Marcos on Feast of Black Nazarene: Embolden love, hope, and compassion

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday called on the country to look back on the Philippines' culture of overcoming trials, as thousands of devotees commemorate the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

In a statement, Marcos said the public should take the transfer of the image of Nuestro Padre Señor Jesus de Nazareno from Intramuros to Quiapo as a symbol of the journey of “finding new meaning in our passions and sufferings as people.”

“As the Catholic Faithful expresses their devotion to the Black Nazarene, let us also remember its deep rootedness in our Filipino culture of overcoming the great trials and tribulations in our midst,” he said.

“It is through our faith that we can conquer the storms that loom ahead of us and bring forth a life filled with grace and steadfastness,” he added.

Marcos also called on the public to “center our existence around love, hope, and compassion.”

“Together, let us embody these values as we write a new chapter in our nation’s narrative so we can altogether usher in an era of peace and prosperity for all.”

Some 88,000 devotees attended the first Walk of Faith in Manila over the weekend, which was held instead of the traditional Traslacion procession of the image of the Black Nazarene.

Until it was suspended in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Traslacion was held annually from 1767 to 2020 to commemorate the transfer of the Black Nazarene replica from Intramuros to the Quiapo Church. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA Integrated News