Travel site picks Manila: Go barefoot with Nazarene

MANILA, Philippines — Manila was listed among the tropical destinations to travel to in January by global travel search site Skyscanner.

“January is the coldest month of the year in Manila, though you can still expect plenty of sunshine and a warm welcome to one of Asia’s most underrated and vibrant capitals,” Skyscanner said.

The global travel site particularly cited the Feast of the Black Nazarene as one of the events tourists should witness in the first month of the year.

“Plan your visit to coincide with the Feast of the Black Nazarene on January 9th where you’ll see a life-sized statue of Jesus (brought to the Philippines from Mexico in 1606) carried through the packed streets by Quiapo Church by devotees shouting ‘Viva Señor’ whilst the crowds try and touch the statue for blessings and miracles,” Skyscanner said.

“To really get into the spirit of things, leave the shoes at home and go barefoot,” it added.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Assistant Secretary and spokesman Frederick Alegre said the annual religious celebration has gained interest from some foreign tourists in recent years.

“We have monitored some foreigners taking part in the past,” Alegre said.

He said most foreigners participating in the religious event come from the US and Europe.

“But officially, we have not promoted the feast as a faith tourism program,” Alegre said.

“We are working with the local government units and the Philippine National Police to ensure the safety of all the devotees and participants,” he added.

The annual procession, also dubbed as Traslacion, is the commemoration of the transfer of the image of the Black Nazarene from its original home in Intramuros to the Minor Basilica of Quiapo Church on Jan. 9, 1787.

About 18.9 million devotees of the Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno are expected to participate in the annual religious event.