Why is the Jesus Nazareno image dark-skinned? Kuya Kim explains

Have you ever wondered why the image of Jesus Nazareno in the Quiapo Church is dark-skinned?

According to Kuya Kim's report on "24 Oras," Thursday, many people believe that this is because the image was damaged when it was transported via galleon from Mexico to the Philippines in 1606.

However, Monsignor Sabino Vengco Jr. of the Loyola School of Theology said that the color comes from the wood used to create the image, which is called mesquite.

The image of was called Black Nazarene until recently, but the church announced that it is now called Jesus Nazareno.

Every year on January 9, devotees of the Nazareno gather for the annual Traslacion in commemoration of the image's transfer from Intramuros to Quiapo in 1787.

Jesus Nazareno was formerly at the Iglesia de San Nicolas de Tolentino in the Walled City, which served as the home of the Asian headquarters of the Augustinian Recollect Order.

The historic church got heavily damaged during World War II. It was eventually demolished in 1959.

—MGP, GMA Integrated News