Barefoot procession, a reminder to 'live simply'

For years, devotees endure hours of walking through the streets of Manila barefoot during the Traslacion or the religious activity in which the image of the Black Nazarene is brought to the Quiapo Church from the Quirino grandstand.

The procession takes an average of 10 hours because of the tortuous path and the thousands who participate. The carossa bearing the religious image also stops several times along the way as devotees try to climb and touch the statue.

Thus, the devotees have to go through the streets, cobblestones, and the humid weather for hours.

Msgr. Hernando Coronel, rector of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene explained the symbolism of barefoot procession.

The ritual is a way to call on the public to live a simple life and to vallue to virtue of humility.

"Ito barefoot, nakapaa... alalahanin natin na noong pinanganak tayo, wala naman tayong sapatos, wala tayong pang-yapak," he said.

"So, alalahanin natin 'yung ating pinagmulan... noong bata tayo wala naman tayo. Balikan natin kung sino tayo. Wala naman tayong lahat sa Kanya," he added. — BAP, GMA News