Quiapo Church

   

      Quiapo Church houses the life-size statue of the Black Nazarene (Jesus Christ). Every year on the 9th of January, devotees flock around Quiapo Church to take part in the celebration of Feast of the Black Nazarene, as it inches across the streets packed with devotees around Quiapo Church. They are hoping to touch the rope that is use to pull the float of Nazarene to its destination. Devotees attribute many miracles to this 400 year old image which was brought to the Philippines from Mexico in the 7th century. Once you have touched the rope, or you have the towel touched by the saint this can cure your illness as believed by the devotees.

        Aside from the feast, many people go to the church not just to pray but to find cure for their impurities and others use this to earn a living. Outside the church there are varieties of vendors selling different items. Some people sell religious items such as rosaries, novena booklets, images and blessed crucifixes. Some are selling colored candles and herbs for different purposes. These colored candles serve as identification for different wishes one may want, like wealth, success, love, health and others. Herbs for gayuma or black magic and some for abortion are also available here. Fortune tellers can be found here who use tarot cards and playing cards to tell the future.  And some sell amulet, this is said to give protection to the one who wears it or some special powers, and warding off bad luck and bad spirits.

        These are manifestations of a strong Catholicism and a mass –market consumerism that identify us as Filipinos.