“Dusk, is just an illusion, because the sun is either above the horizon or below it. And that means that day and night are linked in a way that few things are; there cannot be one without the other, yet they cannot exist at the same time."

escolta

During it's golden days, Escolta was described as "a street with many fashionable shops and department stores that display every item of imported and Philippine origin."

See my previous posts: ordinary day at Escolta.


N.B. Sorry bout the photos... am trying to learn the photostitching technique

1564

1564 - 1964 IV Centenario de la Expedicion Maritima Mexico Filipinas

Dont know much about this plaza and marker but it has been standing there since 1965, this plaza is near the Manila Cathedral and near the bank of the Pasig River.

Philippine-Mexican Marker Plaza... undertaken and completed by the National Parks Development Committee under the Office1964 of the President funded by the Central Bank of the Philippines, spearheaded by then Chairman Mrs. Diosdado Macapagal (former first lady and mother of the current president, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo) ... the actual marker is dated December 1965.

feast of black nazarene

The Black Nazarene is a life-sized, dark-skinned statue of Jesus Christ that a priest bought in Mexico, carved by an Aztec carpenter. The image is now enshrined in the minor basilica in Quiapo, Manila, Philippines and the day on which devotees go to the church is Friday. The procession, and the accompanying Feast of the Black Nazarene, takes place every year on January 9. It is usually the single largest festival of the year in the Philippines.

The statue was brought to Manila by the first group of Augustinian Recollect friars in May 31, 1606. The image was enshrined at the first Recollect church in Bagumbayan (now part of the Rizal Park), which was inaugurated on September 10, 1606, and placed under the patronage of Saint John the Baptist.

In 1608, the second bigger Recollect church dedicated to San Nicolas de Tolentino(Saint Nicholas of Tolentine ) was completed inside Intramuros (where the building of the Manila Bulletin now stands), where the image of Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno was transferred. The Recollect Fathers then vigorously promoted devotion to the Suffering of Our Lord represented by the image that in fifteen short years, the Cofradia de Jesús Nazareno was established on April 21, 1621. The confraternity obtained Papal approval on April 20, 1650, from His Holiness Pope Innocent X.

Sometime in the year 1787, the Archbishop of Manila, Basilio Sancho de Santas Junta y Rufina, ordered transfer of the image of the Nazareno to the church in Quiapo, again providently placed under the patronage of Saint John the Baptist.

The image survived the great fires that destroyed Quiapo Church in 1791 and 1929, the great earthquakes of 1645 and 1863, and the destructive bombing of Manila in 1945 during World War II.

Recently, however, in 1998, a replica of the original Black Nazarene was first paraded due to the repeated damages on the statue. Today this replica is still used in processions while the original rests inside the church, and other, even smaller replicas can be found in other churches.

The devotion to Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno has attracted an even bigger following. Its popularity, which initially spread to the northern and southern provinces of Luzon, spread over time throughout the country.

The uniquely Filipino devotion to the Black Nazarene merited the sanction and encouragement of two popes: Innocent X in 1650, with a Papal Bull canonically establishing the Cofradia de Jesús Nazareno, and Pius VII in the 19th century, by granting indulgence to those who piously pray before the image of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo.

Today, despite the rough-and-tumble that usually accompanies the thrice-yearly procession of the image, the Filipino people's devotion to God in the special appellation of Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno continues to flourish and shows no sign of warning; death, wounds, bodily pains and physical discomfort notwithstanding.

For more than 200 years, the statue has been placed on a gilded carriage every January and pulled through the streets of Quiapo by male devotees dressed in maroon. People who touch the Nazarene are reported to sometimes be healed of diseases. Catholics come from all over Manila on the chance that they will be able to get close enough to touch the image and perhaps receive a miracle. They also throw towels to the people guarding the statue and ask them to rub the towel on the statue in hopes of carrying some of that power away with them.

Source: Wikipedia.org

Related link: Señor Enrique, Sidney's black nazarene procession on 2006 and 2007

maskara

"Kung may problema ka
Magsuot ng maskara
Takpan mo ang iyong mata
Buong mundo'y mag-iiba"
~ eraserheads

Photo: a closeup look on details from the giant parol (christmas lantern) in my christmas post.

tutuban centermall

andres in tutuban

Here's the statue of our hero, Andres Bonifacio at the Tutuban center in Divisoria. Tutuban is not just a place rich in historical and strategic significance but also thrives as the hotbed of commerce right at the heart of neo-conservative Manila, to know more about its history click here.

On a funny note: dont you think Andres looks like he's checking the list of people he'll give gifts to next christmas? Yeah the christmas decors are still up until Sunday.

dont be afraid

"As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will. You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken. You'll fight with you best friend. You'll blame a new love for things an old one did. You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love. So take many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt before because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. Don't be afraid that your life will end... be afraid that it will never begin."

divisoria

Yep your eyes are not deceiving you, this is divisoria and that is the Tutuban Cluster Mall building you're seeing but it is empty (well not really empty but this place is usually crowded everyday). Photo taken yesterday when most people are still asleep after welcoming the new year and most malls are closed. New Year morning is the best time to roam the metropolis since i'll have the road all by myself, and mind you this is the only day and time you'll find this place empty.

I cant justify the diversity and color of Divisoria in this post but to those who doenst know yet, Divisoria or as what pinoys fondly call "Divi" is a big market place where you can find almost everything you'll ever need where the prices are lower (you can even haggle for the price). It is always bustling with activity and is easy to get lost here if you dont know your way around. Divisoria is best known for textile (at Juan Luna St.), fruit market (what they call "bagsakan" at Sto. Cristo), vegetables (at Asuncion), among other things. Divisoria is also a haven for wholesaler, recently malls have sprouted in the area such as the popular 168 Mall, Divisoria Mall, etc.

embrace the new day

Happy new year everyone! Starting off this year's theme day is "the best of" ... am not sure which one to pick but decided to use this photo of the "sunset lovers" (originally uploaded last 05 May 2007).

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