Lawmaker: Make ‘Araw ng Nazareno’ a special holiday

A lawmaker wants Jan. 9 to be declared a special nonworking holiday nationwide to allow Filipinos to celebrate the Feast of the Black Nazarene “with due reverence” and join related activities. In filing House Bill No. 9851, Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Lordan Suan described the feast day as a “deeply significant religious and cultural event for millions of Filipinos,” noting that it was celebrated, not only in Manila but also in other localities including his city. “The centuries-old tradition of the traslacion, where the venerated image of the Black Nazarene is carried through the streets of Manila, draws devotees from all over the country and represents a powerful expression of faith, hope and resilience,” he said. A similar bill was filed in 2022 by Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas who said that due to the large number of people who take part in the celebration, “it [was] necessary to institutionalize the coordination of different government agencies and instrumentalities for smooth coordination between public and private sectors, and the extension of necessary assistance. —JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE