It is very difficult to enter the church at this hour, the place is very crowded and all you need is a strategy and some luck if you want to enter the church, but because that the area is super crowded already, we usually attend and listen to the mass near the near walls, we are outside standing under the sun and move around whenever there are people coming in and out in front of us or at our bacl. Our place in there is not good, because behind us are candle vendors and it was hot and I can't breathe properly due to the candle's smog.
We just finished the end half of the mass and minutes later it started to the beginning. People coming in and out and others are carrying their Black Nazarene image statues on all kinds of shapes, sizes, color and style. Whenever they come near the people, they usually touch or place their hanky all over the statue and pray. And during the mass, a priest member is outside blessing us with holy water, I got hit by it and my camera got wet, I'm so glad that my DSLR has lens filter that time. But it's okay, maybe this will give me good luck and be safe in doing photo coverages. I like the other side of the church, because I remember they installed a video wall on the side so that you can see the priest doing the ceremony from the inside of the church.
more pics here using my Olympus E520 DSLR and some wide shots using Canon IXUS 120is
(read more below)
Az and Misyel
everyone approaches a guy carrying a Black Nazarene image statue
near the walls of Quiapo Church
mini Nazarene
accepts the blessings
more statues to be blessed
devotee raises his hand with a rosary
a dad helps his son to raise the hands during the blessing
people coming in and out
a priest bless us with holy water
guy carries his Black Nazarene statue with sampaguita flower
more versions and look of the Senor Nazareno
this is heavy, all wood made statue and also big
candle vendor behind us
burned and melting wishing candles
newly bought statue
everlasting flower vendor carry his items for sale, plus an image statue of Sto. Nino carries the flowers
going back again to start after the mass, I got excited because we will eat at Wah Sun resto
under the hot sun of 9:00am
the start of the long walk going to the church. ( just looking back)