Devotees wave their hands as the image of the Black Nazarene is wheeled out of Quiapo Churchs for the traditional Traslacion 2018 in Manila. (Photo by FAYE ORELLANA / INQUIRER.net)
For the past 47 years, Ernie Tagayon, who is now 61, has never missed a single Traslacion of the Black Nazarene. It has been his devotion since he was 14 years old, a practice he inherited from his parents, who were also devotees of the image widely regarded as miraculous.
The Black Nazarene has never failed him, Tagayon said, attributing many of his life’s miracles to the holy image.
The biggest was the birth of his daughter, Jean Carmen, on Jan. 9, 2001 – on the very feast day of the image.
“Dito namin siya hiningi,” he said, referring to Quiapo Church. “Five years kaming kasal, wala. Nung napanganak namin siya, itinakda pang birthday niya [ang pyesta].”
[We asked for her here in Quiapo Church. We were married for five years but we did not bear any child. And when she came, it was as if fate set her birthday on the feast itself.]
Even the name of his daughter was a miracle, Ernie told INQUIRER.net in an interview. He did not think of a name for his newborn, so he just wrote Carmen, in honor of his mother, and Jean, after a friend of his from the Netherlands.
Only when he was writing her name that Ernie realized Jean Carmen’s initials were “J.C.,” which stands for “Jesus Christ.”
“Pagdating nung araw, napag-isip-isip ko, J.C., Jean Carmen, parang Jesus Christ. Hindi ko pinlano, talagang lumabas na ganun,” he said.
[When time came, I realized, J.C., Jean Carmen, just like Jesus Christ. I did not plan it, it just happened.]
This year’s feast has become more special for Ernie and his family as they came to pray for the healing of his wife, Cely, from breast cancer, and Jean Carmen from diabetes.
“Syempre, kagalingan. Lagi namang ganun – health, laging pangunahing hiling,” Ernie said.
(Of course I pray for healing. It’s always health, the primary wish for our family.]
At this point, Cely, standing beside Ernie, became emotional and wiped her tears.
According to Ernie, when her cancer was discovered late last year, Cely immediately underwent chemotherapy. Her treatment will be finished in a few months.
Ernie believes the Black Nazarene will not fail him again this time.
And as he implored the holy image for the healing of his family, Ernie also prayed for the healing of the country from war and conflict.
“Dapat laliman pa natin ang pagdarasal, lalung-lalo na parang nasa paligid na natin ang kalaban. Sobrang sama na ng mundo e, ang dami nang gyera,” he said.
[We should pray harder, especially today that the enemy seems to be lurking just around the corner. The world has gotten worse, there are lots of wars.]
“Dito pa lang sa atin, ang dami nang problema. Dagdagan pa natin ng panalangin,” he added.
[We have lots of problems right here in the country. Let’s pray harder.] /atm