ALMA JOSE

Marietta Alma Jose, a 73-year-old vendor, became a devotee of the Black Nazarene over 20 years ago when she prayed before the image prior to undergoing a sensitive eye surgery to cure her cataract.

Jose has no doubt that the success of the surgery, which enabled her to see again, was because of the miraculous healing power of the image. Since then, she and her family have lived their lives with the Black Christ as their friend and guiding light.

“Nagsi-siyam (novena for nine consecutive Fridays) ako sa Kanya. ‘Yung mga hiling ko sa Kanya, hindi pa dumarating ang pang-siyam na araw eh nabibigay na Niya,” Jose shared. “Halimbawa ‘yung anak ko na nagloko at nakulong, pinagdasal ko sa Kanya ay tumino naman. Kapag merong sakit ‘yung mga apo ko, sa Kanya ako humihingi ng awa, gumagaling naman sila.”

But Jose was quick to add that prayers to the Nazarene alone wouldn’t be answered if they do not come from the deepest recesses of one’s heart.

“Kahit na sabihin ng iba na mangangawit lang ako kakadasal sa Kanya, hindi ako naniniwala doon. Kailangan lang na matiyaga ka at maging taimtim sa kalooban ang dasal mo. Hindi lang ‘yung basta-basta ka na lang magdadasal. Dapat galing sa puso at taimtim para ibigay Niya sa’yo ang hiling mo.”

Fely Tan, meanwhile, said she was touched by the spirit of the Black Christ when she first entered the Quiapo Church 10 years ago.

“Parang tumayo ‘yung mga buhok ko sa katawan and my skin crawled,” she said. “Alam ko na from that point onwards, may dating talaga Siya sa buhay ko.”

Tan’s mother was sick with colon cancer and was suffering so much at that time, she recalled. What Tan did was to offer her mother’s life to the Nazarene and let Him take care of her.

After three days, Tan’s mother peacefully passed away, but that didn’t disappoint her. Instead, she took it as an answered prayer—that the Nazarene had ended the pains of her mother and had taken her to a more beautiful place.

“Para sa akin, hukom na ni Ama ‘yun. At naisip ko na rin na pagod na ang nanay,” she narrated.

“Ngayon, iniaalay ko na ang buhay ko sa Kanya. Hindi man ako sumasama sa prusisyon, alam kong alam na ni Ama ang nasa puso ko. Basta makatirik ako ng kandila at makapagmisa tuwing Biyernes, okay na rin ako doon. ‘Yun ang misyon ko.”

Tacloban-born Lalaine Diaz, 30, got married early to a man she met when she first settled in Manila. After she gave birth to their daughter, her husband suddenly stopped supporting her, letting her fend for herself and their baby. She was poor and had no food to eat.

Her days were spent lounging near the Quiapo Church, trying to cling on to the slightest of hopes.

“May naawa naman sa akin at binigyan ako ng sampung piraso ng scapular ng Nazareno. ‘Yun na ‘yung simula kong magbenta nun, hanggang sa dumami na nang dumami ‘yung paninda ko. Pakiramdam ko tulong ‘yun sa akin ng Nazareno,” she said.

“Simula noon, kumita na ako ng P200-P300 sa isang araw. Nasolusyunan nun ang problema namin ng anak ko. Nakakakain na kami. Isang araw, napanaginipan ko Siya. Naisip ko na Siya lang pala ang talagang kailangan ko sa buhay, hindi na ‘yung asawa ko kasi parang Siya na rin ang naging asawa ko.”

Diaz also believes that the Nazarene has helped her face life’s obstacles.

Although she admits that she is still financially poor, she considers herself rich in the counsel of the Nazarene.

“Ang Nazareno na ‘yan, buhay para sa akin. Hindi lang natin Siya nakikita pero nasusubaybayan Niya ang bawat problema ng tao. Alam Niya ang lahat, at hindi Niya ako pinababayaan.”

KNOWING THE NAZARENE:
1. Parts of the original statue are now in two different images of the Nazarene. The original body is the one being brought out for the annual procession while the original head of the image is resting on the main altar.
2. The Nazarene sports real hair. Some of the Chinese women parishioners would grow their hair and donate strands to be fashioned into the image’s wig.
3. The image’s hair is washed regularly and the body, anointed with rose oil.
4. The garment of the Nazarene is changed every month. The image’s robes are sponsored by His devotees.