Suggestions para sa Pistang Nazareno

SUGGESTIONS PARA SA PISTA NG NAZARENO….

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Dahil pinaniniwalaan ng mga debotong Katoliko na may milagrong mangyayari sa kanila kapag nakahawak man lang sila sa lubid, lalo na sa estatwa ng itim ng Kristo, nakikipagbalyahan sila upang makasampa sa karo at maipahid  ang face towel nila sa mukha nito, o di kaya ay nagkakandaipit sa pagpilit na makasama sa paghila ng lubid….resulta: ang iba ay nadadaganan ng kapwa deboto….kung hindi man mapilay, pag-goodbye sa mundo ang inaabot nila….dahil lang sa…….?

 

UPANG WALANG GULO, DAPAT AY TALIAN ANG BANDANG LIKURAN NG KARO NG ISANG KILOMETRONG LUBID UPANG MAHAWAKAN NG MGA DEBOTO, AT NANG HINDI SILA NAKIKIPAG-AGAWAN SA LUBID NA NASA HARAPAN. KAPAG NANGYARI YAN, SIGURADONG ANG DADAGSAIN AY ANG LIKURAN NG KARO KAYA MAPAPABILIS ANG PAG-USAD NG PROSESYON O TRANSLACION PABALIK SA QUIAPO CHURCH. NANINIWALA DIN LANG SILA SA MILAGRO, EH DI LUBUSIN NA NILA! ANG PALIWANAG KO SA SUGGESTION NA YAN AY “HINIHILA SILA NG NAZARENO PATUNGO SA PAGBABAGONG BUHAY”. KUNG NAKIKIHILA NAMAN SILA, PARA NILANG PINAPALABAS NA NAHIHIRAPAN SI HESUS NA MAKATULOY SA KANYANG PATUTUNGUHAN KAYA TINUTULUNGAN NILA, GANOONG PANAY NAMAN ANG HINGI NILA DITO NG BIYAYA, AT ANG IBA AY NAKAKALIMUTAN PA ANG MAGPASALAMAT!

 

UPANG WALA NAMANG PROBLEMA SA FACE TOWEL NA GUSTONG IPAHID SA MUKHA NG NAZARENO, DAPAT, SA LUNETA PA LANG AY MAGPAHID NA SA ESTATWA NG LIBU-LIBONG FACE TOWEL UPANG IPAMIGAY SA MGA TAO BAGO MAGPRUSISYON….MAGAGAMIT PA NILA KAPAG PINAWISAN HABANG NAKIKI-PRUSISYON. NAPAPANSIN KASI NA MAY IBANG SUMASAMPA NA SA ULO NG IBANG DEBOTO UPANG MAKAAKYAT LANG SA KARO AT MAGPAHID NG FACE TOWEL NILA SA MUKHA NG ESTATWA.

 

ANG HINDI MAINTINDIHAN AY KUNG BAKIT HIHINTAYIN PA  ANG ARAW NA PISTA NG NAZARENO GANOONG ITO AY NASA SIMBAHAN LANG NG QUIAPO 24/7 BUONG TAON. HUWAG SABIHING SA ARAW LANG NG PISTA INILALABAS ANG “TUNAY” KUNONG ESTATWA NG NAZARENO KAYA PAGKAKATAON NANG MAKITA ITO. KAPAG ANG DAHILANG YAN ANG IPAGPIPILITAN, LALABAS NA WALANG EPEK ANG PANANAMPALATAYA NG MGA DEBOTO DITO KUNG HINDI NAKIKITA O NAHAHAWAKAN ANG “TUNAY” NA ESTATWA, GANOONG ANG TUNAY NA PANANAMPALATAYA AY WALANG PINIPILING ORAS, PANAHON, AT LUGAR….YAN ANG DAPAT IPALIWANAG NG SIMBAHANG KATOLIKO UPANG MABAWASAN ANG KAMANGMANGAN NG ILANG SUNOD LANG NG SUNOD SA MGA SINASABI NG MGA PARI NA ANG ILAN NAMAN AY MAY KADUDA-DUDA NAMANG PAGKATAO….KAYA PAANONG PANINIWALAAN?

