Reflections from the maroon crowd
(or Notes after the feast of the Black Nazarene
in Quiapo, Manila)
At first, this post would like to congratulate each and every devotee for its devotion to the lord Jesus Christ as the Nazarene and his celebration at Quiapo, Manila.
For that ceremony creates not just a sense of faith and devotion, of love and cherish, but also a time to seek for grace if not to pardon, and to intenify a personal and social crusade against the ills affecting a society and man itself.
It is very fitting, likewise, for each and every devotee tries to renew itself as they literally carry the cross and traverse the historic road from Luneta to Quiapo, passing through the major thoroughfares of Manila and be swarmed by devotees carrying the same goal as those pulling or riding the Andas.
And for sure everyone had to do so as they desired a good if not the best kind of health, beauty, and immense wealth as the basis for their marching and wiping their towels to the figure; however, the realities of life, particularly its inconveniences shown, made one forgot that its own being as itself human, and most of the time having difficult to act humane- as most struggled out, treating the entire scenario as if a competition, some even end their shirts ripped out of pulling, others were even end their goods stolen, the crowd who supposed to be solemn are rather becoming a noise of angst as they all struggled to reach for the centuries-old figure.
And from this fervour, that kind of devotion isn’t just a sense of renewal- but a training ground, or even a prequel to a revolution. Call this post subversive, but the fervour of each and every devotee is itself revolutionary. For contrary to others think as blatant fanaticism, it isn’t- for its sheer kind of faith creates endurance and perseverance! To cite Professor Gerardo Lanuza, that kind of perseverance may be the reason why a country such as the Philippines has not yet endured a genuine revolution: for the masses have limitless endurance!
But in spite of that, that kind of fervour could also be a signal for the coming revolution. For there the masses can also endure a struggle that is, protracted.
Lanuza also added that the revolutionary lesson of Black Nazarene is not about its colonial origin nor the reduction of its meaning to crowd neurosis and fanaticism. It's all about training in revolutionary endurance in anticipation of the final battle with the ruling class. And from there one would tell that those who say that the “struggle for social emancipation” as already defeated must look at the Black Nazarene! For the Black Nazarene is absolute defeat and humiliation, all revolutions must undergo such Hegelian experience of "tarrying with the negative".
Paradoxically, people believe that Jesus will return again in complete victory yet they cannot imagine a future that a system cannot truly offer as such! Capitalism is not eternal!
Anyway, in spite of all the fervour, Looking at the “lord of Pardon” would have been like Prometheous who provided light and hope, only to be punished because of his feat. And for sure as Christians or any other religious, it seemed easier to worship Christ or any other messianic figure, of praising him, of giving thanks for all the blessings, but- to be just like the redeemer, especially in partaking the bitter cup of sacrifice to create change is a difficult decision.
In this sacred celebration, may every Christian or any other religious think that in order to attain such blessings require immense toil, and that everyone has to traverse the difficult path, but with the redeemer who took his life on earth, he will provide the comfort, the consolation that a true Christian desires.