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zsc_nazareno_0193
Feast of the Black Nazarene
Quiapo, Manila, Philippines
January 9, 2011
After several days coordinating with Jovi Ong about shooting the Black Nazarene feast, I was able to join him together with Charles Loo, Jovi's shooting buddy and our host for that day.
I sure had to drag myself out of bed that Sunday morning as the weather was still inviting to stay in bed and the drizzling rain wasn't helping either. Thank God the rain stopped and there was a bit of sunshine already. Soon, I found myself up and ready with my gears and was heading to Quiapo via MRT-LRT. It was at the LRT-EDSA station that I noticed the devotees of the Black Nazarene, mostly with their maroon shirts with a Black Nazarene design printed on it. They too were heading to Manila to take part in the religious festivity.
When I arrived at the LRT-Carriedo station, I immediately headed towards Palanca St. to meet up with Jovi and Charles. When I got down the station, I was greeted with hundreds of devotees walking, waiting and some processioning their own replica of the "Poon", as others call the Black Nazarene. The devotees walked barefoot as they imitate how Jesus went to Mount Calvary.
Despite the volume of people there, I was still able to move easily since the street wasn't that too congested yet and I managed to find my way easily to the barangay hall to which Jovi and Charles were waiting. Since we heard that the Black Nazarene is scheduled to pass in the area around 2pm, we decided to go around Quiapo, take some snaps and have an early lunch. We were already back before 1pm. It started to drizzle by 2:00pm and that time, street vendors were already moving out of the way and the road was getting filled up fast by hundreds or most likely thousands of devotees waiting for the arrival of the Black Nazarene.
Alas! An hour after, the carriage of the Black was already insight and the scenes that transpired in the next hour can't be captured by photos and videos alone. I felt the temperature rose as people flocked the carriage, some climbed and touched the figure while others tried to get hold of the ropes that pulled it. They didn't mind how crowded the area was nor the drizzling rain.
It was totally a different experience for me to have witnessed up close this unique festivity. Thanks to Charles for being such a great host and also to Jovi for inviting me 'til the day of the festivity.
zsc_nazareno_0193
Feast of the Black Nazarene
Quiapo, Manila, Philippines
January 9, 2011
After several days coordinating with Jovi Ong about shooting the Black Nazarene feast, I was able to join him together with Charles Loo, Jovi's shooting buddy and our host for that day.
I sure had to drag myself out of bed that Sunday morning as the weather was still inviting to stay in bed and the drizzling rain wasn't helping either. Thank God the rain stopped and there was a bit of sunshine already. Soon, I found myself up and ready with my gears and was heading to Quiapo via MRT-LRT. It was at the LRT-EDSA station that I noticed the devotees of the Black Nazarene, mostly with their maroon shirts with a Black Nazarene design printed on it. They too were heading to Manila to take part in the religious festivity.
When I arrived at the LRT-Carriedo station, I immediately headed towards Palanca St. to meet up with Jovi and Charles. When I got down the station, I was greeted with hundreds of devotees walking, waiting and some processioning their own replica of the "Poon", as others call the Black Nazarene. The devotees walked barefoot as they imitate how Jesus went to Mount Calvary.
Despite the volume of people there, I was still able to move easily since the street wasn't that too congested yet and I managed to find my way easily to the barangay hall to which Jovi and Charles were waiting. Since we heard that the Black Nazarene is scheduled to pass in the area around 2pm, we decided to go around Quiapo, take some snaps and have an early lunch. We were already back before 1pm. It started to drizzle by 2:00pm and that time, street vendors were already moving out of the way and the road was getting filled up fast by hundreds or most likely thousands of devotees waiting for the arrival of the Black Nazarene.
Alas! An hour after, the carriage of the Black was already insight and the scenes that transpired in the next hour can't be captured by photos and videos alone. I felt the temperature rose as people flocked the carriage, some climbed and touched the figure while others tried to get hold of the ropes that pulled it. They didn't mind how crowded the area was nor the drizzling rain.
It was totally a different experience for me to have witnessed up close this unique festivity. Thanks to Charles for being such a great host and also to Jovi for inviting me 'til the day of the festivity.