Invoking tradition, parents don’t mind bringing kids to Traslacion

Children ride on their fathers’ backs while navigating the crowded streets of Quiapo during the Feast of the Black Nazarene. Parents bringing their children to the festivities are not new, despite repeated warnings from authorities. (Photo by Gabriel Pabico Lalu/ INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines – Devotees of the Black Nazarene have insisted on bringing their young children with them as they join the annual Traslacion or procession of the icon despite stern warnings from authorities.

Two of the devotees — a couple who identified themselves as Nisa and Manny — told INQUIRER.net that they see no problem bringing their two-month-old baby to the procession, saying they did not have problems during previous processions which were attended by their young daughter.

“Hindi naman, wala naman ‘yan, Traslacion eh, para sa Poong Nazareno,” Nisa said when asked if she is not worried that their young daughter will catch a disease during the procession.

(Not really, it won’t affect my daughter because it is the Traslacion, it is for the Black Nazarene.)

Manny meanwhile said that it is their way of passing their devotion to the next generation.

“Mabuti nang kahit bata pa masanay na, sumasama na rin para ‘pag tanda, deboto rin. No’ng baby rin ‘tong panganay ko sinasama ko, wala namang nangyaring masama,” he added.

Elders try to freshen up a baby who was brought by her guardians to the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo. They sought refuge in a drugstore near Quiapo Church, as Mass-goers who area leaving the church start pushing. (Photo by Gabriel Pabico Lalu/ INQUIRER.net)

(It is better for me to bring my children so that they get accustomed to the devotion so that they also become devotees when they grow up. When my eldest was still a baby, I also brought her here, and nothing bad ever happened.)

Another group sitting at the foot of the Quezon Bridge — an area that the andas or the carriage bearing the image of the Black Nazarene will be passing through — said they do not mind if they bring along children with them.

The group brought with them a  7-month-old and a 2-year-old girl.

“Wala nang selan-selan,” one of the male members of the group said. “Okay lang ‘yan kasi kasama na sa panata namin ‘yan, para kay Lord ‘yan eh.”

(No need for being delicate. That’s okay because it is part of our devotion, this sacrifice is for the Lord.)

(We only bring them here during the feast in Quiapo. Our parents also did the same thing, but we did not catch any sickness or ailment.)

Earlier, the Philippine National Police and the Department of Health (DOH) cautioned devotees against bringing young children with them to the Traslacion to avoid getting sick or being injured.

LOOK: Mga paalala ng DOH sa mga lalahok sa Traslacion 2020

READ: DOH cautions against health risks during Traslacion

The Traslacion is a yearly Roman Catholic event in the Philippines, where a revered icon of the Black Nazarene from Mexico is taken on a procession from the Quirino Grandstand through various streets in Manila, as it makes its way back to the Quiapo Church.

The procession often takes more than 20 hours, but police are looking to shorten the duration this year. For the early part, they have been successful, as the andas or the carriage bearing the icon has already moved through difficult areas.

Edited by MUF