How the Black Nazarene of Quiapo turned Sam Verzosa's life around

 

Sam Verzosa remains a Black Nazarene devotee in 2025

It was exactly 16 years ago today when "Dear SV" host Sam Verzosa got "the call" that would change this life forever.

In an interview, the mayoralty bet of Manila recalled he was heavily laden with financial responsibilities at the time. He went around Manila to clear his head and that's when he saw them---devotees of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo walking barefoot on the streets in fulfillment of the Traslacion.

Upon learning about the "Poong Hesus Nazareno," Sam vowed to do a yearly "panata" or homage.

"At sa loob lang ng isang araw, sinagot niya lahat ng dasal ko," he said to that effect. "Lahat."

But being young and just human, Sam forgot about his promise to the Nazarene.

Till 11 months later when God called him back.

"Tumawag sa kin dad ko at tinanong kung gusto ko daw sumama sa kanya," Sam said. "Tumawag pala ang Quiapo Church sa kanya at nakikiusap kung pwede mahiram yung isa sa mga trucks namin para maihatid ang Poong Nazareno sa Quirino Grandstand. Dun ko naisip na ang Poong Nazareno na mismo ang umaakay sa kin magbalik loob."

Eventually, Sam became a member of Hijos del Nazareno, a group tasked to protect the revered idol.

Asked if he had also walked barefoot for the Nazarene and joined the yearly procession on January 9 that sees the devotees move the Black Nazarene from Quirino Grandstand in Luneta to Quiapo Church (that sometimes take 16 to 20 hours to accomplish!), Sam answered in the affirmative.

"Never pa nasugatan ang paa ko all these years na nag-Traslacion ako," he said. "Kung meron man, minor lang. Kahit tanungin mo ang mga milyon-milyon na devotees ng Poong Nazareno, ganyan din ang experience nila."

Sam gets a different sense of spiritual fulfillment everytime he is able to serve, sacrifice for or touch the Black Nazarene.

"Sa mga taong hindi nanniniwala, mahirap ipaliwanag. Sa taong naniniwala, hindi na kailangan magpaliwanag," he quipped.

Having been blessed many times over and more than he could ever imagine by the Black Nazarene, Sam no longer asks anything for himself, but just to be able to help others, not only Manilenos.

And the truck used to transport the Black Nazarene those early years Sam became a devotee? Well, according to the public servant he has had it converted as mobile clinic that now roams the city and beyond bringing medical assistance and ayuda to those in need.

Indeed, as Sam put it, God moves in mysterious ways.