Tuesday, January 09, 2007

NAZARENO

Just a while ago I took the LRT going to La Salle. Sitting in front of me was an old woman of around 70 years of age, wearing a loose white shirt, a faded pair of jeans, and an almost worn-out bakya. She tucked her black bag close to her left shoulder as more people from the next station came in. In her right hand, I noticed a white towel which she folded such that I could only read a single word printed on it: Nazareno. Then I knew where she was heading - to Quiapo where, today, thousands of devotees pay homage to the miraculous image of Jesus the Nazarene.

Seeing these people risk their safety in a sea of devotees in order to touch the image is very edifying. Lola's courage, with her advanced age and deteriorating physical health, is even more moving.