 

HINDI AKO GALIT O KUMUKONTRA SA MGA GAWAIN NG SIMBAHANG KATOLIKO, PERO DAHIL SA CURIOSITY AY NAGTATANONG LANG AKO. CONCERNED DIN AKO SA MGA NAMAMATAY AT NASASAKTAN TUWING PISTA NG NAZARENO LALO NA ANG MGA SUMASAMA SA PRUSISYON. KARAPATAN KO YAN BILANG ISANG NAG-IISIP NA PILIPINO. DAPAT PANG UNAWAIN NA ANG MGA NAGLILINIS NG KALSADA AT MGA PULIS NA NAGMIMINTINA NG KAAYUSAN TUWING SASAPIT ANG PISTA NG NAZARENO AY SINUSUWELDUHAN NG TAONG BAYAN MULA SA BUWIS NA BINABAYAD NILA….KASAMA NA AKO DIYAN.

 

Black Nazarene of Quiapo Feast, Procession Day, January 7, 2016

FEAST OF BLACK NAZARENE (QUIAPO, MANILA)…FACES OF DEVOTION….PROCESSION DAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

The feast day of the Black Nazarene, patron of the Quiapo district of Manila is celebrated every 9th of January but it is preceded by activities such as the unannounced transfer of the relic to the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta for the ritual kissing on the 8th, the procession on the 7th around Quiapo area, and finally, the return or “translacion”, of the relic to the Quiapo Basilica Basilica Minore on the 9th, early in the morning after the Mass. As soon as the relic has been transferred to the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta, devotees stage vigils until the day of the Nazarene’s return to Quiapo Basilica Minore. On those days, the whole Luneta park is practically jampacked with strollers and devotees.

The Black Nazarene has millions of devotees throughout the country, from Luzon to Mindanao but the nucleus of devotion is at Quiapo. Among the rituals during the procession is the wiping of any part of the relic with a face towel or handkerchief. For this, not only is the real Quiapo Black Nazarene wiped, but other relics that are part of the procession. On hand to do the wiping for the devotees are members of contingents that own the relic that catches their fancy, who are posted beside it, and to whom devotees throw their towels. The following photos were taken prior to the procession.

Kung Pangkaraniwang Tao…Weird, Pero Kung Sikat na Tao…Kahanga-hanga!

Kung Pangkaraniwang Tao…Weird,

Pero Kung Sikat na Tao…Kahanga-hanga!

ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Kung ordinaryong tao ang magsuot ng damit na may butas at kupas, sinasabi ng iba na weird siya at hindi marunong mag-ayos, pero kung sikat na tao ang gumawa nito, siya ay kahanga-hanga at dapat tularan. Kung isang ordinaryong tao ang gagamit ng mga herbal alternative medicines na hindi ginagawa ng iba, ang turing sa kanya ay weird kaya hindi ginagaya, pero kung artista o sino mang sikat ang gagawa nito, mabilis pa sa alas-kwatro kung sila ay gayahin.

 

Kung ang isang pangkaraniwang tao ay naglalakad patungo sa opisina o eskwela, sinasabi ng iba na poor kasi, walang pamasahe, kawawa naman, pero kung sikat na tao ang gagawa nito…good for the health daw kaya tinutularan. Kung ordinaryong misis ang magsasalita tungkol sa buhay niya o di kaya ay tungkol sa buhay ng iba, ang tawag sa kanya ay tsismosa, pero kung kilalang tao, lalo na si Kris Aquino ang gagawa nito, tawag sa kanya ay “taklesa” o walang preno o careless lang.

 

Ganyan ang ugali ng KARAMIHANG tao, tumitingin sa panlabas na anyo ng kapwa. Para bang sinasabi nila na kung hindi simpleng shorts at t-shirt lang ang suot ay ayaw na halos pagkatiwalaan. At kadalasan din na kung walang alahas na suot, etsa puwera na siya dahil walang class. At ang pinakamatindi ay ikinahihiya pa ng mga kaanak!

 

Sa isang sosyal na kainang napuntahan ko, ang nagpa-party ay nagtalaga ng mga professional receptionists na kasama sa package ng caterer. May nakasabay akong babaeng may edad na at napaka-ordinaryo ang suot, simple lang din ang ayos, yon nga lang ay nakasapatos ng lumang klase na kulay itim, pero wala rin maski mumurahing hikaw man lang. Nagpakilala siya sa receptionist pero ang apelyido niyang binanggit ay hindi kapareho ng nagpa-party kaya may pinuntahan sa di-kalayuan, may kinausap na isang babae, sabay turo sa matandang babae, na nilapitan naman ng kinausap ng receptionist. Narinig kong tinawag na “auntie” ng lumapit ang matandang babae at halos inakay  palabas ng venue, pinaupo sa isang sofa. Nang umalis ang tumawag ng “auntie”, nilapitan ko ang matandang babae at tinanong ko kung kaanu-ano niya ang nagpa- party. Ang sagot niya ay pamangkin daw, anak ng kapatid niya, at inalagaan daw niya hanggang makaalis  papuntang Amerika noong tin-edyer pa lang. Matagal na daw silang hindi nagkita kaya nang malaman niyang nasa Maynila ito ay lumuwas pa mula sa Lemery, Batangas!

