Black Nazarene
Encyclopedia
The Black Nazarene, known to devotees as ("Our Father Jesus Nazarene") in English
, is a life-sized, dark-coloured, wooden sculpture of Jesus Christ, believed to be miraculous by many Filipino
devotees. The Black Nazarene is currently enshrined in the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene
in Quiapo
, Manila
, Philippines
.
The Feast of the Black Nazarene is celebrated every January 9, with the weekly Friday Novena Masses held in its honour beginning on the first Friday of the year.
carpenter, and the image arrived in the Islands via galleon
from Acapulco
, Mexico
. Folk tradition attributes the colour of the Black Nazarene to a fire on the ship carrying it, charring the image from its original fair tone into its present dark complexion.
There were two identical images of Black Nazarene brought into Manila. The first and most famous one was kept at the Church of Saint Nicholas de Tolentino in Bagumbayan and later transfered to Intramuros when the old edifice was demolished. This Black Nazarene was part of the celebrated Palm Sunday Procession in the old walled city. Sad to say, this statue perished during the liberation of Manila in February 1945.
The other statue was given by the Recollects to the Church of Quiapo. Often, it has been mistaken that this is identical to the lost image of the Intramuros. Every 9th of January Devotees flock to the Basilica for the Annual Feast of the Black Nazarene. The procession that ensued takes several hours to negotiate the narrow streets of Quiapo and gives an appearance of sea of mankind. On ordinary times of the year, Friday is known as Quiapo Day. The Sick and those asking for Divine intervention go to the shrine on the said day.
In a move to protect the centuries old image from effects of processions, the Fathers of Quiapo decided to commission a replica of the Black Nazarene. As a result, the Head and the Hands were placed on the new body while the old torso holds a new head. Both images are brought out for processions albeit alternating every other year.
of Jesus. Many devotees of the Black Nazarene identify their poverty and daily struggles to the wounds and tribulations experienced by Jesus, as represented by the image. Although the patron saint of the basilica itself is Saint John the Baptist, the consecration of the Black Nazarene has gained popularity because Jesus Christ is the centre of the devotion, bypassing intercession through a saint.
Devotion to the miraculous Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno attracted huge following among the populace. Popularity, initially at the northern and southern provinces of Luzon
, spread over time throughout the country.
The uniquely Filipino
devotion to the Black Nazarene merited the sanction and encouragement of two popes. Pope Pius VII gave his blessing in the 19th century, by granting plenary indulgence to those who piously pray before the image of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo.
Devotees pay homage to the Black Nazarene by clapping their hands in praise at the end of Mass performed at the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene.
. The procession during the January 9 feast commemorates the Traslacion, or the transfer of the image to its present shrine in Quiapo.
The Black Nazarene is carried into the streets for procession in an andas or shoulder-borne carriage.
The estimated millions of devotees wear the colour maroon
, associated with the image, and go barefoot in imitation of Jesus on his way to Mount Calvary. Traditionally, men are the only ones permitted to hold the ropes pulling the image's carriage, but in recent years female devotees also participate in the procession. These rope pullers are called traditionally as the namamasan by devotees. People who have touched the Black Nazarene are reported to have been cured of their diseases, and Catholics come from all over Manila
to touch the image in the hopes of a miracle. Towels or handkerchiefs are hurled to the marshals and escorts guarding the Black Nazarene with requests to wipe these on the statue in hopes of the miraculous powers attributed to it "rubbing off" on the cloth articles.
The procession held on the feast day is notorious for the annual casualties that result from the jostling and congestion of the crowds engaged in pulling the carriage. The injuries and even deaths of devotees are brought upon by one or a combination of heat, fatigue, or being trampled upon by other devotees.
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno, (Our Father Jesus Nazarene,)
Sinasamba Ka namin (We worship Thee)
Pinipintuho Ka namin (We admire Thee)
Aral Mo ang aming buhay (For Thy teachings are our life)
at Kaligtasan. (and Salvation.)
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno (Our Father Jesus Nazarene,)
Iligtas Mo kami sa Kasalanan (Deliver us from Sin)
Ang Krus Mong Kinamatayan ay (For the Cross Thou died on is)
Sagisag ng aming Kaligtasan. (The Emblem of our Salvation)
Chorus:
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno, (Our Father Jesus Nazarene,)
Dinarangal Ka namin! (We honour Thee!)
