For over 6 decades, 80-year old Lily Emralino has worked as a seamstress. However, during Traslacion, she spends most of her time sewing clothes for the Black Nazarene. She says that this is already a tradition as her mother did the same thing.
More than this, however, Emralino says sewing for the Black Nazarene is also an “act of devotion.” She does not actively charge her clients. “Kung ano yung kaya nilang ibayad, hindo ako naniningil o nagsasabi ng presyo kasi nga para ‘yan sa santo,” she tells ABS-CBN.
(Whatever they can give me, I do not ask them to pay or set a price for may work because it is for the saint.)
The clothes Emralino sews is for the replica of the Nazarene at Barangay 210, Zone 19 in Manila. According to Captain Josie Lazano, the Nazarene has been with them for almost a decade.
“Ang buong barangay ay nagpapasalamat sa lahat ng biyaya at pagpapala na dulot sa buhay namin ni (Nazareno),” she says.
(We are thankful for all the blessings given to us by the Nazarene.)
Last Sunday, the replicas of the Black Nazarene were presented to the Quiapo church to be blessed.