Monday, May 28, 2007
SAMPAGUITA VENDORS
Title: Sampaguita VendorsAperture: F2.8
Shutter: 1/640 sec
White Balance: Auto
Sampaguita garland vendors grouped under the shade in front of Santa Cruz Church while waiting for their usual customers. The entire exterior of this historic church in Manila was recently refurbished and repainted; now, it looks even more majestic.
This church was originally founded by the Jesuits to serve the growing number of Chinese parian residents of Santa Cruz who had converted to Catholicism during the Spanish colonial rule. Comprised mainly of highly skilled craftsmen from China, Santa Cruz soon became the most affluent of all parians in the whole of Manila; inciting much envy from the Dominicans.
posted by Señor Enrique at 1:08 PM
19 Comments:
-
said... It reminds me of those vendors who sells Rosaries outside the church in Quiapo.
[:-
said...
Wow! This is one of your most beautiful and evocative shots, Eric.
I hope though, that the refurbishing did not actually alter the original look of the church. Minsan kasi mahirap i-restore talaga yung original - maybe because the materials used before are no longer available now.-
said...
Oh, well - I forgot, refurbishing means to restore to functional state, not the original state... Guess that answers my own question. hehehe.
-
Sidney said... No doubt the Jesuits are smart !
Nice tones... it gives your picture a "timeless" feel.-
Francesca said...
once, Lolo and I passed by a church and a sampaguita vendor offered us for sale the flowers.
Lolo asked me, what is that for. And I said, its for the altar you put with.
Lolo said: Oh, i thought, its for eating salad...
Eric, the photo shot is good. I dont know how you do it, but its really interesting and impressive shot!!!galeeng!-
NOYPETES said...
Truly a pinoy tradition! Sampaguita leis, the Catolic devotees common offering to the icons in church along with prayers for salvation. Also find them hanging on the Jeepneys rear view mirror as a sign(receipt)that "tong" or "kotong"(nowadays)have been paid to the sampaguta vendor acting as the cop's(assigned in Quiapo for the day)collector. Another "resibo" for kotong is the "bimpo" or mini towel/towelette that we see oftentimes resting on a drivers neck(nape)and also serves to wipe their sweaty brows from the heat of the daily grind combined with the diesel engine temp reaching under the jeepney dashboard section. I have a nice ink drawing of a sampaguita lei that I have been conteplating on to copy for my arm tatoo, like a vine wrapped around my arm. Maybe you can help me out with another nice close up shot of a sampaguita lei for more details on my planned ink job on my brown colored skin. It is always nice to know that most of you readers can relate to your photographs...a basic ingredient in good photojournalism!
-
Señor Enrique said...
Yes, Sidney, a smart bunch they were. I've a feeling it was this seething envy that caused their expulsion; not the alleged collaboration with the British that they were accused of.
Thanks!-
Señor Enrique said...
Wherever they have churches, Kyels, there will be a band of sampaguita, rosary and pryer book vendors :)
It has become quite a Manila tradition :)-
Señor Enrique said...
How I wish, Rhoda, that our other structures in the city would also be so well-maintained as this church by their owners. Then this city will be just as regal.
-
Señor Enrique said...
Hi Francesca! I bet you enjoy being with Lolo because of his sense of humor ... hehehe!
Many thanks!-
Señor Enrique said...
Okay, Noypetes, will gladly take a couple of shots for you. Hope you're in no great hurry, though :)
Speaking of "kotong" -- you can hardly walk comfortably along the sidewalk of Quezon Boulevard because of the many street vendors that somehow overwhelm the walkway. Heard they pay anywhere from 100-to-300 a day to some cops. This is the reason why I prefer walking along the pedestrial mall of Avenida Rizal.
Thanks, Noypetes.-
said...
An excellent analogy by "Noypetes" about the "kotong" part. Good Lord, these cops are just bent on getting their share from these poor kids!
During my travels, when these kids approach me in restaurants, night clubs, or in a car, I'll just ask how much for the whole thing, give the kid the money without me taking the flowers. Now, I wonder if he gets to keep the money I doled out or share some with Mr Kotong. Just hate people with no mercy in their hearts. Goodhealth to you...Uh oh, maybe next time, a full view of that church in color.
Thanks again.-
Señor Enrique said...
I really hope it isn't so, TruBlue, but many had told me that some of the vendors, including the kids, are part of a syndicate. Sad.
I will try and go back there to take mor pics of the church and post them. Thanks and best wishes as well!-
NOYPETES said...
Thank you Eric, I will patiently wait for the Sampaguita pix. Thank you also to Trublue's consideration of my "kotong analogy".
-
Daisy said...
Thanks for sharing the details of the photo Senor Enrique. It really helps to know what the masters use :) to capture the moment.
Are we the only country that sells sampaguita leis at the entrance of churches? If indeed we are these images are priceless because of their uniqueness.
what seems ordinary is not.-
Señor Enrique said...
My pleasure, Noypetes. This gives me a reason to look at these "leis" from another point of view. Fun!
-
Señor Enrique said...
Our other fellow bloggers who had traveled in Asia may share with us what they know about this, Daisy, but in the States, there are no vendors of any kind that I had seen within the church premises.
Glad to share the technical data of my shots, BUT I am no master, Daisy ... not even near it ... hehehe. This is one great interest of mine which will be an ongoing learning process for me 'til kingdom come. There's so much to learn!-
said...
I think I've forgotten what the sampaguita smells like.
Do you have any pictures of this flower?-
Señor Enrique said...
Sampaguita flowers are like mini daisies, Irene, and therefore, not too photogenic. A garland of it is much prettier. Check out this URL:
http://static.flickr.com/76/202393990_2d252c3df2.jpg?v=0
Hmmm... wish the Internet has scent-o-rama as some folks tried inventing many year ago ... hehehe.
