Philippine Idol

It's that time of year again. It's that time when the statue of the Black Nazarene is brought out of Quiapo for public veneration and millions of people flood the streets hoping to touch it.

A Black Mass

The statue is believed to have miraculous powers; touching the statue supposedly cures illnesses though the reasons for touching the relic range from healing sickness to winning lottery tickets. It's quite a spectacle and tourists new to the Philippines would perhaps be awestruck. To Filipinos, it's a yearly event no more unusual than a town fiesta.

Personally, I find the whole thing disturbing no matter how many times I've seen it. There's something, dare I say, unchristian about pushing and shoving and literally stepping on people to touch a statue. I know people are free to believe whatever they wish but if people profess to be Christian, they ought to be mindful of the teachings of their own religion.

Is it idolatry? The public is assured by the Church that it isn't. I don't trust the Church. I don't trust any institution anymore come to think of it. I think the Church is too scared of ticking off such a large group of people. Christianity has different views on the matter. Icons are alright for Catholics but some Protestant groups may ban all images outright.

It depends on how you see it. Idolatry is the worship of objects as divine or as god. The justification here is that people may crowd over the Black Nazarene but they know the source of power is God with a capital "G". 

You know what? Whatever. Originally I was going to write about how "wrong" all of this feels but now I'm at a loss. I find it hard to put into words and I can't put my finger on it. It all just seems so excessive, you know? That statue is not going away. That statue isn't going to the moon people, there's no need to go wild over it.

Just now, the news media reports that over 1400 people have been injured which brings me to my second point; this procession is a humanitarian disaster waiting to happen. Terrorist attack anyone? Stampede? Bridge collapse? Bomb threat? That amount of people in a small area... mass panic, hysteria and death.

I'll never understand a lot of things.