PHOTO by Kristine Sabillo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines – Romano Almariego admits he does not have much in life. But when the Black Nazarene reaches Quiapo Church later, he will pray not for wealth but for the well-being of his family and the victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda.”
“Yung nangyari (noong) 2013, (yung) Yolanda, hindi na data mangyari iyon,” he told INQUIRER 13 hours after the Black Nazarene left Quirino Grandstand.
Almariego, 31, sells vegetables beside Quiapo Church.
Romano Almariego. PHOTO by Kristine Sabillo/INQUIRER.net
“Kasi batang Quiapo kami (We’re Quiapo boys),” he said, explaining how he became a Black Nazarene devotee.
He pointed to the other vendors who were all wearing “Nazareno” shirts.
Almariego said he first started his “panata” when he was 13 years old.
“Para sa akin, mas maganda na iyon kaysa magbisyo (For me, it’s better than getting into vices),” he said.
The vegetable vendor said he has always been praying for his family to remain together and to have good health.
He said they are also praying for the rest of the Filipinos, especially after the devastation of “Yolanda” that left at least 6,000 people dead and hundreds of thousands homeless.
“Importante wala nang kalamidad (What’s important is there shouldn’t be any more calamity),” he said.
Rebeccah Dela Peña, a volunteer collector at the Quiapo Church, said they have noticed more people were going to mass after the “Yolanda” struck Eastern Visayas and nearby provinces last November 8.
In fact, it seems that for the past months our second collection – allotted for donations to “Yolanda” victims – has surpassed the amount of money given during the first collection, she said.
“Kaya sinisipagan namin yung second collection,” she said, hoping that they could at least contribute to the rehabilitation efforts in typhoon-hit areas.
For Almariego, his contribution lies in his devotion for the Black Nazarene.
Every year, he and his companions greet the life-sized sculpture of Jesus Christ on its way back to Quiapo Church.
As part of tradition, they struggle to bear the ropes pulling the Black Nazarene’s carroza (carriage) – over the right and then the left shoulder until they have done this thirteen times. Afterwards, they attempt to climb the carroza and touch the relic.
But not before they help the women in their group.
“Sa ibang tao naghihimala pero sa atin…darating sa atin yun (For other people it performs miracle…for us it will arrive soon),” he said with certainty.
“Basta tuloy-tuloy lang, wag tayong magmadali. Kasi darating sa atin yung ginhawa. Hindi lang sa isang tao kundi sa buong Pilipinas (What’s important is we continue [to believe], no need to hurry. The good things will come, not only for one person but all over the Philippines),” he said.
After the procession, Almariego will return to his stall, hoping to earn at least P1,000 to pay his dues and to feed his family.
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