Black Nazarene parade: Is it now more difficult to completely believe in something?

Fanaticism? Idolatry? Misdirected faith? Call it what you want but the Feast of the Black Nazarene will remain one of the most anticipated yearly spectacles in the Catholic calendar.

 

From a jounalist's perpective, the yearly Traslacion or parade of the Mahal na Poong Nazareno or the Black Nazarene from the Quirino Grandstand to the Quiapo Church is a never-ending source of interesting stories.

 

It's just different every year!

 

Today, January 9 2015, an estimated five-and-a-half million people or more than the entire population of Norway flocked to the streets barefoot. 

 

This number is one of the biggest to ever attend the annual procession.

 

Their ultimate goal, to make it up to the "andas" or float and touch the image of the Black Nazarene.

 

Because of the sheer number of people, it took nearly seven hours for the float to make it from the Quirino Grandstand to the Manila City Hall area where I and my news team were positioned. 

 

One of the most unforgettable things to experience when the andas is merely a few feet away is the overwhelming heat emanating from the frenzied crowd.

 

There's also a distinct rumbling sound that I'm sure would be terrifying to the uninitiated.

 

I still get goosebumps just thinking about it!

 

Every year, it amazes me to see people risking life and limb just to touch the Black Nazarene or grab on the rope which this Hijos del Nazareno use to pull the float forward.

 

The devotees believe that touching the Nazareno or the rope means absolution.
 

But seeing women and young girls and boys frantically scrambling over people and pushing and clawing their way to make it up the andas makes me ask. Is this all necessary?

 

I guess to the devotees the answer is yes but sadly, the Traslacion has been reduced to merely a thrill-seeking activity to many people.

 

Some actually risk being hurt just to prove that they can actually do it.

 

Some are just there not to offer up a prayer for a worthy cause but rather just to experience it once in their lifetime.

 

I even heard a group of men placing bets on how close they can make it to the Black Nazarene.

 

I guess the true essence of the whole Traslacion experience boils down to faith that transcends all physical and emotional boundaries.

 

One just simply can not logically justify the whole experience because to these devotees, their lives are just a close second to their faith in the miraculous Nazarene.

 

This I guess is perfectly exemplified by the devotees who fall back to the crowd seemingly in complete surrender and euphoria after touching the Black Nazarene.

 

In hindsight, maybe we should ask ourselves these questions:

 

Can you believe in something so much that you're willing to risk your life for it?

 

In this age of conflicting beliefs and moral confusion, is it now really more difficult to completely believe in something? —NB, GMA News