Chinese New Year Celebration in Manila Chinatown 2012

Feast of the Black Nazarene 2012

It was the longest procession yet in the history of the of the Black Nazarene, started the day around 4 am to fallow devotees in their journey to strengthen their faith. The annual event draws millions of Filipinos to participate in the procession in the predominately catholic country.

One question always linger in my mind  with so many devotees that participate in the procession during the yearly event, does each and everyone really know that essence of what they are doing. Does sacrificing life and limb going through a frenzied crowd to touch the religious icon really bring the miracle that each and every devotee pray for? With a steady number of growing participants yearly, is this a sign that there is a growing number of desperation among the population? One thing that left an impression on my mind was the call of Manila Archbishop Luis Tagle during the early mass which I saw fell onto deft ears at the end of the day.

This year's event lasted for almost 22 hours, leaving the Quirino Grandstand on Monday morning and was able to enter the Quiapo Church at dawn on Tuesday.

fallow link for more images:
http://verafiles.org/2012/01/11/black-nazarene-procession-broken-wheels-and-strong-will/

Journalist from various outfits waited at a vantage point for almost 10 hours for the procession to pass by.

A multimedia presentation here:

Black Nazarene, leading by example...

The feast of the Black Nazarene kicked off with the parade of Replicas this afternoon, it was a preview of the biggest show of devotion of what is to come two days from now, where millions of devotees to the Black Nazarene is expected to participate. Thousands of devotees with their replicas participated this afternoon, some were there since morning.  The volume of trash produced in such a gathering can be a surprising amount. I was taking a break at the side door of the parish when a man quietly walked by and picked up a broom and started to walk towards the foot of Quezon Bridge and started to sweep the street to the surprise of his aides and security personnel. By then they were scampering to look for brooms themselves to help clean the trash left on the street by the revelers, The man was Msgr. Jose Clemente Ignacio, Rector and Parish Priest of Quiapo Church.

Msgr. Jose Clemente Ignacio at Quezon Blvd. after the replica parade.

New Year, Pinoy Style

A firecracker victim with facial injuries sustained by a wayward rocket.

Two weeks after the devastation of Sendong that hit Northern Mindanao, we ushered in 2012. 

I thought that after what had happened down south, we would end the year a bit more solemn and peaceful due to the numerous call of various organizations to donate and help our countrymen instead of spending hundreds or thousands of pesos for polluting the air with toxic particles and finger cutting fireworks.  

Despite calls and warnings to stay away from firecrackers and not to discharge their firearms indiscriminately. This was what transpired that night at the JRMMC emergency room which shows how hard headed some people really are. 

Not to mention those who are so intoxicated to the point of not knowing what happened and where they are, involved in vehicular accidents, brawls and even to the point of shooting and killing somebody right infront of the hospital where media was covering the injured coming in after the revelry.

They say it is way to drive away the bad luck, but with about 800 or so reported injuries this is sheer madness and stupidity. Are we vying for an award or record of some sort for having the most people injured or killed for ushering in the new year?

An intoxicated shooting victim during a drinking spree.

A young girl holding her left hand hit with a stray bullet.

Vehicular accident, intoxicated.

Intoxicated, involved in a brawl on new year's eve.

Intoxicated, left eye injured by firecracker.

"picolo" victim.