In the runup to the procession of the Black Nazarene on Tuesday, thousands of devotees have been flocking to the Quiapo Church to pray for their intentions, and among them is Elizabeth Tan, 60 years old, self-employed, who claimed that she had a close encounter with God.

Tan has been a Black Nazarene devotee for 50 years, which she said has solidified her faith.

"I believe in God. I have always been a believer, but my faith was strengthened when He appeared to me. I cannot explain the feeling when I saw Him," she said.

Elizabeth reminisced about how her prayers to the Black Nazarene healed her mother of an illness that had confined her in a hospital for a long time.

"Indeed, I have been a devotee of the Nazarene for 50 years, and I became more devoted after my mother was redeemed from a severe illness. Both my sibling and I were taking care of our mother when the doctor said that there was no hope for her survival. I asked my sibling, 'Why? Is the doctor God?' Of course, the doctor wasn't God."

"I went home and saw a replica of the Black Nazarene in our neighbor's storage room, along with other religious images. The Nazarene was quite dirty, so I took it and cleaned it up. Then I prayed to the Nazarene. I said, 'Lord, give me another chance to extend my mother's life, grant it to me.' God appeared to me and granted my prayers, extending my mother's life," Elizabeth said.

The pandemic, however, claimed the life of Elizabeth's mother, but her yearly devotion continued.

"Then the pandemic came, and I said, 'Lord, if you will take her, I will accept it. Because I don't want her to suffer anymore.' So, when she turned 80 years old, she passed away. That's how it happened," Elizabeth said.

Health, prosperity to all

When asked what she prays for to the Black Nazarene, she said her wishes are for good health and peace for everyone.

"I hope no one gets sick anymore, there's no more pandemic, everyone is free. And then, I hope everything becomes better. I also hope my family will have strong health and no one will get sick," she said.

The procession of the Black Nazarene from the Quirino grandstand to Quiapo Church was forgone for the past three years.

As the festivity is making a comeback this year, authorities anticipate over 2 million devotees will join the Traslacion or transfer procession.