Nazareno 2025: Quiapo business owners give free food, drinks to devotees

Staff at a family-owned eyewear store hand out sandwiches and cups of juice to Nazareno devotees around Quiapo Church on Thursday afternoon, Jan. 9, 2025. (Photo by Jason Sigales / INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines — The Feast of Jesus Nazareno is a big opportunity for many business owners in Quiapo to make ends meet due to millions of devotees attending the event.

However, these small businesses believe their returns are far greater whenever they open their doors to be the Catholic faithful by offering them much-needed nourishment, as they await the Holy Image of Jesus Nazareno’s return to Quiapo Church.

Eyewear store owner Rosalinda Kumar, 65, and her 70-strong staff set up their shop as early as 2 a.m. and began giving out food and drinks to devotees in the Quiapo area at around 6 a.m. on Thursday.

“Kapag namimigay ka, malaking grasya babalik sa’yo, ‘di ba?” Kumar told INQUIRER.net.

(If you give, the grace you get back is far greater, right?)

When asked if they were devotees, Kumar said, “Hindi naman. Nagsisimba lang. Hindi naman tutal na deboto kami. Talaga gusto lang namin na namimigay kasi ang daming nagugutom sa araw ng Pista ng Quiapo.”

(Not really. We go to church, but we’re not really devotees. We just really want to do charity work since many are hungry on the day of the Feast of Quiapo.)

She and her staff have been volunteering their supplies and manpower for the devotees for the last 20 years.

For the 2025 feast, they prepared around 10,000 cheese, egg and tuna sandwiches; liters of juice; and 50 kilos of pork and chicken adobo.

READ: Nun treats Nazareno devotees to champurrado, fast-food sandwiches

Kumar plans on closing up the shop at 7 p.m. to join the Traslacion as the Holy Image of Jesus Nazareno makes its return to Quiapo Church.

She shared her prayers for the Nazareno: “Mamaya, mananalangin kami na tuloy-tuloy dapat yung negosyo namin, na tuloy-tuloy kami mamimigay every year para maganda.”

(Later, we will pray that our business continues to prosper, [so] that we can continue to do charity every year.)

Nazareno devotees line up at the eatery of store owner Josie Terencio, who is offering them free pancit on Thursday afternoon, Jan. 9, 2025. (Photo by Jason Sigales / INQUIRER.net)

Meanwhile, eatery owner Josie Terencio opened her small store to devotees at around 4 in the morning.

She began giving away whatever water or food she can spare to devotees ever since moving to Quiapo 22 years ago.

“Namimigay ako. Kung ano binibigay sa akin ni lord, sini-share ko iyon,” Terencio told INQUIRER.net.

(I give. Whatever I get, I share it.)

For this year, her main offering to her fellow faithful is 20 kilos of pancit.

READ: Procession of Jesus Nazareno begins

The Traslacion marks the end of the festivities for the Feast of Jesus Nazareno every January 9, commemorating the transfer of the centuries-old image of the Nazareno from Bagumbayan — the present Rizal Park — to Quiapo Church.

READ: Jesus Nazareno traslacion: origins

Many Catholic faithful believe the Holy Image of the Jesus Nazareno has miraculous powers, attracting millions of devotees to its procession for a chance to touch the statue or pull the rope of its carriage in hopes of blessings.