6. “AVENIDA RIZAL”

My grandparents have always told me that Avenida Rizal was the premier shopping district during “their” time. How it came to this deplorable state I don’t know but I think that Avenida still has its charm, its local flavour. Tons of people come and go. I thought it was paved already for pedestrians but apparently Mayor Lim had to give the road back to the damn jeepneys. Sayang, ang gulo na naman.

This picture was taken by senor enrique.

Believe it or not there are a lot of things you can buy down there and at very cheap and affordable prices too!

7. VOODOO MARKETS OF QUIAPO

One of my favourite things to do in quiapo is look at the herbal medicines and voodoo stuff being sold around the Church Plaza. I love how everything is so colorful and so mysterious. I don’t know if these things work though. I’ve always wanted to learn what all these things were for and carlos “demystified” them for me. Tawas for your “putok” or your “whispering winds” hyesss….Some Pampa-regla. (yikes..poison pala talaga)

Some amulets..anting-anting to ward off evil or to bring them in? According to Carlos the latin inscriptions on these medallions are actually jibberish! People just placed them on the amulets as they heard them. There are some amulets for the home, for travelling, to take care of bad spirits, etc. I’m gonna get some one of these days to make as keychains and give to my friends (OK FRIENDS EXPECT THEM FOR CHRISTMAS OR HALLOWEEN! hahaha!)

A lot of religious items are also sold along the way particularly figures of the Nuestro Patron Jesus Nazareno, the Black Nazarenewhich is what you really go to quiapo for. People have been flocking to this area every friday for the Black Nazarene. The annual feast day is craaaazyy!!

8. QUIAPO CHURCH: CANDLES, CHURCH, BLACK NAZARENE

One thing that people often do when going to quiapo is light a candle. As a gift to us Carlos asked us to pick a candle. Apparently each color represents something. I picked a peach candle which is for studies (which I really really need) and I brough some red candles to light as well for my family. It’s a buffet of candles in quiapo. I often go to St. Jude in Malacanang to light some candles but unfortunately no more colored candles there just plain white one’s since the parish priests have banned the use of colored candles.

Inside the Quiapo church where devout parishioners pray on their knees. I think I need to do that! I loved the church. I thought it was going to be chaotic inside but I was pleasantly surprised that it was quite solemn.

We went at the back of the church to go up and touch the statue of the Black Nazarene. Someone who does it for the first time is entitled to three wishes. I hope they come true :) That’s the end of our tour with Carlos. We took a pedicab ride back to Binondo (yahoo!!).

More on Quiapo:A Quiapo Excursion

TO CAP IT ALL OFF:It was one of the most exhilarating tours of my life. Three hours of non-stop walking the streets of Binondo and Quiapo! Carlos truly is a magician. He brings to life the most boring, dirty manila and turn it into something mysterious and interesting. It was time well spent. I have never been more exercised nor more culturally enriched. I guess the main reason why I loved it so much is because its really “hands-on” and you’re really there on the streets looking at things and experiencing them. The passion with which Carlos does his job is infectious. More power to people like him who make us look at Manila in a different way.Take a walk with this wonderful pied piper of manila.

CARLOS CELDRAN
http://celdrantours.blogspot.com
celdrantours@hotmail.com
0920-9092021
 
 Cheers,
 
wanderlust83
 
 
Read the three-part series of “From Chinatown to Quiapo”
From Chinatown to Quiapo [part 1 of 3]
From Chinatown to Quiapo [part 2 of 3]
From Chinatown to Quiapo [part 3 of 3]