#Nazareno2014: Netizens react to chaos at the altar

Ryan Macasero

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Is the Black Nazarene parade a test of faith or just a deadly tradition?

DEVOTION. A man is squeezed among crowd during the annual procession of the Black Nazarene in Manila on Thursday. Photo by Jay Ganzon

MANILA, Philippines – It was the feast of the Black Nazarene again in Manila on Thursday, January 9. Chaos was to be expected, as millions tried to touch, or just get a glimpse, of the statue of a suffering Jesus Christ that devotees believe to be “miraculous.”

But the imminent chaos and danger did not deter followers of the statue that missionaries from Mexico brought to the country 400 years ago.

As of 6 pm – hours before the procession was expected to end –  workers and volunteers with the health department and the Philippine Red Cross had attended to more than 2,000 emergencies.

The faithful even interrupted the Mass being presided by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle at the Quirino Grandstand in the morning.

Tagle delivered his homily at around 6 am, urging devotees to remember calamity victims, and to be ashamed of corruption and not of Jesus.

But Tagle’s inspiring homily was not enough to impose decorum on the Nazarene goers. Commotion ensued after the Mass ended. Attendees broke through the barricade and took the image of the Black Nazarene before the Communion.

When news of what happened at the Quirino Grandstand reached social media, many netizens reacted.

How do you feel about the danger of the Black Nazarene parade? Is it just a deadly tradition or a test of faith? Comment below.  

– Rappler.com

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Nobuhiko Matsunaka

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Ryan Macasero

Ryan covers social welfare for Rappler. He started at Rappler as social media producer in 2013, and later took on various roles for the company: editor for the #BalikBayan section, correspondent in Cebu, and general assignments reporter in the Visayas region. He graduated from California State University, East Bay, with a degree in international studies and a minor in political science. Outside of work, Ryan performs spoken word poetry and loves attending local music gigs. Follow him on Twitter @ryanmacasero or drop him leads for stories at ryan.macasero@rappler.com