 

Bisita lang din ako sa binanggit kong party, pinilit lang akong isama ng kaibigan ko upang ipakilala sa nagpa-party at sabi sa akin ay may ipapa-edit daw na blueprint ng librong isinulat niya sa States. Hindi pa ako nakilala ng nagpa-party dahil hinintay ko pa ang kaibigan kong kaibigan niya. Naisip kong pagkakataon ko na sanang kumita ng perang pandagdag ko sa pondong iniipon ng maliit naming grupo para pambili ng mga regalo sa mga natutulog sa mga bangketa bago magpasko, kaya kahit umiiwas ako sa mga party ay pinagbigyan ko ang kaibigan ko.

 

Dahil sa pangyayari, hindi ko na lang hinintay ang kaibigan ko. Ang matandang babae naman ay nalulungkot at nahalata kong namumutla kaya tinanong ko kung kumain bago umalis ng Lemery. Sabi niya ay hindi pa…at sa oras na yon na halos ay alas dose na, talaga namang mamumutla siya. Sinubukan kong imbitahing kumain sa isang karinderyang nadaanan ko nang pumunta ako sa venue ng party, at pumayag naman siya. Sa karinderya ay sinabihan ko siya na unawain na lang ang pamangkin na talagang busy lang.  Pagkatapos naming kumain, tinanong ko siya kung may balak  pa siyang magpakita sa pamangkin niya….sabi niya ay wala na. Dahil mag-aalas dos na ng hapon, tinanong ko siya kung okey lang na ihatid ko siya sa Lemery…bahala daw ako. Dahil sa sinabi niya, dali-dali kaming kumuha ng taksi na maghahatid sa amin sa isang bus terminal sa Pasay na may mga bus na biyaheng Lemery.

 

Nasa terminal na kami ng bus sa Pasay nang tumawag ang kaibigan ko upang tanungin kung nasaan na ako. Sabi ko sa kanya, saka ko na lang siya kakausapin uli para magpaliwanag, dagdag ko pa, kausapin niya ang kaibigan niya at baka nalulungkot. Pero, sa pagkakataong yon, nagdesisyon na akong hindi ko na kakausapin ang kaibigan ng kaibigan ko na pamangkin ng babaeng bago kong kaibigan. Goodbye na lang sa kikitain sana!

 

Blessing and Faith

Blessing and Faith
By Apolinario Villalobos

This share is for a friend who failed to position himself along the route of pope Francis or go to the Luneta Park for the concluding Mass, because he was bedridden.

Emotion triggers the exaggerated expression of admiration that results to fanaticism. For things material, this may be excused, but for something spiritual, constraint should be observed. Uncontrolled fanaticism makes one selfish, as he or she develops a strong desire to satisfy the felt pent up emotion. It can even result to violence. This is one of the causes of stampedes.

In expressing a spiritual devotion, one need not be too overzealous as others may view the act as hypocritical. Ever since spiritual devotion in us has been developed, we were made to believe sincerely what we do not see, such as God, Jesus, Mary or the saints. We were made to believe in the power of prayer that can heal somebody, even if the one who says it is thousands of miles away. We were made to believe that Jesus who died on the cross is just around. We may not see them but we feel all of these – through our faith. I call it – power of the heart!

I can’t see, therefore, the reason why some “faithful” have to fight their way in front of altars during a Mass, or special spiritual occasions. And, with the visit of the pope, Francis, I cannot understand why one should practically, be a touch away from him to be blessed. Blessing is something spiritual that can be received depending on how faithful the recipient is, as the heart should be open to receive it.

Just to hear the pope’s voice and sincerely receive in one’s heart his message is already a blessing. In this regard, just seeing him on TV or hearing him over the radio does not spell any difference as seeing him pass by, because the same blessing is dispensed. In other words, the “effect” of the blessing is not determined by the distance between the giver and the recipient….as it all depends on one’s faith.

The Abused Christian “traditions”

The Abused Christian “traditions”
By Apolinario Villalobos

“Tradition” has been abused by those who want to have a scapegoat for unreasonable spending, when all that was desired was to show off their financial opulence.

