Black Nazarene devotees share stories of healing, renewal during ‘pahalik’

MANILA, Philippines—Despite waiting in line for almost five hours just to touch the Black Nazarene, 59-year-old Racquel Buenaflor said it’s worth the wait.

“Ang pagpila sa Nazareno ay parang renewal mo sa Diyos. Habang humahaba itong pila, iyan din yung haba ng krus na pinasan ng Diyos para sa iyo at sa akin (Lining up for the Nazarene is like renewal for God. The longer the line goes, the same length of the cross that the Lord carried for you and me),” Buenaflor said.

Ben Litao couldn’t agree more. Litao said one’s devotion must be coupled with sacrifice.

“Pag humiling ka, siyempre dapat mamanata ka din, sakripisyo ka rin para maibigay sayo yung hinihiling mo (If you’re asking for something, of course you should learn how to do penance and make sacrifices for it),” he said.

Jojo Araganas, a former prisoner, said he was freed because of his wife’s devotion to the Nazarene.

Jojo Araganas, a former prisoner, is among the first Black Nazarene devotees who trooped to Quirino Grandstand in Manila a day before the actual feast. CATHY MIRANDA

“Galing ako sa loob eh, yung asawa ko doon namamanata sa Nazareno para makalaya ako. Yung anak ko, may epilepsy dati yun, gumaling dahil sa patuloy na pagpapanata niya (I was a convict. My wife has been a devotee of the Nazarene so I could be set free. My son, he had epilepsy but he was cured because of my wife’s devotion),” the 41-year old devotee said.

Buenaflor, Litao and Aranas were among the millions of Filipino Catholic devotees who trooped to the Quirino Gransdtand in Luneta on Thursday for the traditional “pahalik” or kissing of the image of the Nazareno.

The pahalik started 4 a.m. after it was transported from the Basilica Minor in Quiapo.

The actual procession of the Black Nazarene on Friday, January 9, draws millions of devotees who walk barefoot with the image of the Black Christ in a procession as a sign of penance and thanksgiving for favors received.

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