I have been travelling in this place Quiapo in Manila for 4 years, Its a place to recon with. A place where Filipino religious devotions are alive and kicking. Most of the Filipino population are catholic, ( though Im a baptist). A friday trip at Quiapo will excite all your amazement senses, from food, religion, politics, fashion, movies, name it its there. Friday is Quiapo church day. People flock from all over the Philippines just to pay their vows for the Nazarene that was house there. People travel for long grueling hours, for a prayer of faith. Most of the people when you ask them they are doing this so that their loved ones will get healing, and it shows one of the culture of the Filipino how they loved their families, mother, father, son, daughter, cousins etc. they will devote themselves to suffer a walk in their knees for the petition not for themselves but for their family member. a sacrifice that last for a life time and even generations just for a miracle to happen. The mystic character appeal of Quiapo really fascinates me. outside the church you can see a variety of microbusiness selling all sorts of things from pirated DVD's, pancakes, Fishballs, Coke to herbal medicines and even love potion. mixed with the buzzing beeping of jeepneys and buses, as well as the shout of "para boys" those who are calling passengers for the jeeps. The smell can either create an appetite or can either make you throw up it depends on which place you stand. You can feel how busy the place is from the running of jeeps, people and even snatchers.
on the other side of the church is where fortune tellers flock. They have tehir own plastic chairs have their own quiet spot waiting for some young girl to know who will be her knight in shining armor or a wife trying to find out if her husband is doing some "overtime". The fortune tellers have different ways on which you can choose from from palmistry, cards, mind reading name it they have it.their soft voice along with those make believe look and some timely question can make some first timer say " oh my youre right.."
as the dusk approaches, the place can become more dangerous. A different side will show up far different from the afternoon delight fiesta atmosphere the place changes to a dark alley on which everyone can be a suspect or a victim.
Night time is Quiapos' other side where in during the morning people who are hoping for a miracle are everywhere, at night time the people who get sick of waiting for a miracle are everywhere, kids in rugby, robbers, addicts, young girls selling them selves for a few peso. These people who seems to me lose all their hopes for a miracle. In their eyes,you can barely feel their shattered dreams and how injustice ate their innocence.
a contradiction that is Quiapo, a place of hope and a place of hopelessness.
