“When handkerchiefs or cloths which had touched Paul’s skin were applied to the sick, their diseases were cured and evil spirits departed from them.”

- Acts 19:11-12 

          These bible verses delineate the inexplicable power that mere objects contain given their contact with the actual body of a holy person. In this context, a reverence was given to Paul who is indeed God's chosen instrument; that is why anything that has touched his body or clothing is considered a holy relic which has its power to heal and bless (Saunders).  

          It is apparent nowadays that Filipino Catholics still have penchant for saints who are considered great men of faith and Christ’s representations on earth. With its belief in the power of connecting to these holy acolytes of Christ, the Catholic community has really a preponderance of religious statues which are believed to be wondrous. To increase the effectiveness of their petitions, the Filipino Catholics believe in saints as intermediaries close and dear to Christ, the source of blessings. They feel unworthy to ask and receive God’s favors due to their committed sins, thus they need these saints to back up their prayer requests (Abogado).

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          In the country’s center of miraculous deeds, Quiapo, religious rituals, to wit, kissing the feet of the statue, and touching or wiping the sacred image with a piece of cloth and then applying it to a part of the body, seem ubiquitous. With the strong belief of the Filipino Catholics in the power of touch, Quiapo today, especially in the vicinity of the church, is surrounded with numerous ambulant vendors of these small pieces of cloth which can bring about big blessings when wiped in the religious image.

A VENDOR of the maroon and green handkerchiefs outside the Quiapo Church 

          This piece of cloth becomes more ubiquitous during Friday, which is the Quiapo day, when the multitudes of devotees multiply. It also becomes more salable during the Traslacion, the biggest religio-cultural event in the country, which is believed to be the Black Nazarene’s day of wonders and miracles. The density of the sacred power of this most famous devotional icon in the country is abundantly manifested and felt during this commemoration of the saint's feast day. During the procession, Filipino devotees try hard to make physical contact with the image and wave and throw this piece of cloth so it can reach and touch the body, or even just the hem of the Nazarene’s clothes.   

FILIPINO DEVOTEES waving their hankies in the belief that they will receive the blessings of the Black Nazarene during the Traslacion. Photo by Bullit Marquez.