I am Hijo, devotee of the Nazareno

Robert M. Reyes

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I am Hijo, devotee of the Nazareno

ROBREYESphotography

'Many times, I tried to make my way to the carriage of the Black Nazarene, and get a hold of the “rope of faith.” In almost as many times, I was hurled away.'

MANILA, Philippines – I joined my father in celebrating the Feast of the Black Nazarene 26 years ago. My decision to take part in the procession drew a smile from my father, who had been a lifelong Nazareno devotee.

In 1990, I was just a 16-year-old skinny lad drowning in a sea of flesh, caught in the undulations of the ever-swelling crowd. I made my way through walls and walls of devotees, who seemed to be in perpetual motion, moving like intermittent waves, unpredictable in its comings and goings. (READ: The children of Nazareno)

To chants of The Lord’s Prayer, I swayed with the crowd in a strange dance that was more like frenzied back-and-forth stomping of bare-naked feet.

SAFETY FIRST. Devotees try to untangle the rope and preventing accidents.    

I prayed in silence, “Our Father who art in heaven…”

Many times, I tried to make my way to the carriage of the Black Nazarene, and get a hold of the “rope of faith.” In almost as many times, I was hurled away.

The crowd shouted, “Hila! Hila! Hila! (Pull!)” (READ: Learning Nazarene devotees’ ‘choreography’ and staying safe)

One devotee shouted at me, “Maliit ka para dito! Humanap ka ng kapantay mo, kapatid! (You’re too small for this [group]! Find your height, brother!)”

PRECAUTION. Devotees of the Black Nazarene trying to untangle the rope and preventing accidents.   

I soon discovered I had to align my shoulder with the rope.

“Salya, kapatid! (Push, brothers!)”

The brethren helped me to get back into the rope.

“Balikatin mo ang pagpasok,” a devotee told me, instructing me to use my shoulder to get in. He then pushed the person in front of him, while I pushed my shoulder towards the rope.

Finally, I was holding the rope. But getting to, holding onto the rope, and staying inside the cordon, is only half the battle. There were times when I lost grip of the rope, and times when I was driven out of the loop.

Someone from among the crowd inside the cordon shouted, “Otso! (Eight!)”

I learned that when the rope forms the infinity sign, it’s a warning. As force and tension comes from all directions, getting entangled with the figure 8 knot may lead to serious injuries.

COOPERATION. The Black Nazarene rope flying after it got slack due to uneven force.

Someone from the crowd holding on the rope commanded, “Baywang! (Waist!)”

Like dutiful soldiers of God, we place the rope by the waist. It meant no one is allowed to get in line as the entire length of the rope is getting fixed.

Meanwhile, we shouted “Tukod! (Support!)”

I was part of a group of devotees that went  down like an uprooted tree blown by a strong wind. In that case, do not fret. It may be a swarm of total strangers but these devotees are more than willing to give you a hand to help you get up.

When a wave died down, someone from among the marshalls will ask, “Taas kamay kung lalabas (Raise your hand, if you want out).”

Worn out, exhausted, and gasping for breath, I raise my hand. Someone pulled me out of the crowd.

Year after year, I feel the same exhilaration as I first did in 1990.

DOWNTIME. A devotee rests moments before the arrival of the Black Nazarene.

But 10 years ago, my father died. It was January 9, the Black Nazarene procession. It was the only time I missed it.

A year after that, I began to document the annual procession. For 26 years now, I have been joining a million other faithful Filipinos in celebrating the Traslacion. I am Hijo, devotee of the Nazareno. ∫ Rappler.com

Robert Reyes formerly works as a technical support in the IT Department of a seemingly regular office. An award-winning photographer, his interest in photography made him realize that the craft is worth his devotion. Rob graduated from Jose Rizal College and been doing photography for almost 10 years. A member of the Tokwa Collective and Photojournalists’ Center of the Philippines, and a long-time devotee of the Black Nazarene.

 

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