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno, (Our Father Jesus Nazarene,)
Nilul'walhati Ka namin! (We glorify Thee!)
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno, (Our Father Jesus Nazarene,)
Dinarangal Ka namin! (We honour Thee!)
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno, (Our Father Jesus Nazarene,)
Nilul'walhati Ka namin! (We glorify Thee!)
, Manila
. One-and-a-half to three million people can be accommodated around Plaza Miranda and Quezon Boulevard. Two people died and around 50 injured devotees were rushed to 2 hospitals and a makeshift clinic of the Philippine National Red Cross
for first aid treatment, as the procession proceeded. Noli de Castro
Philippine Vice-President at that time, is a known devotee of the statue, also joined the big procession. MPD District Director Senior Supt. Roberto Rosales stated that the crowd swelled to 2.2 to 2.6 million "when others, including local residents, joined the procession along the 4.7-km route." The procession ended at 9:45 pm. In 2006, 2 devotees also died and 20 others only were injured during the procession. This was the last year in which the procession started and ended in Quiapo Church and Plaza Miranda during the day of the feast itself.
was celebrated preceding the 8:30 am procession, officiated by Manila Cardinal Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales. Philippines' Vice-President Noli De Castro, a known devotee of the Black Nazarene was present at the Eucharist and the procession, as well as City of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim
. The procession, which began officially at the end of the mass, was actually started in the middle of it, during the Prayer of the Faithful when the rope in which the image is pulled on its float began to be unrolled by the male rope pullers.
During this year, the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo decided to move one of the two replica statues of the Black Nazarene to the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro in Misamis Oriental
. The statue donated to the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro was commissioned by Msgr. Josefino Ramirez who chose Mr. Maglaqui as the sculptor. This replica became the pilgrim image used so as not wear out the old Replica known as the Vicario which is the one regularly being processed on January 9. Msgr. Ramirez called the pilgrim image as the Callejero. The other Callejero that remained in Quiapo was carved by Mr. Rey Estonactoc and commissioned by the new rector Msgr. Jose Clemente Ignacio. The arrival of the old Callejero in Mindanao would serve devotees both from the Visayas and Mindanao who might not be able to travel to Quiapo for their annual pilgrimage. The replica statue of the Black Nazarene (Old Callejero) is now permanently enshrined in the Jesus Nazareno Parish Church along Claro M. Recto Avenue. Meanwhile, the Basilica in Quiapo received another donation of a replica image also made by Mr. Maglaqui to cater to the growing demands of the increasing requests for visits of the pilgrim image of the Black Nazarene. To date, Quiapo Church has two Callejeros going around different parishes to promote the devotion to the Black Nazarene.
to hear the 1st Friday Masses and the final Novena Masses and to join the procession of the replicas of the Black Nazarene's image from the various parts of the country, belonging to hundreds of organizations promoting its devotion.
The next day, after the image arrived at the Qurino Grandstand at the Luneta, the Pahalik or kissing of the image began. People lined up patiently in order to kiss the image of the Black Nazarene. In the afternoon, Holy Mass was held followed by healing services and an overnight vigil.
Although there were reports of injuries, but no reported deaths, reports of crimes, and despite the light showers, the 2011 Translacion commemorating the 404th year of the Black Nazarene, which began at 7:30 am on January 9 after the concelebrated Holy Mass at the Qurino Grandstand which was presided by Archbishop of Manila Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, ended in the Quiapo Church and the Plaza Miranda grounds at 12:07 am the next day, after a record 15 and a half hours. The reason was the large number of people attending (7 to 8 million all in all) and the increase in the number of namamasan or active participants from the various devotional groups dedicated to the image, especially the rope bearers and pullers and shoulder holders, and the Quiapo Church float marshals and official escorts, wearing gold and maroon shirts who guarded the float (called the andas by devotees) all through the day. Another factor was the slow pace of the procession itself, the float and the long rope on which it was being pulled upon. This became the reason why Quiapo Church extended the Mass period until eleven in the evening, and after that held a Holy Hour while the image began its final stretch.
