No mountain too high for Nazarene’s devotees in Bohol
No
mountain was high for hundreds of devotees who visited Mt. Calvary in barangay
Malinao, Garcia-Hernandez town, for the feast of the Black Nazarene Saturday.
Luzonia Bajao, 46, along with her 11-year-old daughter, Myra, walked at least 3 kms from barangay (village) proper and climbed the mountain to pay homage to the Black Nazarene.
She said the Nazarene granted her wish to heal her daughter who was previously suffering from rheumatic heart disease.
The night before the operation, Bajao said she prayed to the Black Nazarene for a miracle.
“She had a rheumatic heart disease and tuberculosis as well. The heart surgery didn’t push through because the surgeon found no more inflammation of the heart lining muscles and valves. It was indeed a miracle,” said Bajao.
The doctor was surprised why her daughter was healed without any medication, she said.
“The Nazarene was always so good in proving himself as the greatest physician,” said Bajao.
Concordia Galon, 80, said that she has been attending the annual feast for straight two years.
Bragging she is still strong, Galon, who came from Jagna town, said she walked for several kilometers just to see the Nazarene.
“Abtik pa ta mutungas sa bungtod para makita ang Mahal nga Nazareno, (I am still strong to climb the mountain just to see the Nazarene),” she said.
She said that she was wishing that the Nazarene would grant her a longer and healthy life.
 |
Devotees
try to touch the statue of the Black Nazarene in Mt. Calvary
in
Garcia-Hernandez town Saturday during the feast
of the Black Nazarene. Contributed Photo/Genevieve Virador
|
Asked how
long she will still attend the annual feast, Galon said: “Hangtud naa pa koy
kinabuhi nga ihatag ni Nazareno (Until the Nazarene will give me life).”
The Mt. Calvary (originally named Mt. Kalagan) is a “holy” mountain for the devotees of the Black Nazarene.
In May 2011, Marina Reblinca, a purported visionary and healer, brought the image of the Black Nazarene from Palawan to Mt. Calvary and established a small chapel funded by devotees.
“We were from Palawan. The Nazarene told me he wanted to be here in this place. I followed his order. Then people flocked here,” said Reblinca. She also said that the Nazarene protected the place during the strong earthquake in 2013.
She said
the Black Nazarene heals the sickness, gives hope and comforts people.
“The Black Nazarene would never abandon you if you have strong faith in him,” she said.
Saturday’s feast had holy mass officiated by Rev. Fr. Cleofas Silagan. After the mass, people were treated to a free lunch.
People
would fall in line to kiss the image of the Black Nazarene. Reblinca carried
the image of the Nazarene for the patunob.
She touched the heads and shoulders of the devotees for healing and
miracle.
Mt. Calvary continues to lure pilgrims and devotees proving that indeed, there ain't no mountain high enough to keep God from them.
In
Talibon town, Nekolo Gonzales, 30, left his office in Ubay town to pay homage
to the image of the White Nazarene, the “white” version of the Black Nazarene,
which is believed to have miraculous powers.
Gonzales,
who is from Trinidad town, said that he has been a devotee of the White
Nazarene when he was a teenager.
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| Marina Reblinca, mystic and visionary doing the "patunob" . |
Gonzales’
visit was for thanksgiving that he was able to get a job at the Philippine
Coast Guard last year.
“He
helped me when I was looking for a job. I have to admit that I am not
religious but I believe in miracles,” said Gonzales, “And for me the Nazarene
is miraculous.”
He also
said that the color of the face of the Nazarene doesn’t matter.
“It
doesn’t matter if the face is white or black, he is still the same. As long as
you know in your heart that he is the Santo Cristo Jesus Nazareno,” he
said.
Gonzales
is one of the many devotees of the White Nazarene located in barangay San
Agustin, Talibon town.
Gregoria
Cresencio-Fuentes, 63, narrated that the White Nazarene appeared to her aunt,
Eutiquia Cresencio, in her dream. She said Cresencio, a purported
visionary, had received private revelation from the White Nazarene but she had
remained silent on the claimed apparition until her death. Instead, she asked
someone to carve a White Nazarene for her devotion.
 |
The
“White” Nazarene in barangay San Agustin,
Talibon towne, has attracted devotees
and pilgrims.
Leo Udtohan/Chronicle
|
The image
of the White Nazarene was originally made of wood and has been around for at
least 80 years, she said. The first image was displayed in sitio Sudlon, about
7 kms in barangay San Agustin, but it was transferred to its present location in
Purok 7 in the same barangay when the Nazarene told Eutiquia to have him
transferred.
With the
passing of the years, the wooden image decayed because it was exposed to heat,
humidity and rain. Cresencio had the image replaced with cement in 1970s.
Fuentes said the cemented image of the White Nazarene was donated by the
late President Carlos P. Garcia, a relative.
She also
said that there was a time when the White Nazarene requested Eutiquia to have
the image placed in the center of the road but the plan didn’t
materialize.
The image
is facing east.
“The
Nazarene said he will protect those who have faith in him,” said Fuentes.
A
Philippine flag is placed in front of the image.
“That’s
what the Nazarene wants to have a Philippine flag. It means that he is Jesus of
Nazareth in the Philippines,” she said.
What
noticeable is the image is not housed inside a chapel or church nor covered for
protection.
“Our Aunt
(Eutiquia) told us that the White Nazarene wants to be outside the chapel. He
wants the sun to beat down on him and the rain fell on him as his suffering for
the sake of his children,” said Fuentes.
Simplicio
Polestico, 61, said he has been a devotee since he was 10 years old when his
parents exposed him to the White Nazarene.
“I
believe in him because I am a Catholic,” he said. He said that he was wishing
that the Nazarene would grant him a longer and healthy life.
 |
| The White Nazarene in Talibon, Bohol. -LPU |
Annalyn
Juarez, 35, said that the White Nazarene helped his husband, Crisben, 38, found
a work in Saudi Arabia. She said her wish is for a better life for her
family.
“The
White Nazarene is our father. He is our refuge and our strength,” she
said.
Pilgrims
and devotees also visited the White Nazarene on Saturday, the feast of the
Black Nazarene where devotees flocked to the Quirino Grandstand for the yearly
“Pahalik”. The image was brought back to Quiapo Church via the traditional Traslacion. She said, however, the feast
of the White Nazarene is on March 21. A mass and procession will be held with
devotees from Bohol and Mindanao, she added.
For the
devotees, the White Nazarene has become an emblem of passion, struggle and
faith for Filipino Catholics.
***
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