Nazareno 2025: Stories of faith and answered prayers

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora, Philippine News Agency

FILE: #Nazareno2025 crowd on Wednesday (Jan. 8, 2025) at Quirino Grandstand in Manila, the venue of the “pahalik” that allows devotees to touch and wipe the image of the Jesus Nazareno. The tradition means “kissing” but is discouraged due to health reasons. (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)

MANILA – Sixty-four-year-old state weather observer Dorothea Basina has been a devotee of the Jesus Nazareno for 20 years, braving the overwhelming crowd every Jan. 9 to join the traditional “pahalik” (kissing of the image) or “pagpupugay” for the venerated image of Christ.

This year, she and her companion patiently lined up for 10 hours, starting at 5 p.m. Wednesday and finally getting to touch and wipe the image with their handkerchiefs at past 3 a.m. the next day.

For her, enduring this is but a small sacrifice for all the peace, grace and blessings she got from the Nazareno.

“Sa iba, panata ito pero, sa akin it’s from my heart. Marami akong blessings na na-receive, pero ang devotion ko sa kanya iba. Hindi ako nag-mintis kasi parang hinihila ka niya, nasa isip ko siya palagi (To others, it’s a vow, but to me it’s from my heart. I have received many blessings, but my devotion to him is different. I never missed a feast because I being pulled towards him, God is always on my mind),” she told the Philippine News Agency.

“Tumandang dalaga ako, hindi ako nakapag-asawa because of my devotion to him—and I don’t regret it, I even see it as a blessing. I am happy with what I have, it’s accepting life as it is, kung ano ang binigay ni Lord (I’m single and did not get married because of my devotion to him—and I don’t regret it, I even see it as a blessing. I am happy with what I have, it’s accepting life as it is, what the Lord has given),” she added.

There was even a time that she seriously considered leaving the Philippines to pursue a career overseas but the mere thought of not seeing the True Cross-carrying image of Christ halted this plan.

“Naisip ko, paano ko siya makikita kung umalis ako? So, I am here because I want to see him not because I am asking anything, I just wanted to see him (I thought back then, but how will I see him if I leave? So, I am here because I want to see him, it’s not because I am asking anything, I just wanted to see him),” she shared. “I see it as a gift, that my faith is unwavering.”

This faith, she said, also got her sister through her battle with cancer.

“After ng dasal namin, ‘yong cancer cells niya hindi na kumalat, natanggal na ang tumor niya successfully, dapat may chemotherapy pa siya, pero ngayon ok na siya in a way (After our prayers, she got tested and it was found that her cancer cells did not spread, her tumor was eventually removed successfully. She should have been undergoing chemotherapy, but now she is ok in a way),” she shared.

“Kapag may problema ka na hindi mo talaga ma-resolve, seek his help. Hindi dadami nang ganito ang tao dito kung hindi siya sumasagot (When you have a problem that you think can’t be solved, seek his (Nazarene’s) help. There won’t be people here if he doesn’t answer),” she added.

A gift of child

Ronnie Beltran, a devotee since 2010, can still remember his petition for so many years—to have his first child.

In 2024, Beltran joined the Traslacion and in the same year, his first baby—Prince Aaron—was born. Now, in tow with him for the “pahalik” line as early as 7 p.m. on Jan. 8, was the very same child.

“Wish ko talaga siya kay Nazareno kaya mas matindi ang debosyon ko ngayon. Marami akong petisyon sa kanya lalo na ang magkaroon ng malakas na katawan at magkaroon ng baby (I really wished for my boy from the Nazarene so my devotion is more intense now. I have many petitions for him, especially to have a strong body and a baby),” he said.

“Lahat ng hiniling ko sa kanya natupad, hindi ako magtitiyaga ng ganoon—mula 7 p.m. kahapon hanggang 4 a.m. ngayon (Everything I asked of him has come true. I will not patiently line up like that—from 7 p.m. yesterday to 4 a.m. today, if not for him),” he added.

This story of answered prayers was the same for 65-year-old Carolina Cusap, who has been a devout Nazareno faithful since she was 18 years old.

“Maraming blessing ako na nakuha, dati problema naming ito, ngayon lima na ang titulo ko sa lupa. Naniniwala ako na dahil sa kanya (Nazareno) iyong mga ‘yon. Natutupad lahat, matagal pero ibinigay niya (I have received many blessings, this used to be our problem, but now I have five land titles. I believe that those are because of him (Nazareno). Everything is coming true, it took a long time but he granted it),” she told the PNA.

“Marami rin kaming pagsubok dati pero ibinigay ko lahat sa kanya, isinurrender ko. Ngayon, ang hiling ko ay tulungang mapagaling ang kapatid ko (We also had many trials before but I gave everything to him, I surrendered. Now, my prayer is for the recovery of my sick sibling),” she shared.

Carrying the photo of her cancer-stricken sister Carmelita King with her, Cusap said she whispered fervent prayers for her healing during her turn for the “pahalik”.

Hundreds of thousands of Catholics joined this year’s Feast of the Jesus Nazareno, trooping to the Quirino Grandstand for the “pahalik” up to the Traslacion (transfer) of the black-wooden-cross-carrying image of Christ back to its original shrine in Quiapo Church.

On top of the “pahalik”, Traslacion is one of the main highlights of the feast and commemorates the transfer of the Jesus Nazareno from Bagumbayan, the Recollect church of San Nicolas de Tolentino to its final home in Quiapo some 400 years ago.

The Traslacion, held every Jan. 9 yearly, gathers millions of devotees and has become one of Southeast Asia’s largest religious events.

While the annual procession is observed on this day, the Quiapo Church said the exact date of the Traslacion still need further historical research and verification. Jan. 9, it said, is a celebration more closely linked to the Holy Name of Jesus.

The 2025 Traslacion formally began after the departure of andas (carriage) carrying the religious image in Quirino Grandstand at exactly 4:40 am. As of this posting, the procession has reached Vergara Street, about 14 turns away until it reaches its final stop.