Filipino heroes and their description of jesus

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While crossing the Pacific, the galleon carrying the image reportedly caught fire, and the statue was charred.

But whatever the reasons for the dark appearance of the statue may be, the Señor Nazareno has been a traveling icon over the past centuries. Contextualizing Jesus is about how His character and role in people’s lives respond to their needs and align with deeply-rooted values.

The more time we spend with Jesus in our everyday realities, the deeper we know Him in that context. His older sister, Joice, is a campus missionary in the Philippines who will join the family in the U.S. soon. Johnru Villamor

Johnru, short for John Rudolph, was born and raised in the Philippines. Antonio Luna

  • brilliant general under Gen.

    Emilio Aguinaldo during the Philippine revolution

  • born October 29, 1869 Urbiztondo, Manila
  • died June 5, 1899 in Cabanatuan
  • Click here for more on Gen. Antonio Luna

Juan Luna

  • renowned painter
  • persecuted on suspicion of supporting the Katipunan
  • born October 23, 1857 in Badoc, Ilocos Norte to Joaquin Luna and Laurena Novicio.
  • died December 23, 1899
  • Click here for more on Juan Luna

Apolinario Mabini

  • Conscience and Brain of the Philippine Revolution
  • the Sublime Paralytic
  • key adviser of Emilio Aguinaldo
  • proposed the first constitution of the Philippine Republic
  • born July 22, 1864 Barrio Talaga, Tanawan Batangas to Inocencio Mabini, Dionisia Maranan
  • died May 13, 1903
  • Click here for more on Apolinario Mabini
Gen.

So, he responded to God’s call to leave his corporate job and work as one of his church’s administrative staff, up until the time he decided to move to the U.S. in 2016.

This moving from one church to another—from Bagumbayan to Intramuros, until eventually finding its home at Quiapo Church—is what the yearly Traslacion follows.

This is also why, he argued, that the Virgin of Antipolo (Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje) has a similar complexion, because it was also made from mesquite. Miguel Malvar

  • last Filipino to surrender to the Americans
  • President after Aguinaldo was captured by the Americans
  • undertook the siege of San Pablo, Laguna
  • born September 27, 1865 Barrio San Miguel, Sto Tomas Batangas to Maximo Malvar and Tiburcia Carpio
  • died October 13, 1911
  • Click here for more on Gen.

    Miguel Malvar

Gen Gregorio del Pilar

  • hero of Tirad Pass
  • commander of last Army of Gen. Aguinaldo
  • born November 14, 1875
  • died December 2, 1899 fighting the Americans at Tirad pass
  • Click here for more on Gen. Gregorio del Pilar

Marcelo H del Pilar

  • popularly known as Plaridel
  • leading propagandist for reforms in the Philippines
  • editor and co-publisher of La Solidaridad
  • born August 30, 1850 in Cupang, San Nicolas, Bulacan to Julian del Pilar and Blasa Gatmaytan
  • died July 4, 1893 in Barcelona, Spain
  • Click here for more on Marcelo H.

    del Pilar

Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado

  • Philippine National Hero
  • author of Noli Me Tangere and La Solidaridad
  • founder of the La Liga Filipina
  • born June 19, 1861 in Calamba, Laguna
    Seventh child of Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado y Alejandro, and Teodora Morales Alonzo Realonda y Quintos
  • died December 30, 1896 at Bagumbayan (now Luneta); execution by musketry
  • Click here for more on Dr.

    Jose Rizal

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Does living in a place where the culture is different from your own entail adopting the theology that shapes that culture?

Arriving in the Philippines via galleon from Acapulco, Mexico in 1606, the now blackened statue was said to have been of a fairer complexion, as it was originally made by an unnamed Mexican sculptor.

Having these unique needs, cultural values, and world view, a Filipino would then picture Jesus as a Filipino—not in appearance and being—but in how He reveals His character to them and how He loves and relates with them.

Does this mean all of us bring a contextualized Jesus everywhere we go?

By now, the image of Jesus Nazareno, surrounded by a flock of faithful followers forming a sea of maroon and yellow, has become an iconic scene.

Real victory is when you turn an enemy into a friend. Hayes’s point makes this argument even stronger: “All theology is contextual, emerging from the particular situations of particular peoples throughout their history.”[2]

Additionally, I do not have to claim that Jesus is completely Filipino physically and ontologically.

Johnru loves to have meaningful conversations (preferably over good food)! Filipinos are known to be happy people even as they go through trials and oppositions.

filipino heroes and their description of jesus

(Fun fact: the site of this now non-existent church is where the building of the Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp. This quite magnificent and very palpable showcase of faith and devotion, is rooted in history as well as in a tradition of honoring the Señor Nazareno. He made Filipinos with unique strengths and cultural values but still reflecting His image and likeness.

now stands.) 

In 1767, the Señor Nazareno was moved to Quiapo Church, where it has remained ever since. If Jesus were to ask me the same question, the answer would be shaped by who I am as a person and my cultural lens, wherever I may be.