This year's event witnessed the very first fireworks display at the Quiapo Church and the Plaza Miranda grounds on the very moment the Black Nazarene image began to enter the church through its iron gate, which only took a few minutes before it entered the church premises.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, is a life-sized, dark-coloured, wooden sculpture of Jesus Christ, believed to be miraculous by many Filipino
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
devotees. The Black Nazarene is currently enshrined in the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene
Quiapo Church
Quiapo Church, officially known as Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, is a Roman Catholic church located in the District of Quiapo, Manila, in the Philippines. The church is one of the most popular churches in the country. It is home to the Black Nazarene, a much venerated statue of Jesus Christ...
in Quiapo
Quiapo, Manila
Quiapo is a district and city square of Manila. Referred as the "Old Downtown", Quiapo in known for where cheap buys or goods are being sold at rock-bottom prices and was the home of the Quiapo Church, where the feast for the Black Nazarene is held, with over millions of people attending...
, Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
The Feast of the Black Nazarene is celebrated every January 9, with the weekly Friday Novena Masses held in its honour beginning on the first Friday of the year.
History
The statue's original carver is an anonymous MexicanMexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
carpenter, and the image arrived in the Islands via galleon
Galleon
A galleon was a large, multi-decked sailing ship used primarily by European states from the 16th to 18th centuries. Whether used for war or commerce, they were generally armed with the demi-culverin type of cannon.-Etymology:...
from Acapulco
Acapulco
Acapulco is a city, municipality and major sea port in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast of Mexico, southwest from Mexico City. Acapulco is located on a deep, semi-circular bay and has been a port since the early colonial period of Mexico’s history...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Folk tradition attributes the colour of the Black Nazarene to a fire on the ship carrying it, charring the image from its original fair tone into its present dark complexion.
There were two identical images of Black Nazarene brought into Manila. The first and most famous one was kept at the Church of Saint Nicholas de Tolentino in Bagumbayan and later transfered to Intramuros when the old edifice was demolished. This Black Nazarene was part of the celebrated Palm Sunday Procession in the old walled city. Sad to say, this statue perished during the liberation of Manila in February 1945.
The other statue was given by the Recollects to the Church of Quiapo. Often, it has been mistaken that this is identical to the lost image of the Intramuros. Every 9th of January Devotees flock to the Basilica for the Annual Feast of the Black Nazarene. The procession that ensued takes several hours to negotiate the narrow streets of Quiapo and gives an appearance of sea of mankind. On ordinary times of the year, Friday is known as Quiapo Day. The Sick and those asking for Divine intervention go to the shrine on the said day.
In a move to protect the centuries old image from effects of processions, the Fathers of Quiapo decided to commission a replica of the Black Nazarene. As a result, the Head and the Hands were placed on the new body while the old torso holds a new head. Both images are brought out for processions albeit alternating every other year.
Devotion
Veneration of the Black Nazarene stems from the overall importance Filipino culture has for the PassionPassion (Christianity)
The Passion is the Christian theological term used for the events and suffering – physical, spiritual, and mental – of Jesus in the hours before and including his trial and execution by crucifixion...
of Jesus. Many devotees of the Black Nazarene identify their poverty and daily struggles to the wounds and tribulations experienced by Jesus, as represented by the image. Although the patron saint of the basilica itself is Saint John the Baptist, the consecration of the Black Nazarene has gained popularity because Jesus Christ is the centre of the devotion, bypassing intercession through a saint.
Devotion to the miraculous Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno attracted huge following among the populace. Popularity, initially at the northern and southern provinces of Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
, spread over time throughout the country.
The uniquely Filipino
Culture of the Philippines
Philippine culture is related to Micronesian, Bornean, Mexican and Spanish cultures. The people today are mostly of Malayo-Polynesian origin, although there are people with Spanish, Mexican, Austro-Melanesian and Chinese blood. Geographically, the Philippines is considered part of Southeast Asia...
devotion to the Black Nazarene merited the sanction and encouragement of two popes. Pope Pius VII gave his blessing in the 19th century, by granting plenary indulgence to those who piously pray before the image of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo.
Devotees pay homage to the Black Nazarene by clapping their hands in praise at the end of Mass performed at the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene.
Novena
Every Friday of the year is dedicated to the Black Nazarene, with the novena being held not only in the basilica but in other churches nationwide. This has led to the colloquial expression "Quiapo Day" for Fridays, especially when referring to the traffic jams that occur around the area due to the influx of devotees attending Masses that start in the early morning and end in the late hours of the night.Processions
Two major and two minor processions are held annually to honour the Black Nazarene, namely one on the feast day itself and another on Good FridayGood Friday
Good Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
. The procession during the January 9 feast commemorates the Traslacion, or the transfer of the image to its present shrine in Quiapo.
