"Traslacion in a time of Repression"

"Traslacion in a time of Repression"

(Or: "Traslacion amidst Digong's rule and how people endure")

Every Friday devotees from all walks of life gather at Quiapo Church for its novena in honour of Jesus Christ through the Black Nazarene. From there they emit their strings of petitions, followeth by approaching, climbing the narrow flight of stairs whether to kiss the Nazarene's foot or to wipe it with their handkerchiefs they use everytime they visit- to which for them may bring blessing if not a miracle.
For as these devotees from every part of the country converged in this sacred occasion, they all endure the heat, noise, scuffle, and even the slurs in social media just to be in one with the Lord Jesus Christ- who for them is the Black Nazarene.

But January 9 would say that this as more than just a prayer, but a call for action. Thousands of devotees, all clad in Maroon, Gold, or in Black, celebrating the Traslacion as they devoted themselves either to reach for the statue, or to take the ropes as they march from Luneta all to Quiapo around a specific route. And according to them, that through this kind of solemn vow that their sins are repented for a year if not for the usual seeking for blessing if not a miracle for themselves to to their families during the Friday novena - that somehow reflects faith in its popular, traditional form.

However, for this writer, this kind of sacrifice brought by these thousands of devotees are reminiscent of Christ's passion. Walking barefoot and enduring the pain all from Luneta towards Quiapo, these Maroon/Gold/or even Black-clad devotees looked at the suffering saviour as a man to depend on; some would even end in scuffles amongst devotees and on some cases with the Police, thinking about a miracle that's brought under the Nazarene himself while unbecoming a person for others. 

And sometimes would say that amongst these devotees would think this as a "once saved always saved" scenario, thinking that they themselves are also sinners seeking forgiveness of their sins then return to their usual selves after that occasion. After all, they all did a vow as they await for the arrival of their cherished centuries-old statue to bless them and their statues as any other folk Catholic tradition.

But as this person observes, their vow, their waiting, as well as the sacrifice such as taking a day's absence from their work lies more than just a tradition, but of defiance. How come? In an order whose characteristic is unjust and oppressive these oppressed folks look on their faith as a source of their hope to defy odds, that Christ as the manifestation of a justice which serves the oppressed, a sublime embodiment of the truth who end sacrificed on the altar of an inhuman regime, and which lies hidden in the layers of the formal religion of the rulers.

What more that they are celebrating in a very time of silent chaos brought by an order most think of as their hope for a national redemption. This passion did not end when Christ died on the Cross, nor his resurrection and his ascension to heaven. The Christ whom they looked as their lord is the Christ whom being described by the order of his time as a rebel, who preaches hope, what more of raising the stick just to shoo the moneylenders and vendors from the house of his father. He is the same Christ who saidth about "Not to Bring Peace but a Sword" and by telling "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

And this traslacion is still going on today with Tokhang, Double Barrel, of Maligning the Opposition, of Union Busting, of Displacing People from their communities, Of Corrupt personages, anything wherein  innocent Filipinos are being oppressed if not getting killed by the hands of a wretched order; while Duterte himself echoes the oppressive rule of King Herod at the time Christ taketh the Cross, suffered, died.

For sure the order would disagree or deny that thought, but instead thinking about their achievements. Duterte may have did various achievements, so was Herod with his temple and his fortress Massada. His adherents did invoke their "patriotism" or even their "faith" as most did speak about "God" and all; but on the other side, both rulers are themselves stooges of their foreign overlords who dictate their wishes on them as vassals. Herod was dictated by the Romans, while Duterte maintains the unequal treaties and agreements from both Americans and Chinese. And the people? For sure one is a really concerned citizen thinking about their homeland aside from their faith making one's self either becoming an Essene or a Zealot, while another thinks about its own interests including those of making laws meant to upheld theirs like those of a Pharisee or a Sadducee.

"Will they truly follow Christ
the way they follow him during the procession?"

Again, pardon for the reader if the note becomes sociopolitical in nature, for the fact that these folks turned to their faith in God for they see an order that's unjust to them. Especially in knowing that the majority of these people involved took time in this occasion not just to seek for forgiveness or the usual praying for good fortune, but also in the desire to break the bond that binds them in its entireity, of mind, body, and in spirit. For sure most of these devotees who did walk for miles barefooted did vote for Duterte, but some amgongst their ranks did realise how their leader whom they voted turned out to be a tyrant.
And to think that Duterte, following Herod's example of taking pride in various achievements, doesn't mean he is known for his cruelty like how this Biblical tyrant executed John the Baptist or the sentencing of thy Lord to d so is his involvement in the deaths of innocents, of threatening those who are truly concerned, treating it as a "necessary sacrifice" in a form of "collateral damage" to justify his actions.

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Perhaps because of this observation, this person had to paraphrase Ali Shariati's quote that everyday is a Panata, that in every action is a Traslacion, and in every month is a Kwaresma, knowing that in their desire for a better life meant a commitment to strive, to endure every ordeal such as the struggle to fight oppression and to bring justice to its fellow. This may sound ideal, but to be a Christian doesn't limit itself to having a ritual, that to do a good turn daily is itself a characteristic of being Christian, ans that good turn also includes the deep importance of fighting oppression in any form, everyday, and in every place. There are numerous Panatas and Traslacions going on all around everyday. They did taketh a vow to uplift themselves and their families in midst of ever prevailing chaos. And if when one sees crisis this meant real hardship to deal with, requiring sacrifice as much as possible; but this doesn't mean from these hardships meant getting contented from that situation, for in every crisis also lies an expression of dismay, oppose, and assert what is just.