The Feast of the Black Nazarene is one of the largest and most popular religious events in the Philippines (wiki). Every year thousands of devotees join the procession of the miraculous image of the Black Nazarene from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Manila. Devotees join the procession for the atonement of sin, pray for a good life, and pray for a sick relative.
Photo credit:Â wikipedia
Philippines is known for having the longest Christmas celebration in the world. You know it’s Christmas when radio stations start to play Christmas songs (sometimes with epiphone sg guitar accompaniment) as early as September 1. In the Christian tradition, Christmas celebration ends in the first week of January which is the Epiphany or the visit of the Magi (Three Kings) to the infant Jesus in Bethlemen.
Some Christmas traditions and festivities are also observed differently from one region to another. The most popular of which is MISA DE GALLO.
Observed nationwide from December 16 to 24
Misa de Gallo is a Filipino yuletide tradition that starts on the 16th of December and culminates in a midnight mass on Christmas Eve. Roman Catholics attend the daily mass at three or four in the morning. Upon exiting the church, the hungry is enticed by the sight and smell of puto bumbong and bibingka (native delicacies made of sticky and glutinous rice sold nearby). – Dep’t of Tourism
Check out the full list of Christmas Festivities here:
My friend and former officemate Ver Noveno (now working for Cong. Romualdez) took this photo during the 125th fiesta celebration of Tacloban City last June 30.
Fishermen devotees of miraculous image of Sr.Sto Nino (EL Capitan) pass along San Juanico Strait during the Fluvial Parade. Rose petals were thrown from the helicopter at the foreground. Â The cargo vessels that were swept inland during the onslaught of typhoon Yolanda are still there.
Fishermen raises their image of Sto Nino. More than 300 fishermen on board their motor boats join the fluvial parade.
Thousand of fishermen died during super typhoon Yolanda.
Image and caption credit: vernovenoimages