Hundreds of devotees attend the 33 consecutive Masses at Quiapo Church on Monday, Jan 8, 2023, the eve of the Feast of the Black Nazarene.
MANILA, Philippines — The light evening rainfall did not deter Kevin Balingit from admiring the lights in front of Quiapo Church as he solemnly prayed to the Black Nazarene.
He had been attending the Masses at Quiapo Church during the Feast of the Black Nazarene for five years, and he had no plan of stopping anytime soon.
“It’s my devotion. I told myself that I will serve the Father as long as I live,” he said in Filipino.
Balingit, wearing his long-sleeved Nazareno shirt, attended Monday evening’s Mass with a group of friends. He said that for the past five years, he had prayed for his family’s health and safety.
“My wish is for my family to be safe and healthy,” he said.
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For Florence Catapang, attending Monday’s Fiesta Mass had been her family’s devotion for three years. She and her husband, Leo, brought their four daughters with them.
They all wore their pink Nazareno uniform. The girls were playing in the background as the couple took pictures of the joyful children.
“This has been our devotion for the sake of the children’s health,” Catapang said, saying that two of her youngest daughters had been suffering from bronchial asthma.
“What we really pray for is good health, number one — that no one will get sick,” she said.
She said that ever since she started attending the Feast of the Black Nazarene, her daughters’ health had improved.
“Nothing is impossible for Him, as long as you believe,” she said.
They would not be able to attend the “Traslacion” on Jan. 9, but said that they would keep on praying to the sacred image.
Balingit and Catapang were among the 11,600 attendees at Quiapo Church’s Monday masses who showed great patience in falling in line and adhering to the church’s security protocols.
The 33 Fiesta Masses started at 3 p.m. and will end at 11 p.m. on Tuesday.