Pista Ng Quiapo: Feast of the Black Nazarene

(NOTICE: I have accidentally deleted my Flickr Album on the Black Nazarene. Images for this entry is currently not available)

Why do devotees walk bare feet during the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo?

If there was one thing I learned when I attended this year’s Pista Ng Quiapo, it’s the rationale behind waking bare feet in attending the procession of the Black Nazarene.

Waking bare feet serves as a constant reminder of how Jesus became one of us and lived amongst us. One devotee was qouted saying “pag-papaalala kung paano naging tao si Hesus!” That was clear and enlightening for me.

For the longest time, it was only this year that the procession (orignally) took a different route but it was re-directed by the devotees themselves when it reached Quiapo. It was not suppose to pass where we were waiting but when we heared that it’s taking the old route, we stayed and waited.

Baby Rocket: Pinoy Kwitis

What could be a Pinoy New Year without “kwitis” (a.k.a. baby rocket)!!!

Firecrakers, local or imported, have tremendously evolved every year but the “kwitis” is here to stay. It’s already part of Pinoy New Year celebration and culture to have a handful to fire on New Year’s Eve. It may not be as grand compared to high end firecrakers from Bocaue or China but it may have something to do with the excitement and danger of lighting it that makes it popular every New Year. Tayo pa, the more dangerous it is, the more excited we become!