‘Make Jan. 9 a holiday’

To highlight the religious significance and cultural importance of the Feast of the Black Nazarene, a councilor has sought the declaration of Jan. 9 as a special nonworking holiday in the City of Manila.

Millions of devotees annually flock to the city to pay homage to the miraculous icon which is believed to cure the sick and bring forth prosperity.

The Black Nazarene feast is the “largest religious festival and procession in our predominantly Catholic nation where multitudes of loyal devotees take part in strengthening their faith and fulfilling their spiritual vows,” the draft ordinance said.

The proposed measure, authored by Councilor DJ Bagatsing, added that the “religious nature of the Black Nazarene has continually progressed into a Filipino sociocultural celebration and special traditional heritage occasion.”

“There is truly a need to preserve, enshrine and promote its observance in the City of Manila,” it said.—Erika Sauler