Quiapo Church: Tahanan ng Poong Itim na Nazareno

ni John Mark Jumao-as (OJT) @Lifestyle | January 9, 2026

Sa puso ng Maynila matatagpuan ang Quiapo, isang sentro ng kalakalan, kultura, at tagpuan ng mga indibidwal mula sa iba’t ibang antas ng lipunan. Ngunit higit sa pagiging mataong distrito, ang Quiapo ay kilala bilang tahanan ng Nuestro Padre Hesus Nazareno, ang banal na imahe ni Hesus na may pasan na krus na minamahal at dinarayo ng milyun-milyong deboto.

Noong 1606, dumating sa Pilipinas ang mga Augustinian Recollect dala ang imahen ng Itim na Nazareno mula sa Mexico. Sa simula, ito ay inilagay sa Recollect Church of St. John the Baptist sa Bagumbayan na ngayo’y Luneta, at kalaunan ay inilipat sa San Nicolas de Tolentino Church sa Intramuros, Manila. Sa paglipas ng panahon, mabilis na lumaganap ang debosyon ng mga Pilipinong Katoliko sa Nazareno.

Dahil sa dumaraming deboto, iniutos ni Archbishop Basilio Sancho de Santa Justa y Rufina na ilipat sa Quiapo Church ang imahe ng Itim na Nazareno sa pagitan ng taong 1767 hanggang 1787, para mas madaling mapuntahan ng mga mamamayan, lalo na ng mga deboto.

Kaya naman naging banal na tahanan na ng Black Nazarene ang naturang simbahan. At sa paglipas ng taon noong 1780, ipinagkaloob ni Pope Pius VII ang Apostolic Blessing sa mga namamanata sa imahen ng Nazareno. Isang bahagi ng debosyon ang pagdaraos ng prusisyon sa imahe kung saan naghikayat na lumahok sa mga tao mula sa Metro Manila at mga kalapit na lalawigan.

Noong Enero 29, 2024, sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon sa kasaysayan ng parokya, nagtipon ang mga obispo ng Pilipinas sa Quiapo Church para sa opisyal na pagkilala rito bilang “National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno”.

Naging matagumpay ito at kalaunan ay ginawa ang Quiapo Church na sentro ng isa sa pinakamalaking religious devotion sa mundo — ang Mahal na Poong Itim na Nazareno.

AHOF leads SM Mall of Asia’s epic NYE Kapuso Countdown to 2026

by Info @Business | December 30, 2025

SM Mall of Asia delivers one of the country’s most anticipated year-end spectacles as it launches the NYE Kapuso Countdown to 2026, headlined by rising K-Pop sensation AHOF. The event brings world-class entertainment, large-scale activities across the complex, and the iconic MOA Grand Fireworks Display that has become a national New Year tradition. 

SM Mall of Asia strengthens its position as the premier destination for New Year festivities. Guests can expect a high-energy program that blends music, culture, and celebration, supported by extended mall operations and entertainment offerings designed to attract families, tourists, and local revelers. 

AHOF leads this year’s roster with a global sound and strong multicultural appeal. The group, formed through the SBS survival show “Universe League,” debuted in July 2025 with the mini-album Who We Are. They quickly gained momentum due to their dynamic performances and diverse lineup. The group includes Filipino member JL Gaspar, who previously competed in the P-Pop scene through PLUUS, giving Filipino fans a homegrown connection to an international act. 

GMA’s powerhouse artists boost the program with back-to-back performances starting at 10 PM. Julie Anne San Jose, Christian Bautista, Kyline Alcantara, Rayver Cruz, Rocco Nacino, and the rest of the Kapuso line-up will set the tone for the celebration, building excitement leading to midnight. 

Mall of Asia Veranda tenants will remain open until 12 MN, keeping the energy high and the fun going as guests enjoy a complete, all-out experience across the seaside complex. The excitement reaches its peak at exactly 12 MN with the MOA Grand Fireworks Display, an explosive celebration that lights up the sky. The signature musical fireworks show delivers an all-out sensory experience, blending music, dazzling lights, and massive scale to create one of the country’s most thrilling, high energy, and unforgettable New Year moments. 

SM Mall of Asia invites Filipinos and visitors from around the world to welcome 2026 at the MOA NYE Kapuso Countdown, an all-out experience not to be missed. The celebration brings together global talent, spectacular entertainment and nonstop fun, powered by the unmistakable MOA energy that defines the start of every new year.

‘The answer to Carla’s painful whys’

ni Info @Lifestyle | December 29, 2025

Photo: Carla Abellana / IG

Ibinahagi ng aktres na si Carla Abellana ang kanyang intimate wedding sa asawang si Dr. Reginald Santos.

“My first and last. A love story over 20 years in the making. Two lives coming full circle. This is our story. - Dr. and Mrs. Reginald Santos,” ayon sa caption ni Carla.