Every 9th of January, thousands of devotees join in the procession of the Black Nazarene to Quiapo Church, celebrating the Black Nazarene’s Feast Day and commemorating the “Translacion” or the transfer of the image to its present shrine in Quiapo.

The Black Nazarene is a life-sized wooden sculpture of Jesus Christ. But what makes it unique is its dark color—which was said to have been originally white, but darkened in color when the boat that was carrying the image caught fire. Its long history dates back to the time when an anonymous Aztec carver made the image and a galleon transported it from Mexico.

It was then brought by Augustinian Recollect friars to Manila on May 31, 1606. Originally, the image was housed in the first Recollect church in Bagumbayan, but was transferred to Quiapo Church (where it’s currently located) sometime in 1787 by the Archbishop of Manila during that time. And this trek, the “Translacion,” is what devotees commemorate during the Feast Day of the Black Nazarene.

The procession to Quiapo Church is probably one of the long-standing traditions Filipino Catholics have. For almost 200 years, devotees accompanied the Black Nazarene barefooted in droves, a vow that most go through every year.

The Black Nazarene is believed to be miraculous—people who have touched the image were said to be inexplicably healed, owners of business establishments the Black Nazarene passed by during the procession have claimed to receive blessings and good fortune. Towels are rubbed on the statue by the devotees, believing that some of the Black Nazarene’s power would be embodied in the cloth.

It is through faith that one would know if the image is indeed miraculous or not, but the procession of the Black Nazarene to Quiapo Church remains to be a celebrated Catholic tradition and one of the things that makes Manila an interesting destination in the country.