RELIGIOUS
STATUES
As the Spaniards discoursed monotheism in the country, they introduced numerous religious images including multifarious representations and variations of Jesus and Mary. These religious images generated more localized and focused devotions built around particular patron saints. Together with the sacred images came religious indoctrination, including the idea that one can bargain with God, Mary and the saints apropos favors (Tan).
VARIOUS religious statues sold at Plaza Miranda, Quiapo
This idea of negotiating with God through His representations is still present in the Filipino culture and society especially in the country’s hub of piousness, Quiapo. This district in Manila, according to academic researches, has been losing its spiritual glory as it has been becoming a marketplace for occult objects. This is partly true, but not with the religious images which are still widely sold in the plaza. In an interview, Ate Jon, a vendor, stated that there are many devotees who come to Quiapo everyday to pray and buy these religious figures. According to her customers, they buy these statues, which were already blessed by the priests, not as just displays, but reminders of God’s goodness in their lives. In fact, her many customers come back to share how God has blessed them through their devotion in these sacred statues. They tell their stories of success, healing, protection, and guidance. These religious images, which are made up of santol and batikulin wood, usually come from Pampanga and Bulacan.
PROCESS of making religious carvings. Video by GMANews on Youtube
Among the statues sold in Quiapo are Sto Niño, Mary, Sacred Heart and Black Nazarene. The latter is the most famous devotional icon in the country thus the bestseller in Quiapo. The Black Nazarene figures are usually bought by the devotees from provinces who want to have the replica and the devotees who bring the statue during the Traslacion, the annual feast of the Black Nazarene. This practice started during the Spanish era in the country when the bringing of the religious images during feast days is important, as well as during disease outbreaks, droughts and other disasters. It is believed that failure to hold the Traslacion and other religious activities were believed to risk gaba or divine wrath and punishment. That is why nowadays, it is not surprising that devotees are always looking for signs and omens during the Traslacion (Tan).
THE AREA of vendors of religious statues outside Quiapo Church
This bestseller image of Quiapo is known for its miraculous deeds like surviving the great fires, earthquakes and even the bombing of Manila during World War II. This dark image of the Black Nazarene, which is a wooden sculpture of Jesus Christ, was said to be carved by a Mexican-Indian artist from Acapulco, Mexico, who was on board in one of the ships involved in the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade, although there is no existing record that can tell the exact date when the image of the Black Nazarene arrived in the country (Obusan).
THE MIRACULOUS Black Nazarene, who is a dark-skinned Christ carrying his cross to Calvary. Photo by LJ Pasion.
The color of the Black Nazarene created many speculations among the people. The most popular story is the one wherein a fire broke in the ship when the Black Nazarene was transported to Manila. The image caught fire and this caused its dark color. Zialcita refuted this story by saying that the image has been black ever since. He stated that there are numerous Catholic images which are black. In Europe, the virgins were black, like the patroness of Poland. In the country alone, there are other black images like the Sto. Nino in Tanggapan, and Santo Cristo de Longos in Tondo. The black shade was said to be common among images in an agrarian society for that color was often associated with the fertility of the soil. Zialcita also avers that the Filipinos are able to identify with the image of the Black Nazarene because of its dark color. Many of the devotees of the Black Nazarene are from the low economic classes, who are usually asking for special favors from the statue. Today, the original image is located in the Altar Mayor of the Quiapo church and is used during processions (Obusan).
REPLICAS of the Black Nazarene sold outside Quiapo Church. Video by ABS-CBN News on Youtube.
Aside from the Black Nazarene, Quiapo has other hidden statues scattered among the residences of Mendoza Street. One of these places is the Ocampo compound, which is tucked between Gonzalo Puyat and FR Hidalgo streets. This area has a trove of statues, myths, and legends (Ongcal).
A STATUE of the Virgin Mary found in the garage of the Ocampos. Photo by Alecs Ongcal.
This compound was owned by Don Jose Mariano Ocampo, whom residents call Don Peping. He was a lawyer, realtor and a devout Catholic who wanted to create a sanctuary of oriental art that he and his family could enjoy and that tourists could also visit. Among the relics in the compound, the most famous and preserved one is the enormous icon of the Lady of Mt Carmel atop a globe which is only accessible through a two-foot wide alley. Outsiders call the icon the "Birhen de Eskinita” (Lady of the Alley), but the compound residents call it “Mundo” (Globe). The 15-foot statue cannot be seen immediately, as it is tucked between houses. This Lady of Mt. Carmel is adorned with images of people of different races bearing the globe (Ongcal).
THE LADY OF MT CARMEL peeking through the two-foot wide alley. Photo by Alecs Ongcal.
This strong belief in the power of these religious images as Christ’s representations shows that Quiapo, despite being transformed into a place of profanity, is still a place of spirituality and religiosity in the country.
WORKS CITED
Bonilla, Celia M. “Devotion to the Black Nazarene As An Aesthetic Experience.” In Quiapo: Heart of Manila, ed. Fernando Nakpil Zialcita, 96-122. Manila: Metropolitan Museum of Manila, 2006.
Goulet, Jean-Guy, Murphy, Liam, and Panagakos, Anastasia. “Religious Diversity Today: Experiencing Religion in the Contemporary World.” California: Praeger Publishers Inc., 2005.
Obusan, Teresita. “Mystic Or Mistake Exploring Filipino Mysticism in Quiapo.” Quezon City, Philippines : Institute of Spirituality in Asia, 2008.
Ongcal, Alecs. “Exploring the relics at Quiapo’s Ocampo Compound.” Rappler, 9 Jan. 2016. www.rappler.com/life-and-style/travel/ph-travel/118423-nazareno-quiapo-ocampo-compound. Accessed 02 Nov. 2017.