Tuesday, January 08, 2008

PARADE OF THE REPLICAS IN QUIAPO

















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posted by Señor Enrique at 7:05 AM


25 Comments:

Blogger pusa said...

great photos here... wonder when i can actually join the procession, i'm not a fan of huge crowd so i stay out of 'em most of the time, but soemday i'd also want to join the procession :)

good luck tomorrow if you're going to cover it, stay safe

January 08, 2008 11:00 AM  

Blogger carlotta1924 said...

wow time flies so fast, seems like yesterday when you posted another entry on this one. =)

happy tuesday! ^^

January 08, 2008 11:38 AM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Thank you, Pusa. I really enjoyed taking these photographs because the people were, for the most part, in a festive mood -- unlike the more solemn mood that permeates the actual day of the feast.

Incidentally, word on the street is the church will bring out its statue (the real one) of the Black Nazarene to join the procession this Wednesday.

I'm not really sure I can handle such overwhelming wave of people on that day. I may do peripheral or human interest shots if ever I brave going there tomorrow.

January 08, 2008 11:55 AM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

You've just reminded me of New Orleans' "Fat Tuesday," Carla :)

Yes, time sure flies faster than realized. This is why wise folks recommend appreciating all the good that's around us before they move on along with time.

January 08, 2008 12:11 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I still remember the Black Nazarene procession in Quiapo - truly a spectacle. Those folks dying to carry the statue are die hard believers man. With the sea of humanity trying to grab hold of the handles of the carriage, you'd be fearing a stampede out there and people can really get hurt :(

January 08, 2008 1:01 PM  

Blogger  gmirage said...

What Bw said is true...I sometimes think too, some traditions are well, just meaningless traditions.

Where's Mr. Vice President? =)

January 08, 2008 3:46 PM  

Blogger Unknown said...

I'd prefer the Sinulog crowd, rowdy but not intense. :D Even the dress rehearsal looks alarming. I like the 1st and 3rd photos. Good luck na lang sa mga devotees.

January 08, 2008 4:09 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Funny thing about humanity, G. Mirage is that what may be meaningless to some can be meaningful to others.

Take this feast of the Black Nazarene, for example, some locals will die just to be able to pull or push the carriage that carries the statue during the procession. But to the mujahideen, what these local Pinoys are doing may appear nothing more than a display of utter absurdity.

So I'd go with what John Lennon once said, "Whatever gets you through the night, it's all right. It's all right."

The VP only makes his appearance on the actual feast day which is tomorrow :)

January 08, 2008 4:40 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

At least you have seen one, BW. I haven't yet. Like I said, if somehow I could just stay somewhere along the sideline and watch it, I should.

January 08, 2008 4:45 PM  

Blogger nutart said...

I feel the specialness of these intense processions like the Black Nazarene. You can do a whole thesis about how religious myths are made in the Philippines. It really is also about a distinct kind of faith as well as superstition...of some sort. I didn't know that the VP is a Nazareno regular. Does he also go to Mt Banahaw? Politicians are known to court the graces of the deities everywhere.

January 08, 2008 5:21 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

I'm sure Sinulog is an exciting festival, Luna. Perhaps, someday I'll get a chance to enjoy it in person. But for now, have to make the best of those in Manila :)

Thanks!

January 08, 2008 5:32 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Not sure where else Noli treks to have fun, Bernadette, but many Quiapo folks are expecing VP Noli to pull the rope tomorrow as he had done in the past few years.

The fact that he had become the country's VP might have only attracted more new devotees to the Nazareno :)

January 08, 2008 5:35 PM  

Blogger Photowalker said...

Wow! If I didn't have work, I would have been there too.

Nice shots.

January 08, 2008 9:59 PM  

Blogger Gita Asuncion said...

thanks for sharing your photos... theyre amazing...

January 08, 2008 10:24 PM  

Blogger  gmirage said...

Ditto nutart! superstitions. Would be a good thing if faith is founded on reason.

Ah...I thought its a one-day event. I read somewhere that VP has devoted himself to do this every year. Hope you'd be well for the next shoot SenorE! =)

January 08, 2008 11:25 PM  

Blogger Ebb Tide said...

Hi Sr. E! I like your first photo entry. What a very creative composition! The Black Nazarene on the left and the Quiapo Church on the right.

January 09, 2008 2:06 AM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Thank you, Ebb Tide. It was a spur of the momen kind of thing when I had thought about taking a shot from this perspective.

January 09, 2008 6:23 AM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Some of the local barangays from the various parts of Metro Manila brought in their very own staues of the Black Nazarene, G. Mirage, for this particular parade last Monday. I was also an opportunity for the law enforcement officials to fine tune their crowd control and security measures for Wednesday.

Thanks!

January 09, 2008 6:25 AM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

My pleasure, Gita. Glad you like 'em :)

January 09, 2008 6:25 AM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Thanks, Photowalker. According to ews reports early this morning, Plaza Miranda is already crowded with devotees. Amazing!

January 09, 2008 6:27 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love the photo best; the composition is awesome, in my opinion!

(:

It's good that you documented this event in photography format. At least I'm learning something new here. Yay!

January 09, 2008 3:45 PM  

Blogger Sidney said...

First of all a Happy New Year.

Just by looking at your pictures I couldn't resist the urge to go today to the Feast of the Black Nazarene.
An unforgettable event.
I took a bit more risks this year and I saw people being crushed by the crowd.
I must say that some people are without any common sense.
You can see old people... parents with little children even with babies in very dangerous places...
I had the impression that there were more casualties than last year (even if there was more security & police).
Anyway there are enough safe places nearby the action and I have to say I love the excitement, the strong feeling of devotion and the extra dose of adrenaline...
I will visit you blog again regularly around January 28.
I first go to the Ati-Atihan in Kalibo. Hope to meet you soon afterwards.

January 09, 2008 7:40 PM  

Blogger Aura said...

Happy New year to you SE!!!

It seems that you´ve been busy these days covering events like the Black Nazarene procession.

Thanks for sharing

Be well!!

January 09, 2008 9:12 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Hello Aura! Welcome back. Trust you had a wonderful holiday :)

January 10, 2008 8:11 AM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

"Anyway there are enough safe places nearby the action and I have to say I love the excitement, the strong feeling of devotion and the extra dose of adrenaline..."

Ay sinabi, Sidney. I had such a wondeful time although I must have left the area when you've only arrived. Maybe next year, I'll take pics of the procession itself.

Have a fun and safe trip at the Ati-Atihan Festival. We'll get together upon your return.

January 10, 2008 8:20 AM  

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