The Black Nazarene is carried into the streets for procession in an andas or shoulder-borne carriage.
The estimated millions of devotees wear the colour maroon
Maroon (color)
Maroon is a dark red color.-Etymology:Maroon is derived from French marron .The first recorded use of maroon as a color name in English was in 1789.-Maroon :...
, associated with the image, and go barefoot in imitation of Jesus on his way to Mount Calvary. Traditionally, men are the only ones permitted to hold the ropes pulling the image's carriage, but in recent years female devotees also participate in the procession. These rope pullers are called traditionally as the namamasan by devotees. People who have touched the Black Nazarene are reported to have been cured of their diseases, and Catholics come from all over Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
to touch the image in the hopes of a miracle. Towels or handkerchiefs are hurled to the marshals and escorts guarding the Black Nazarene with requests to wipe these on the statue in hopes of the miraculous powers attributed to it "rubbing off" on the cloth articles.
The procession held on the feast day is notorious for the annual casualties that result from the jostling and congestion of the crowds engaged in pulling the carriage. The injuries and even deaths of devotees are brought upon by one or a combination of heat, fatigue, or being trampled upon by other devotees.
Hymn
Below are the lyrics of the National Hymn composed by Lucio San Pedro, which is used by the Quiapo church as the main hymn to the Black Nazarene.Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno, (Our Father Jesus Nazarene,)
Sinasamba Ka namin (We worship Thee)
Pinipintuho Ka namin (We admire Thee)
Aral Mo ang aming buhay (For Thy teachings are our life)
at Kaligtasan. (and Salvation.)
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno (Our Father Jesus Nazarene,)
Iligtas Mo kami sa Kasalanan (Deliver us from Sin)
Ang Krus Mong Kinamatayan ay (For the Cross Thou died on is)
Sagisag ng aming Kaligtasan. (The Emblem of our Salvation)
Chorus:
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno, (Our Father Jesus Nazarene,)
Dinarangal Ka namin! (We honour Thee!)
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno, (Our Father Jesus Nazarene,)
Nilul'walhati Ka namin! (We glorify Thee!)
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno, (Our Father Jesus Nazarene,)
Dinarangal Ka namin! (We honour Thee!)
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno, (Our Father Jesus Nazarene,)
Nilul'walhati Ka namin! (We glorify Thee!)
2008
On January 9, 2008, the number of devotees who joined the procession swelled to 80,000 in QuiapoQuiapo, Manila
Quiapo is a district and city square of Manila. Referred as the "Old Downtown", Quiapo in known for where cheap buys or goods are being sold at rock-bottom prices and was the home of the Quiapo Church, where the feast for the Black Nazarene is held, with over millions of people attending...
, Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
. One-and-a-half to three million people can be accommodated around Plaza Miranda and Quezon Boulevard. Two people died and around 50 injured devotees were rushed to 2 hospitals and a makeshift clinic of the Philippine National Red Cross
Philippine National Red Cross
Born officially in 1947, Philippine Red Cross , a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, has roots that trace back to the revolutionary days...
for first aid treatment, as the procession proceeded. Noli de Castro
Noli de Castro
Manuel Leuterio de Castro, Jr. , better known as Noli de Castro or "Kabayan" Noli de Castro, was Vice President of the Philippines ....
Philippine Vice-President at that time, is a known devotee of the statue, also joined the big procession. MPD District Director Senior Supt. Roberto Rosales stated that the crowd swelled to 2.2 to 2.6 million "when others, including local residents, joined the procession along the 4.7-km route." The procession ended at 9:45 pm. In 2006, 2 devotees also died and 20 others only were injured during the procession. This was the last year in which the procession started and ended in Quiapo Church and Plaza Miranda during the day of the feast itself.
2009
On the 402nd year celebration of the Black Nazarene, the Minor Basilica of Quiapo decided to change the route of the procession of the Black Nazarene so as to prevent injuries and deaths, as had happened in the previous years due to large crowds and stampede during the procession. It also hoped to recall the original meaning of the Translacion, which is the transfer of the image from Bagumbayan to Quiapo. A healing MassMass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
was celebrated preceding the 8:30 am procession, officiated by Manila Cardinal Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales. Philippines' Vice-President Noli De Castro, a known devotee of the Black Nazarene was present at the Eucharist and the procession, as well as City of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim
Alfredo Lim
Alfredo Siojo Lim is the incumbent Mayor of the City of Manila and a former senator of the Philippines. A widower, he first served as mayor of Manila from 1992 to 1998 and returned to that post after winning in the 2007 mayoral election.-Early life and career:Born on December 21, 1929 in 1324 J...
