The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced that it has deployed 400 of its personnel to join police contingent securing the annual Black Nazarene procession to ensure that nothing untoward incident will happen in the religious event.
This was said Wednesday by AFP public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala.
"These personnel are from the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region," he said.
Zagala said that these AFP personnel will provide assistance to the Philippine National Police if needed.
Religious veneration of the Black Nazarene is rooted among Filipinos who identify themselves with the Passion of Jesus Christ.
Many devotees of the Black Nazarene relate their poverty and daily struggles to the Passion of Christ as represented by the image.
There are three annual processions when the statue is brought out for public veneration, Jan. 9, Good Friday, and New Year's Day.
The procession during the Jan. 9 feast commemorates the "Traslación", referring to the transfer of the image to the Minor Basilica.
The Black Nazarene is borne in procession on its "Ándas", accompanied by devotees clad in maroon who walk barefoot as both penance and in imitation of Jesus on his way to
Traditionally, only men were permitted to become "namámasán" (the devotees pulling the Ándas by its two ropes), but in recent years female devotees have also been allowed to do so.
It is believed that the "Kanang Balikat", or right shoulder side of the rope, is the most sacred side since this is the part where Jesus carried the cross.
Towels or handkerchiefs are hurled to the yellow-clad marshals escorting the Black Nazarene, with requests to wipe these on the statue in hopes that the miraculous powers attributed to it would "rub off" on the cloth articles.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=602837
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