Amazing Faith

Last January 9, we had no classes for it is the celebration of the 401st feast of the Black Nazarene.

An estimate of 2.6M devotees gathered at Plaza Miranda and along the streets of Quiapo to come into procession. It was believed that by holding the statue or the long rope tied from the vehicle bearing the blessed Nazarene, your hopeful prayers will be answered.

Devotees for years have observed that this was the feast were most number of people have gathered expecting to hold the long rope in the hope of receiving an aid from the Black Nazarene.

It was said that more and more people will come each year because "life is getting harder".

The only negative thing is that casualties also grow in number. It's inevitable especially when surrounded by a sea of devotees like that.

Yes, it was amazing to see all these people swarm to touch the blessed Nazareno itself or the long rope. Even an OFW flew back to his home, and other Filipinos across the country in order to grope the Nazareno. Also, Manny Pacquiao asked for the benevolence of Nazareno for one of his bouts. A person was tasked by his chief aide to wipe the towel through the Nazareno for his first fight against Morales. Pacquiao won the fight. He believed to the Nazareno and the blessings was gifted to him.

No one can actually question their faith-one's faith. There is no explanation needed to support it. It is one's feeling, one's trust, and one's belief.

Hapag ng Pag-asa

From left to right: cover of the book written by the painter himself, the two facing pages of the painting in the book, my blockmates and I with Joey Velasco himself.

We watched a video exhibiting the obra of Joey A. Velasco, "Hapag ng Pag-asa" (Table of Hope) Oil on Canvas painting at the Beato building, at our theology class at which all of us was inspired by him.

The kids in the canvas depict the reality of the other side of life. What struck me most is Joyce (second on the table from the left) who got pregnant at the age of fourteen ang an unknown bony Sudan boy (kid beneath the table) who is struggling eating. When I've seen his picture, I almost shivered. And it is said that the one who took his photo didn't resist seeing the picture and died three months after.

Joey Valasco was actually not a painter. He's just discovered his painting skills by April of 2005 realizing that it was his passion - to be an instrument for most of the people to see what's beyond the picture - the hunger, wound and the brokenness that these kids feel which is reality. Seeing all his works, it makes you feel how fortunate and blessed you are.