In countries where Christianity has become a solid foundation of the people’s lives, “traditional fiestas” become good reasons to spend the whole year’s scrimping on cash. Worst, the selfish desire not to be outdone by neighbors in feeding well-wishers, make some to run to pawnshops and loan sharks for the needed money. After the festivities, the doubled effort to save begins again.

Aside from fiestas, Christmastime is one tradition that Christian countries cannot let pass by, without having laid out festive fares on the table, new clothes, new toys, etc. The avaricious celebration of Christmas that has gone beyond excessiveness has lately, drawn the attention of the pope himself. Known as the poor people’s pope, Franciso has been calling on the faithful to observe and practice compassion rather than lavishness.

Earlier, traditions are supposed to have been incorporated in Christian rituals in order not to alienate the pagan converts from what they used to observe, but some enterprising parties have “commercialized” them. The supposedly beneficiaries of these effort have practically, been waylaid from their real purpose. As a result, these abused traditions have been passed down throughout centuries of observance, virtually making them integral components of the people’s lives.

Today, especially in the provinces, even the peasants who could hardly live on decent meals during ordinary days, have at least two special dishes prepared for guests during fiestas; some of them fatten pigs or goats to be butchered during fiestas; ordinary folks who could barely make a living out of an irregular source of income, have Christmas lights and colorfully-decked Christmas trees at home, and new clothes for the whole family for Christmas, forgetting that all they need to do is just attend Mass in anticipation of Jesus’ “coming.

The Church’s tolerance to this abusive observation is part of its laudable effort in keeping the Christian flocks intact. The same observed tolerance is given to the “branches” of Christianity, whose members have become fanatical in treading their new-found “path” towards Jesus. They untiringly raise their hands towards heaven as they sing praises – the same hands that some of them refuse to extend to their earthly brethren who need help!

The Unwavering Christian Faith of the Filipinos

The Unwavering Christian Faith of the Filipinos

 

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

 

The year 2013 saw an estimated 9 million devotees that flocked around the Black Nazarene, this year, 2014, the number significantly ballooned to an estimated 12 million. Interviewed curious foreigners, especially, those from Europe disclosed that the number of the Christian faithful in their respective countries is steadily dwindling by the years. Christ’s cross was planted on one of the islands of the Philippines only in 1521, while the Christendom’s controversy is already heating up in Europe. Those circumstances show that the Filipinos did not waver in upholding their Christian faith which gets even stronger through the years.

 

Some call the unabashed display of faith during the Black Nazarene feast day celebration, fanatical. If fanatical means extreme, this expression of the Filipinos is just right as they have a reason for doing so. Also, if the fanatical non-denouncing of faith of Christians in the face of death, and who later became saints, fanatical, so be it. Jesus Christ as believed to be the Son of God is historically proven to be real, not mythical. The miracles he performed are documented in the Bible which is the basis of other religions. Places and names mentioned in the Bible related to Jesus Christ are verified to be true  by archaeologists who tirelessly dig up biblical sites. Unlike other religions which are based on mythology, Christianity is based on history.

 

Some scoff at the wiping of the Nazarene’s image with towels which are later used to heal sicknesses. But in the Bible, there is an incident where a sick person got healed by kissing the seam of Christ’s garment. Church goers always listen to readings and homilies about the miracles performed by Christ, so how can they be blamed as their faith steadily grew when the priests themselves are telling them about these from the pulpit? How can Christ’s apostles of today go wrong in preaching about the deeds of Christ? All that the doubting Thomases have to do is read the Bible and browse the internet for confirmation of some incidents in that Book.

 

With new buds of Christianity coming out claiming to be the true religions, there is no question to the fact, that still, they developed from one seed planted by Jesus who remains the essence of their being such. Although, some practices have been scrapped such as veneration of images, these sects still manifest the same fanatical faith in Jesus who provides the way to God, and they use the same reference in preaching – the Bible. And, the same fanaticism is likewise practiced in they way their preaching is done to “bring the waylaid flock back home”.

 

The Philippines is a fortunate country for having such a resilient people that espouse strong faith in God, steadfast in the way they show their faith to this one God. The country is fortunate that despite the onslaught of modern technologies, this faith has never waivered, on the contrary, grows even stronger that helps weld the Filipinos into one proud race. And, the Black Nazarene feast day celebration that clogs the streets leading to Luneta and Quiapo with millions of devotees, giving goose bumps to observers will go on, especially, with the inclusion this year of the almost forgotten practice of “padungaw” in which the image of the Virgin Mary is displayed as the Black Nazarene passes by the San Sebastian Church on the way back to Quiapo basilica.