Most jeepneys use alternate routes for the day to avoid the procession, thus creating additional travel time. Some public transport systems such as the Line 1, Line 2, and Line 3 provide free rides to devotees, who are easily identifiable as dressed in maroon and walking barefoot.
Traffic rerouting is implemented on the annual procession and the day before, and is enforced by the Manila Police District with reinforcements from the Philippine National Police and, since 2014, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. The Philippine Coast Guard guards stretches of the Pasig River along the Jones (since 2014), Quezon and MacArthur (until 2013) bridges to ensure the safe passage of the procession.
A similar scenario may be experienced by tourists and travellers in Cagayan de Oro and in Catarman, Northern Samar during the yearly processions of the sacred image, as well as in other towns and cities where replica images are brought out in procession on this day.
TRAVEL TIPS FOR TRASLACION
The Feast of the Black Nazarene is a big event celebrated not only in Manila in particular but in the whole country. If you are traveling or staying at any big cities, expect crowd and closed roads in the area.
If you plan to join the procession, get physically ready and bring only essentials like water and towel as it will be tiring and exhausting.
For those who doesn't plan to go to the procession, don't worry, Traslación is being telecast throughout the country by the mainstream media and streamed online by various sources.
MANILA TOUR
Some other attractions to see and things to do near Intramuros:
- Visit Arroceros Forest Park
- Food crawl in Binondo
- Visit the Dolomite Beach in Manila Bay
- Have fun at Star City
- Have a relaxing staycation at SMDC Breeze Residences
- Go shopping in Divisoria
IMPORTANT NOTE: The rates, contact details and other information indicated in this post are accurate from the time of writing but may change without IMFWJ's notice. Should you know the updated information, please let us know by leaving a message in the comment box below.WHERE TO STAY IN MANILA
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