BECAUSE I studied the Traslacion for a graduate dissertation, I have given many interviews and op-eds already on the devotion of Filipinos to Jesus Nazareno. But I believe one of the most comprehensive I have done came out recently (aside from my very first column in The Manila Times entitled "Bayanihan and order in the Black Nazarene procession" on Jan. 13, 2018).
Last Jan. 11, 2024, Esquire published a long piece that I wrote entitled "How the Nazareno devotees my heart," upon the recommendation made by Alfrein Quirionez of Quiapo Church to Rhia Diomampo Grana. Apparently, everyone in Quiapo Church was busy and the assignment fell on me the afternoon of the national feast day, January 9. I told them I could work on it at the Quiapo Church Command Center to finish it in the evening while waiting for the Nazareno to arrive, but as usual, I was not able to do it because there were just so many things happening, and I needed total concentration when I write. The Nazareno arrived at his church at 1:16 a.m. after 20 hours and 45 minutes, which made me need more sleep the next few hours.
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