. The procession, which began officially at the end of the mass, was actually started in the middle of it, during the Prayer of the Faithful when the rope in which the image is pulled on its float began to be unrolled by the male rope pullers.
During this year, the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo decided to move one of the two replica statues of the Black Nazarene to the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro in Misamis Oriental
Misamis Oriental
Misamis Oriental is a province of the Philippines located in the Northern Mindanao region. Its capital and provincial center is Cagayan de Oro City...
. The statue donated to the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro was commissioned by Msgr. Josefino Ramirez who chose Mr. Maglaqui as the sculptor. This replica became the pilgrim image used so as not wear out the old Replica known as the Vicario which is the one regularly being processed on January 9. Msgr. Ramirez called the pilgrim image as the Callejero. The other Callejero that remained in Quiapo was carved by Mr. Rey Estonactoc and commissioned by the new rector Msgr. Jose Clemente Ignacio. The arrival of the old Callejero in Mindanao would serve devotees both from the Visayas and Mindanao who might not be able to travel to Quiapo for their annual pilgrimage. The replica statue of the Black Nazarene (Old Callejero) is now permanently enshrined in the Jesus Nazareno Parish Church along Claro M. Recto Avenue. Meanwhile, the Basilica in Quiapo received another donation of a replica image also made by Mr. Maglaqui to cater to the growing demands of the increasing requests for visits of the pilgrim image of the Black Nazarene. To date, Quiapo Church has two Callejeros going around different parishes to promote the devotion to the Black Nazarene.
2010
The Feast of 2010 also began in Luneta. The crowd swelled to between five to seven million. The concelebrated mass was officiated by His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales. More than two thousand volunteers were mobilized to assist in the organization and the operations of the huge procession. The City of Manila under the leadership of Mayor Alfredo S. Lim together with his various departments coordinated with the Church committees to make sure that the procession would proceed with fewer casualties. The media also assisted to inform the devotees of what the organizers wished to announce as well as form the devotees on proper religious behavior. The procession, its longest so far, generally became peaceful and orderly with no deaths except for a heart attack victim while waiting for the procession to come. Casualties involving minor injuries were expected since devotees go barefooted and being under the sun for several hours. The overnight vigil was applauded for its catechetical and formative value.2011
Since the feast of the Black Nazarene in 2011 fell on a Sunday, starting on Friday, January 7, people began to flock to the Quiapo ChurchQuiapo Church
Quiapo Church, officially known as Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, is a Roman Catholic church located in the District of Quiapo, Manila, in the Philippines. The church is one of the most popular churches in the country. It is home to the Black Nazarene, a much venerated statue of Jesus Christ...
to hear the 1st Friday Masses and the final Novena Masses and to join the procession of the replicas of the Black Nazarene's image from the various parts of the country, belonging to hundreds of organizations promoting its devotion.
The next day, after the image arrived at the Qurino Grandstand at the Luneta, the Pahalik or kissing of the image began. People lined up patiently in order to kiss the image of the Black Nazarene. In the afternoon, Holy Mass was held followed by healing services and an overnight vigil.
Although there were reports of injuries, but no reported deaths, reports of crimes, and despite the light showers, the 2011 Translacion commemorating the 404th year of the Black Nazarene, which began at 7:30 am on January 9 after the concelebrated Holy Mass at the Qurino Grandstand which was presided by Archbishop of Manila Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, ended in the Quiapo Church and the Plaza Miranda grounds at 12:07 am the next day, after a record 15 and a half hours. The reason was the large number of people attending (7 to 8 million all in all) and the increase in the number of namamasan or active participants from the various devotional groups dedicated to the image, especially the rope bearers and pullers and shoulder holders, and the Quiapo Church float marshals and official escorts, wearing gold and maroon shirts who guarded the float (called the andas by devotees) all through the day. Another factor was the slow pace of the procession itself, the float and the long rope on which it was being pulled upon. This became the reason why Quiapo Church extended the Mass period until eleven in the evening, and after that held a Holy Hour while the image began its final stretch.
This year's event witnessed the very first fireworks display at the Quiapo Church and the Plaza Miranda grounds on the very moment the Black Nazarene image began to enter the church through its iron gate, which only took a few minutes before it entered the church premises.