10 yrs ago the statement in this FB quote image was about me. Of course. As usual. But now I will attribute it to Jesus instead. Why? Dahil Enero 9 is the Feast of Jesus Nazareno, meaning we visit Jesus in Quiapo church + Traslacion which people seem to be fanatics of but in reality it is really just the way they show their love and devotion to God.

^{an FB post of mine 10 yrs ago.}

^{("Traslación" = Spanish word of "transfer" or "movement." Ito pagsasabuhay muli ng paglilipat ng imahe ni Hesus mula Quirino Grandstand sa Luneta pabalik sa Simbahan ng Quiapo tuwing kapistahan ni Jesus Nazareno.)}

Why is there such a seemingly fanatic devotion to Jesus in the Philippines?

Some people cannot relate or be with the real thing and thus nagkakasya na lang sila sa imahe. Wala e, ganyan tlga, iba-iba mga tao.

Sa buháy na tao mahirap nga maka-relate di ba? Pag may kaaway ka yung picture na lang pinupunit mo or mga gamit nila sinisira mo. Pag may crush ka, nilalagay mo pic nila sa wallet o kaya ginagawang wallpaper sa cp mo. Pag may kapamilya ka abroad or sa probinsya nagvi-video call kayo lagi. Bakit? Kase di mo mismo mahawakan, di mo makausap maayos kaya you hate or love them from a distance na lang thru their images.

^{The venerated and famed image of Jesus Nazareno in Quiapo Church. Photo by @artgirl}

The Holy Eucharist is Jesus Himself

Eto lang masasabi ko: Ang Banal na Sakramento, ang ostiya, ay hugis bilog at anyong tinapay ngunit ito ay si Hesus mismo. Kaya marami hindi maka-relate dahil maliit at bilog "lang". It seems insignificant. However, ang Holy Eucharist is the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. This is the real presence of God among us.

Bilang Katoliko, dapat mag-level up naman tayo sa paniniwala natin sa Diyos. TANDAAN: Ang paghawak-hawak sa imahe/estatwa ni Hesus ay maliit na bagay lang kumpara sa pagkokomunyon natin. The real thing is the Holy Eucharist we must consume worthily during mass.

The images of Jesus are good reminders of His earthly life and struggles, death and then resurrection. (Kapag nakaka-relate tayo sa iba, mas naiintindihan natin at mas mamahalin pa nga natin eh.) Such things can be conduits of His blessings when touched, just like saint relics, indeed because He knows what is in our minds and hearts.

^{Nazareno 2026, fiesta theme of the year. [source](https://www.facebook.com/share/p/183GEKUGjk/)}

Bakit nga ba may mga humahawak pa sa mga imahen ng Diyos?

Last year, one time gustung-gusto ko sana yakapin tlga mismo yung Jesus Nazareno sa simbahan dito sa QC kahit replica kaso shempre mataas kaya di ko nagawa. Kasi ganun tayo, gusto natin tao mismo na nahahawakan and in this case, estatwa o imahe ni Hesus. ❤️ Bakit? Para lang madama mo naman physically na niyayakap mo tlga ang Diyos, na mahal mo Siya at mahal ka Niya at mararamdaman mo tlga dahil may hawak ka, may kayakap ka. Tao kasi tayo eh, hindi naman tayo gawa sa hangin lang.

In the case of mga nasa Traslacion sa Quiapo parang ganun din. Gusto nila hawakan, gusto nila humalik for various reasons and because they love the Lord. Paghihirapan tlga nila makalapit kahit pwede naman sa ibang simbahan at dun hawakan ang imahe ng Nazareno. Ganyan tlga pag may panata. Ganyan talaga kapag kaya mo magsakripisyo para sa Diyos.

