Sr. Jesus Nazareno: A Glimpse from the Past

The Black Nazarene, known to devotees as Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno de Quiapo ("Our Father Jesus Nazarene of Quiapo"), is a life-sized, dark-coloured, wooden sculpture of Jesus Christ, held to be miraculous by many Filipino devotees. The Black Nazarene is currently enshrined in the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila, Philippines. The Feast of the Black Nazarene is celebrated every January 9 with the weekly Friday Masses held in its honour beginning on the first Friday of the year.

History

The statue's original carver is an anonymous Mexican carpenter, and the image arrived in the archipelago by galleon from Acapulco, Mexico. Folk tradition attributes the colour of the Black Nazarene to a fire on the ship carrying it, charring the image from its original fair tone into its present dark complexion.
The image was brought to the Philippines by the Augustinian Recollect Missionaries on May 31, 1606. It was initially enshrined in the first Recollect church in Bagumbayan (now part of Rizal Park). On September 10, 1606, the church was inaugurated and placed under the patronage of St. John the Baptist. In 1608, the image was transferred to the second bigger Recollect church of San Nicolas de Tolentino built in Intramuros. Between 1767 and 1790, the Archbishop of Manila, Basilio Sancho de Santas Justa y Rufina, ordered the transfer of the Black Nazarene to its present location within the Quiapo church.
Today, the image borne in procession consists of the original body of the Black Nazarene connected to a replica of the head, while the original head portion of the statue remains on a replica of the body enshrined within the high altar of the basilica. An exception to this setup was during the 2007 feast, where both the original head and the body were combined in celebration of the Black Nazarene's 400 year history.


Recently, the Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo Church has decided to move the replica statue of the Black Nazarene to Jesus Nazareno Parish Church in Cagayan de Oro, so that Black Nazarene devotees from Mindanao may not have to travel to Quiapo in Manila for their annual pilgrimage.

I was able to witness yesterday the feast of the Black Nazarene here in Cagayan de Oro and it's just so overwhelming. Devotees pay homage to the Black Nazarene by clapping their hands in praise at the end of the procession.

Devotion to the miraculous Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno attracted huge following among the populace. Popularity, initially at the northern and southern provinces of Luzon, spread over time throughout the country.

EMERGENCY! EMERGENCY!!

Yesterday, we went to Carmelite Missionaries Convent to fetch my two grannies who attended mass there. As we waited for them at the parking lot, a concerned citizen went near us and informed us that the front wheel of our vehicle, the one on the driver’s side, was flat.
Upon hearing that, the only thing that came into my mind was “uh-oh”.. I knew in my mind that I really need to help fix the blown tire this time, or else, my dad would take lot of time fixing it all by himself. Plus the fact that he has his bulging stomach, he’s having a hard time folding his knees and turning the screws, so I volunteered myself to help. Besides, a little dirt wouldn’t harm.
And so I did it!! Just look at the picture my mom took while I'm fixing that tire! It’s a stolen photo and I never thought I would still look “girly” or femme, even though my hands are full of dirt from doing a man’s job! Hahaha..
It only took us around fifteen minutes to finish the whole process of replacing the blown-up tire! It was fun doing it and for me, it was a meaningful, fun and learning experience that I wouldn’t forget in my entire life. I didn’t really mind getting dirt at all. Besides, I take it as a training for myself because I dreamed of having my own car, three to four years from now. I'm certainly a CPA in action. Chick Pero Astig!

2011 WISH: Bring It On!!!

When I say "Wish for 2011" this does not say about career-related goals. A career must be a goal and not a wish.

My 2011 Wish?! Wear a Red Lipstick

Each year, I have been trying to improve things that involves my physical appearance. For over four years, I have been too busy trying to experiment on the body size that would fit me best and I think I already had it. (CHAR!!):p And I think it's time to maintain what I have now and move on to the next level.

For twenty-eleven,my goal would now involve another part of my body, which is the SKIN. My skin color is said to be soooo "pinay", and I am sick about it!! I tried a lot of skin whitening means before:Soaps, Lotions, Scrubs-- All of it didn't work! So I guess I'm going to try what every other girl is using (which I think is effective), Glutathione.

And how does my skin relates to my wish?! Simple. If I, with my current skin color, will wear a Red Lipstick, I would definitely look like a "trying hard whore". On the other hand, if a fair-skinned girl will wear a red lipstick, she would look CLASSIC! :)

That is just a wish though. A wish that I badly want to realize. To wear a red lipstick just like her!