Quiapo

Today is the feast of the Black Nazarene.   I intentionally went home late  hoping to avoid traffic along the Quiapo area (where the church-shrine of the Black Nazarene is located).  From Makati, I took my usual route leading me to SM Manila.   The traffic was nowhere to be found until I reached the bridge leading to Quiapo.   Lo and behold, I was in the middle of Quiapo while the Black Nazarene is being led back inside the church after an almost 13-hour procession.    I learned about it since I was always tuned in to an AM radio station but It was too late because there was no room to turn back.     There I was, spending about 30 minutes just to crawl through the Ayala (?) bridge.    Another 30 spent on about two blocks worth of road (in front of the Quiapo church) because by the time I reached the foot of bridge, the devotees were starting to go home since the Nazareno was already inside the church.

This is the first time I have seen this event up close and personal and it was an impressive scene.    –dugas–