Sabi nga ng isang pari sa kanyang homiliya:

^{Quote added by @artgirl. Screenshot from [online mass on Jan. 9, 2026](https://www.facebook.com/SanJoseDeQuezonCity/videos/1922186798376921/).}

The Real Presence of God

Basta let us not forget what He left us. Hindi naman Niya tayo iniwanan pagkaakyat Niya sa Langit eh. The real presence of Jesus is in the consecrated little round and flat piece of bread we consume during mass. That small piece of food becomes a part of Jesus' suffering heart upon consecration. And before you say that's absurd, look up Eucharistic Miracles and the work of St. Carlo Acutis online to know more. 😉

^{[source](https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DwEGMUpVp/)}

Para maintindihan ang kultura ng Jesus Nazareno feast and mga devotees nito, read what a historian has to say about it. : How the Nazareno Devotees Opened My Heart

Happy weekend na lang. 😁 Viva Poong Hesus Nazareno! ❤️

10 yrs ago the statement in this FB quote image was about me. Of course. As usual. But now I will attribute it to Jesus instead. Why? Because January 9 is the Feast day of Jesus Nazareno, meaning we visit Jesus in Quiapo church (in the city of Manila) + Traslacion which people seem to be fanatics of but in reality it is really just the way they show their love and devotion to God.

^{an FB post of mine 10 yrs ago.}

^{("Traslación" = Spanish word of "transfer" or "movement." In a religious sense, it is the procession during the Feast of Jesus the Nazarene in the Philippines, commemorating the transfer of the image of Jesús Nazareno from Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park to Quiapo Church.)}

Why is there such a seemingly fanatic devotion to Jesus in the Philippines?

Some people cannot relate or be with the real thing and thus they just settle for the image. Well, life's like that, each person is different.

In real life, it's hard to relate to others, right? When you have an enemy, you will tear up their picture or you destroy their things. When you have a crush, you put their picture in your wallet or make it the wallpaper on your smartphone. When you have family abroad or in the province, you always video call them. Why? Because you can't physically touch them yourself, you can't talk to them face to face, so you hate or love them from a distance just through their images.

^{The venerated and famed image of Jesus Nazareno in Quiapo Church. Photo by @artgirl}

The Holy Eucharist is Jesus Himself

Here's the thing though: The Blessed Sacrament, the host, is round and made of bread but it is Jesus himself. That's why many can't relate because it's "just" small and round. It seems insignificant. However, the Holy Eucharist is the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. This is the real presence of God among us.

As Catholics, we must level up in our belief in God. NOTE: Touching the image/statue of Jesus is a small thing compared to taking communion. The real thing is the Holy Eucharist we must consume worthily during mass.

The images of Jesus are good reminders of His earthly life and struggles, death and then resurrection. (When we can relate to others, we understand and even love them more.) Such things can be conduits of His blessings when touched, just like saint relics, indeed because He knows what is in our minds and hearts.

^{Nazareno 2026, fiesta theme of the year. [source](https://www.facebook.com/share/p/183GEKUGjk/)}

Why do some people still touch images of God?

Last year, one time I really wanted to hug the Jesus of Nazareth image in a church here in Quezon City even though it was a replica but of course it was higher than my reach so I couldn't. Well that's how we are, we want someone we can touch and in this case, a statue or image of Jesus. ❤️ Why? Just so you can physically feel that you are really hugging God, that you love Him and He loves you and you can really feel it because you are actually holding something, hugging "someone". Why? Because we are human beings; we are not made of air!

In the case of those in the Traslacion in Quiapo , it's like the same thing. They want to touch, they want to kiss, for various reasons and because they love the Lord. They will really strive and struggle to get close even though they can go to other churches and touch the image of Jesus the Nazarene there. That's what happens when you have a vow. That's what happens when you are able to sacrifice for God.

As a priest said in his homily:

^{"Don't look down on them (Jesus Nazareno devotees), because you don't know how much their faith is as strong as yours. Maybe even stronger. Don't look down on them because you don't know that their prayers are stronger than your prayers." - Rev. Fr. Gelo Parlan Quote added by @artgirl. Screenshot from [online mass on Jan. 9, 2026](https://www.facebook.com/SanJoseDeQuezonCity/videos/1922186798376921/).}

The Real Presence of God

Anyway let us not forget what He left us. He didn't leave us after He ascended to Heaven. The real presence of Jesus is in the consecrated little round and flat piece of bread we consume during mass. That small piece of food becomes a part of Jesus' suffering heart upon consecration. And before you say that's absurd, look up Eucharistic Miracles and the work of St. Carlo Acutis online to know more. 😉

^{Our Father Jesus of Nazareth, we love you! | [source](https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DwEGMUpVp/)}

To understand the culture of this Jesus Nazareno feast and the devotees more, read what a historian has to say about it. : How the Nazareno Devotees Opened My Heart

Happy weekend. 😁 Viva Jesus Nazareno!!! ❤️