Devotees from Caloocan spread devotion, earn income from selling Nazareno items

Maria Fe Rivera, from Caloocan City, sells Nazareno merchandise every year to help spread the devotion and earn a few pesos at the same time. PHOTO BY ANNA FELICIA BAJO

The celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene in which thousands of devotees are expected to attend various religious activities is also be an opportunity to spread the devotion and a source for additional income.

It has become a tradition for some of the residents of Barangay Otso in Caloocan City to sell shirts and towels bearing the image of the Black Nazarene. These sellers have set up makeshift stalls that are lined up along Kalaw Avenue near the venue of the religious activities, at the Quirino Grandstand.

They also believe that they are spreading the devotion to the Black Nazarene.

Maria Fe Rivera, 51, shared to GMA News Online that she has been selling Nazareno merchandise for ten years.

"Sayang po ang kita... isa 'yan sa sinasabayan ng pagtitinda... panata..." Rivera, a barangay tanod, said.

"Kami di kami du-duty... magkano lang sahod ng barangay tanod diba kumpara mo dito? Ganon 'yun," she added.

Rivera said at least 20 vendors from Barangay Otso sell Nazareno merchandise also bring with them their prayers and wishes.

"Hanggang doon pa, mayroon pa doon. May kasama pa doon. Sa lugar namin halos buong Barangay Otso, mayroong half na nandito kasi marami kaming... minsanan lang 'to kaya dito sila bibili, nagbebenta tubig, pagkain at mga ganito," Rivera said.

"Ilang jeep kaming hinahatid dito... may first, second, third at fourth batch... may pupuntang batch mamayang madaling araw pa..." she added.

Rivera sells shirts from P100 to P250 while towels and handkerchiefs are priced at P20 each.

For this year's observance of the feast day, Rivera said she is praying good fortune and good health for her children and relatives.

"Sana maging maayos sila, 'yung buhay nila. 'Yung mother ko matanda na siya... high blood, 'yung kapatid ko, mga anak ko sana maging healthy sila at apo ko," Rivera said.

Rivera's neighbor, Analyn Dinola, was also encouraged to sell items during the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

"Tuwing Nazareno po... mga five years na. Laging dito pwesto namin. Deboto po rin kami. Ano po lahat naman po ng hinihiling ko sa kaniya binibigay niya po eh... gaya po ng nakatapos ang anak ko..." Dinola, 49, said.

Dinola said she has been praying that her family would own a house someday.

"Kapag narinig na namin 'yung 'Viva!' parang ano na rin po kami... blessing na rin po 'yun. Magkaron po ng sariling bahay... pero unti-unti po pinagiipunan. Ang hinihiling ko po talaga magkaron kami ng sariling bahay, na hindi na kami nangungupahan," she said.

Dinola said it has been a good day for her as she already sold a lot of Nazareno items.

"Okay naman po, tiyaga tiyaga lang magtawag... Uuwi kami ng walang dala eh. Nakakaubos naman po kami," she said.

Authorities have said a "zero vendor" policy would be implemented in some areas in Manila City due to the celebration of Traslacion.

Rivera believes, however, that vendors like her do not hamper the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

Meanwhile, the vendors may expect good sales as authorities earlier estimated that millions are expected to join the annual event. — BAP, GMA News