Marking its return for the first time since 2020, the grand procession of the image of the Black Nazarene, known as the Traslacion, is about to commence on January 9, Tuesday.
Aside from Traslacion, the "Dungaw" rite involving Nuestra Señora del Carmen de San Sebastian will also be revived.
Dungaw Rite and its historical significance
The Image of Nuestra Señora del Carmen de San Sebastian is the first image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the Philippines. It was brought to the country in 1618 by Spanish Recoletos.
In August 1991, the image was canonically crowned as the Queen of Quiapo.
The Dungaw Rite, also known as "La Mirata," is considered to be one of the highlights of the Black Nazarene procession — it is where the image momentarily stops at the Minor Basilica of San Sebastian to ‘meet’ with the image of Nuestra Señora del Carmen.
While some believe that the "Dungaw Rites" are a re-enactment of the meeting between the Mother and Son at the Way of the Cross, it is actually not.
The rites actually serves as a poignant display of the maternal love, inviting reflection and prayer on the journey towards the ultimate destination - to be with Mary and her Son the Nazarene.
It was discontinued in the 1900s, but was revived in 2014 and officially approved by the Archdiocese of Manila in 2016.
The last Traslacion organized was held in 2020 wherein the Manila Public Information Office (PIO) recorded a staggering 3.3 million Filipinos who braved the throng of people to participate in the procession.
Here's what to expect ahead of the religious tradition.
