McCoy de Leon after touching Black Nazarene carriage: ‘Wala akong masabi kundi salamat’

McCoy de Leon and his daughter Felize cheering “Viva! Viva!” during the Feast of the Black Nazarene. Image: Instagram/@mccoydeleon

McCoy de Leon was among the millions of devotees who joined the procession of the Black Nazarene after a three-year pandemic hiatus, and was among the few who were able to touch its carriage.

The “Batang Quiapo” actor documented how he braved the crowd of faithfuls all hoping to get close to the carriage, as seen in a shaky video on his Instagram page on Tuesday, Jan. 9.

“‘Nasaan na siya (Poong Nazareno)?’—Yan ang linya lagi para makita mo siya at nung oras na nakita ko siya’t mahawakan ulit matapos ng maraming taon, wala ako masabi kundi ‘Salamat Poong Nazareno,'” he said in the caption.

(“Where is the Black Nazarene?”—That’s what we always ask whenever in the procession. When I saw the image and touched its carriage, I couldn’t say anything but “Thank you, Black Nazarene.”)

“Tanging nasa isip ko lang nung kaharap ko siya ang mga mahal ko sa buhay at ang pamilya ko,” he added. (What was in my thought while in front of the image was my family and loved ones.)

De Leon also showed himself, with his feet covered in dirt from the procession, carrying his daughter Felize while they were both cheering “Viva! Viva!”

“Sa mga kapatid ko na deboto, saludo ako sa tindi ng pananampalataya niyo walang nagbabago. Viva Poong Nazareno!” he concluded his post. (To my fellow devotees, I salute you all for your unwavering faith. Viva Poong Nazareno!)

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A post shared by Mccoy De Leon (@mccoydeleon)

Aside from de Leon, also a known Black Nazarene devotee is his fellow “Batang Quiapo” actor Coco Martin, who gave a speech at the Quirino Grandstand before the procession started.

The Quiapo church recorded a total of 6,113,598 devotees who took part in the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Tuesday.