Cagayan de Oro's Black Nazarene

Never has one Cagay-anon - or a Mindanaoan,- expected of such a grandeur experience that marks a history of Roman Catholicism on this part of the Christian world. That is when the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro officially received the miraculous Black Nazarene icon from the Minor Basilica of Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila, today. The icon, being the second replica of the original Black Nazarene, is now housed permanently at the Jesus Nazareno Parish in Lapasan, this city. Monsignor Elmer Abacahin, accounted during the 7AM mass, that last year the Nazareno Parish requested to borrow the robe of the Black Nazarene of the Minor Basilica in Quiapo. It turned out that archdiocese in Quiapo was not only sending the Black Nazarene's robe to Cagayan de Oro. They were actually sending the replica of the 'Callejeron' in time for the 50th Jubilee Celebration of the Jesus Nazareno Parish.
A simultaneous traslacion or transferring of the Black Nazarene were held here in Cagayan de Oro, and in the city of Manila - still in transit as of this writing. Then called as Black Nazarene of Quiapo, the replica is now called the Black Nazarene of Cagayan de Oro. Escorted by Cagayan de Oro's very own Hijos del Nazareno de Cagayan de Oro, the traslacion of the Black Nazarene proceeded with veneration coming from all of walks of life shouting 'Viva!' here and there.
Personally, I was awed by the mere sight of the sorrowful Jesus Christ heaving a cross. From His coming out from the Saint Augustin Metropolitan Cathedral to His entrance at the Jesus Nazareno Parish, I stayed close by, feeling every minute of it. It was my second time to see the Black Nazarene, my first time back in 2004 when I visited Quiapo Church. But walking Him under the heat of sun side by side with the devotees, it was whole new experience! And I was a part of yet another breakthrough in Cagayan de Oro City.

City Glimpse

From hereon, I will be posting pictures of Cagayan de Oro City - just a simple glimpse of what the city looks and feels like at the certain time of the day! This morning, I heard over the AM radio that a Tropical Depression was looming Northeast of Mindanao , particularly in Surigao del Norte area and its surrounding provinces. PAGASA dubbed the storm, Auring, the first declared tropical depression for the year 2009! Just as there was a long heavy rain yesterday and the night before, the city was astounded and perturbed by the rising water level of the Cagayan de Oro river that left hundreds of residents on Isla de Oro and nearby areas homeless. Good thing today, the rain went away. But the sun barely shone. Gusts of wind slightly trailed downtown. If you may notice the Philippine Flag on the photo - taken at the Udasco Residence along Tiano Brothers Street - , you could guess that she was wet from being drenched in rain last night and yesterday. But hey, she was waving like it was hot and windy! This made her wet and wild in the city! Haha!