Lost in Quiapo

For SA 157 (Culture) we went to all sorts of churches in Manila to study their architechture and identify their styles (Neo-Gothic, Rennaisance, Classic, etc.). I decided to grab this rare opportunity to take pictures of characters and sights I might never see in other parts of the city. Here are some of my favorite interesting pictures and the stories behind them:

Voice of God
This is the ceiling of the San Sebastian church. The light actually came from this bulb on the one of the corners but from this angle, it really looks like it’s coming through the ceiling.

Regla is Good
This is a stand right in front of Quiapo church that sells all sorts of medicine made from God knows what. (There are many other stands like this.) The word regla is “period” in Tagalog, and I find it very ironic that they’re selling pamparegla–something that will induce abortion–outside a church.

The Prophesies of Madam Cora
There were many fortune tellers to be found outside Quiapo church too. I paid fifty pesos to have a rather generic fortune told using ancient Spanish tarot cards (otherwise known as “bastos”). First thing she told me is that I would live abroad, and no matter where I go I’ll always have land and a home. Then she said that I was intelligent and would be successful, and warned me against marrying a married man. My father could have told me this, but what I like about this fortune teller was that she was the only one there who bothered to dress the part. Everyone else was in street clothes.

Written in the Cards
The cards Madam Cora used. I know a little bit about the tarot, but these look totally unfamiliar.

Prisoner of War
I have never seen a beggar like him. I like to think that he is a war veteran who lost most of his limbs in a vicious battle. There’s something about his face that suggests a strong character, and for that I respect him.

The Saddest Bride
There happened to be a wedding march going on when we went to the Manila Cathedral. When the bride came in, I was immediately struck by her appearance. She looked so sad. Like she didn’t want to be there at all and was silently cursing at whoever it was that led her to this situation. I saw her give a few wistful smiles to her friends. The smiles never reached her eyes.

Purple Fire Truck
Isn’t this just the coolest? I found this in Binondo (Chinatown). Apparently, the Chinese think it’s unlucky for a fire truck to be red. Hence the purple color of this one.

It’s been a tiring yet interesting day, and these have got to be the saddest pictures I have ever taken. I really want to take up a basic photography class; I think I’ve got the potential to be great.

View more pics of Quiapo and Intramuros.