THOUSANDS OF Nazareno devotees flocked to the Quirino Grandstand for this year’s “Pahalik,” with the faithful seeking blessings and expressing gratitude to the Jesus Nazareno.
The pahalik provides an opportunity for devotees to touch, kiss, or wipe their handkerchiefs on the centuries-old image of the suffering Christ during its annual festival that reenacts its transfer (traslacion) from Intramuros to Quiapo church, now the Minor Basilica of Jesus Nazareno.
Long-time devotee
Among those who waited patiently in line was Agani Bisnu, 47, a devotee from Quezon City. Since 2014, he has attended the Nazareno festivities with his wife and daughter. His devotion, Bisnu said, grew stronger after prayers for his family were answered by Señor—most notably his 98-year-old mother’s recovery from a recent hospital confinement.
“Malaking bagay talaga na nandiyan si Nazareno na hindi kami pinababayaan,” Bisnu said, urging the youth to experience the devotion firsthand. For him, the pahalik is a sacrifice rooted in faith and hope.
New Pahalik devotee from the province
Similarly, Allan Santos, 58, of Dolores, Quezon, is a devotee of 12 years and is participating in the pahalik for the second time.
Santos described lining up for the pahalik as both physically demanding and spiritually rewarding.
“Itong pagpila mo at paglakad, talagang mahirap, pero pagdating at nakahipo ka, wala na ‘yung pagod at hirap,” he said, explaining how the experience tests the body but fulfills the spirit.
Second life
Maribel Vargas, 50, of Pateros, attended the pahalik to commemorate what she called a second chance at life. A devotee of seven years with her husband, Vargas said her faith strengthened after recovering from an ICU confinement last October.
“Isa puso. Hindi naman sa nilalahat, pero karamihan ng kabataan, parang nagkayayaan lang. Sana magkaroon ng kahulugan ‘yung pagpunta nila rito,” she said, encouraging young devotees to approach the ritual with sincerity and purpose rather than mere curiosity.
A family tradition
Among the crowd are those whose families have been devotees for generations, like Peter Añonuevo Jr. and Bong Garcia.
Garcia, a 44-year-old jeepney driver, became a devotee in his childhood years, following the footsteps of his father and uncle, who took him to the annual feast.
He first joined the mammoth procession in the early 1990s and then decided to attend it yearly starting in 2013.
“(Ang Nazareno para sa akin ay) siguro doon sa araw-araw na blessing na binibigay niya… ‘Yung hindi ka lang ma-aksidente, malaking bagay ‘yun,” Garcia said.
“Doon sa kahit na wala kang kitain, makauwi ka (lang) ng ligtas, para sa akin, ayos na ‘yun,” he added.
Unexpected blessing
Like Garcia, Añonuevo took after his devoted father and became one himself at an early age.
He recalled a moment when he attended Mass in Quiapo Church during a time of hardship, praying to the Nazarene for help.
“Bago pa lang ako nagbabarko noon, [tapos] meron akong training certificate na kukunin, walang-wala ako no’n. Sabi ko, subukan ko nga lumapit sa Nazareno… paglabas [na paglabas] ko, nakapulot ako ng isang libo. Sobra pa ‘doon sa kailangan na kailangan ko,” Añonuevo said.
“Nagkataon lang naman siguro pero parang tinupad [ng Nazareno yung dasal ko],” he added.
Garcia also once prayed to the Nazarene to bless his family with a second child, who was later on born in 2007.
The people’s devotion to the Black Nazarene holds importance for the Filipino people in their own ways. For Garcia, it’s to ask for forgiveness.
“[Importante ang debosyon] para mabawasan ‘yung mga kasalanan natin, lalong-lalo na ‘yung mga corrupt. Tayong mga simpleng Pilipino ang nagsu-suffer… ‘yung kahirapan, lalong lumalala. Maraming Pinoy na nakakalimutan na ‘yung (pananalig) sa Panginoon,” Garcia said.
Añonuevo emphasized that joining in the feast is an opportunity to profess one’s faith.
“Ang debosyon ng Nazareno, hindi lang naman ito parang katuwaan, enjoyment, nandito kayo. Manalig kayo, magkaroon ng sariling faith na ang Diyos, nandiyan lang,” he said.
The Pahalik began on Jan. 7 at the Quirino Grandstand, following the Mass for volunteers, and will continue until Saturday, Jan. 10. With reports from Rev E. dela Cruz and Alexandra Gabrielle C. Mansineros
