Thirty-year-old Jimmy Molera says that he has been selling towels and handkerchiefs with the image of the Black Nazarene for 20 years. (Photo by LUISA K. CABATO / INQUIRER.net)
MANILA, Philippines — Jan. 9, the Feast of the Black Nazarene, is the most awaited date for every devotee of the icon. But for some of them, this day also gives them the chance to earn a little more money.
One of them is Jimmy Molera, who has been consistently selling towels and handkerchiefs with a picture of the Black Nazarene on the day of the feast every year for decades.
“It’s been almost 20 years that I’ve been devoting to the Black Nazarene at the Quiapo festival. I’m also a vendor. I do my selling and devoting at the same time to also earn money,” Molera told INQUIRER.net in Filipino.
The 38-year-old vendor also shared how his family’s life was changed by their faith in the Black Nazarene.
“I asked him [Black Nazarene] to let my wife’s cousin, who is abroad, be able to come home because their situation is not good there [abroad],” he said.
“The Black Nazarene heard my prayer and gave my wife’s cousin a plane ticket. In the first or second week of January, the cousin will be able to go home.
READ: Nazareno 2024: Devotees await arrival of Black Nazarene at Quiapo Church
READ: ‘Sisters of charity’ shows devotion to Black Nazarene through food-sharing
Marvielyn Quirona and her family have been selling food and drinks at Quiapo Church for at least 40 years (Photo by LUISA K. CABATO / INQUIRER.net)
Another vendor who juggles devotion alongside celebrating the feast is 24-year-old Marvielyn Quirona who started selling foods and drinks at Quiapo Church when she was just 11.
“Every year for about 12 years [I’ve been doing this]. But my father and. my mother have been selling for around 20 to 40 years,” she said.
“We go around selling, but it’s good here because you can sell and you can still see Maria’s visit. When it’s over, when I’m done watching, I’ll really join [the procession].”