Fame and faith: Why celebrities walk with the Black Nazarene in Quiapo

Every January, Quiapo becomes a sea of barefoot devotion—millions of Filipinos pressing forward, pulling ropes, and whispering prayers to the darkened image of Christ carrying the cross. Amid the crowd are faces known from television screens, concert stages, and newsrooms. For these public figures, devotion to the Black Nazarene is not a publicity ritual but a deeply personal anchor—one that shaped their journeys long before fame arrived.

For many celebrities, faith in the Black Nazarene predates success. Long before he became a primetime television icon, Coco Martin was already a regular devotee at Quiapo Church, quietly offering prayers for work and for the chance to provide for his family. His rise to stardom did not loosen that bond. Even at the height of his career, he continues to return to Quiapo—often discreetly—believing that many of his most heartfelt petitions were answered through the Nazarene’s intercession. For Coco, gratitude is a discipline, not a one-time promise.

Singer-actress Angeline Quinto’s devotion is rooted in gratitude born of pain and hope. A lifelong devotee, she has often shared how her prayers to the Black Nazarene sustained her during the illness of her adoptive mother, Sylvia “Mama Bob” Quinto. Faith, for Angeline, was not only about miracles but about strength—finding the courage to endure even when outcomes were uncertain. In moments of loss and triumph alike, Quiapo remained her refuge.

Veteran broadcaster Noli de Castro’s connection to the Black Nazarene stretches back decades, to the years when his days began not in television studios but within the quiet walls of Quiapo Church. Long before his familiar voice became a fixture on nightly news, he found guidance in daily visits to the basilica. For him, devotion was never performative—it was routine, reflective, and deeply woven into his sense of purpose.

A newer generation of devotees continues the tradition. Actor McCoy de Leon is often seen attending the annual feast with his young daughter, teaching faith not through words but through presence. For McCoy, the procession is both thanksgiving and testimony—a reminder of blessings received and of the community of believers who walk the same road.

Comedy, too, finds its way to Quiapo. Giselle Sanchez has spoken candidly about how her devotion began unexpectedly during a period of illness that led her to pray before the Black Nazarene. What started as curiosity deepened into conviction after she experienced healing—an encounter she describes as both physical and spiritual. Since then, her faith has been shaped by humility and trust rather than spectacle.

Other familiar faces quietly join the faithful during the Misa Mayor and annual feast. Dimples Romana, Rodjun Cruz, and Dianne Medina have each shared personal testimonies of gratitude—stories of prayers whispered in silence and thanks offered without fanfare. Their presence reflects a truth often overlooked: devotion does not always demand explanation; sometimes, it simply asks to be lived.

Beyond show business, designer Renee Salud’s faith tells a story of perseverance. Long before accolades and acclaim, he made regular pilgrimages to Quiapo, sometimes even on his knees, as an act of surrender and thanksgiving. For him, devotion was a reminder that success is not self-made—that resilience is often nurtured in moments of prayer, not applause.

What draws these celebrities—and millions of ordinary Filipinos—to the Black Nazarene is not spectacle but identification. The image of Christ bent under the weight of the cross mirrors the daily struggles of a people who labor, hope, fail, and try again. In the Nazarene, they see a God who understands exhaustion and endurance, suffering and mercy.

Fame may place these devotees on a different stage, but in Quiapo, distinctions fade. There are no leading roles or supporting acts—only believers reaching out in faith. And in that shared devotion, celebrities and ordinary devotees alike find the same thing: a quiet strength that carries them forward, step by step, prayer by prayer.