Religious fanatics have different ways of worshipping idols. Catholic devotees of the Black Jesus Christ statue in Quiapo Church kiss its feet or wipe it with a white cloth or towel, believing that its miraculous powers may rub off on them and their prayers will be granted.
At the feast of the revered statue last 9 January, however, church and health officials banned the kissing of the icon as a safety precaution to prevent respiratory infections, including contracting Covid-19.
Even during the Traslacion, when the statue was brought from the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park back to its home in Quiapo Church in the heart of Manila, it was impossible to kiss it as devotees did before the Covid-19 pandemic. The wooden statue was encased in glass such that even if people could mount the carriage bearing the Black Nazarene figure, they couldn’t kiss it.
Meanwhile, kissing someone on an unconnected bridge in Vietnam would be easier than kissing the idol.
Italian architect Marco Casamonti and luxury tourism developer Sun Group built the “Kiss Bridge” on Phu Quoc Island, famous for its beautiful beaches. The 800-meter-long bridge was designed to have two halves that didn’t touch in the middle. A 30- 30-centimeter gap separates its north and south sections, CNN reported.
The purpose of the gap is to allow couples, one on each side, to take a dramatic leaning smooch selfie with the beautiful sunset as backdrop.
According to CNN, the bridge’s Vietnamese name, “Cau Hon,” translates to “proposing marriage,” as it was intended as a setting for lovers to pop the question. Phu Quoc Island itself is one of Vietnam’s popular honeymoon destinations.
There’s a time of the year when the sun falls directly into the gap between the two halves to give couples their best-kissing shot. Those who don’t want to miss that day must be there on the first of January.
