Saturday, June 02, 2007

THE CHRISTENING

Title: The Christening
Camera: NIKON D80
Aperture: F5.6
Shutter: 10/1600 sec
Focal Length: 202mm
ISO: 100
Flash: No


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posted by Señor Enrique at 8:53 PM


14 Comments:

Blogger NOYPETES said...

Did you go to a mass baptism ceremony? Have you ever heard of the Pinoy tradition of ..."mag-suli-an ng Kandila"?...Normally happens or said when "Kumpadres or Kumadres" get into a bitter quarrel for some reasons or another. Meantime the child or god child suffers through the consequences of their elder's feud. What about "ipag-titirik kita ng kandila" or "nag-susunog ng kilay sa ilaw ng kandila".

June 03, 2007 1:29 AM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

I took this picture, Noypetes, right at the entrance of San Agustin Church in Intramuros one Sunday I went to visit it. There was a baptismal ceremony slated right after the final morning mass so I decided to stick around and watch.

Yes, I've heard of "nagsulian ng kandila," but never knew of anyone who got involved in such. However, I have a spinster aunt (only God knows what nth degree) who was very fond of threatening anyone who did her wrong or ignored her wishes with the phrase, "ipagtitirik kita ng kandila!" Of course, she would always mouth this phrase rather dramatically in the presence of other folks.

"Nagsusunog ng kilay sa ilaw ng kandila" has an English counterpart which refers to staying up all night to study or finish a project, right?

In looking at this photograph, Noypetes, I was reminded of an appalling trend not only here in Manila but in New York as well. That is, the true essence of being a godparent seems to have lost its true Christian meaning. Nowadays, it is common to even have a dozen godfathers and an equal amount of godmothers at a typical baptismal ceremony. Sadly, same with weddings.

I'm not a religious person, but I take such responsibility seriously.

June 03, 2007 7:20 AM  

Blogger Gita Asuncion said...

i noticed that there are two sets of candles... one tied in pink, and another set in blue. was it a christening for twins, maybe? a boy and a girl? just guessing...:-)

June 03, 2007 8:14 AM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

I was a basket of candles being sold by the church staff, Gita, for those who may have forgotten to bring their own :)

June 03, 2007 8:22 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I like the way the ribbons are tied around the candles; it makes it more beautiful.

[:

June 03, 2007 10:37 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi, Eric!

We got an invitation at a wedding one time - where there were 50 pairs of 'ninangs' and ninongs' - total of 100 sponsors! I bet some of those sponsors were not even personally known by the bride and groom.

Sometimes baptisms and weddings are used for 'business'. Hehehe.

"Nagsusunog ng kilay" is equivalent to "burning the midnight oil".

"Ipagtitirik kita ng apat na kandila" is synonymous to death for the person to which such is intended... Ugh!

June 03, 2007 3:52 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Hi Rhoda!

Oftentimes people agreed to be amongst a crowd of sponsors or godparents because to be selected as one is a measurement of one's social popularity. But it only likens being a sponsor to a wedding to being a sponsor to a business or sports enterprise when there is that many people involved.

That aunt who was fond of treathening people with "pang titirik ng kandila" was also fond of demanding that all of us kids would kiss her hand or "magmano" but she was always quick with unfolding her fan and hitting us on the head with it because we smelled of sweat or "amoy araw daw." Jeeez!

She was truly one wicked witch of Manila!

June 03, 2007 8:47 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Hi Kyels! Those ribbons were, of course, markers -- pink for the girls and blue for the boys :)

June 03, 2007 8:49 PM  

Blogger mgaputonimimi said...

napa smile ako.. madami palang "phrase about 'kanidila' "

sulian ng kandila
ipagtirik ng kandila
magsunog ng kila.. [gamit ang kandila?] hehehe!

anu pa kaya?

June 03, 2007 9:08 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

I think those are the only ones, Mimi! Tatlo lamang na yon.

But while I was thinking of other popular phrases, what came to mind was an incident in NYC.

A very popular and trendy store, Banana Republic was sued once by a customer because the wick of the candles they were selling (yes, Banana Republic also got into home accessory stuff) contained lead, which is detrimental to those with respiratory problems. It was big news then which forced Banana Republic to pull out all candles in their stores.

A few months later, while I was in Glorietta, I walked inside this wonderful candle shop. They were of incredible colors, scents and shapes. So, I started making a list of friends back in NYC I could send some of these candles to (since I was proud to show off our domestic products which are just as good if not better than those found in some NYC stores).

Anyway, halfway though making my selections, I suddenly remember this litigation lodged against Banana Republic. So, I asked the saleslady if the wicks of their candles contain lead. She said yes. When I told her that I had changed my mind because of this legal case, the saleslady got upset and she remarked how ridiculous the whole thing was.

I just shrugged my shoulders and scurried out of that store as fast as I could :)

June 03, 2007 9:41 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think there are more, Eric - "nauupos (meaning - natutunaw) na parang kandila"; "mala-kandilang mga daliri"...

Naku, Eric, don't ever do what you did in that candle store in 'tiangges'. It happened to me one time after I haggled over the price of an item with the 'tindera', When we already agreed to a certain price, I changed my mind and decided I did not want to buy it anymore. I got away as fast as I could, but oh, I could still hear her cussin' and fussin' even when I was already many feet away. Hahaha!

June 04, 2007 12:20 AM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

This is why I always check the wick first, Rhoda, to make sure it doesn't have that very thin lead wire. This can be very bad for children with asthma, too.

Oh yes, narinig ko na nga pala yong "mala-kandilang mga daliri."

June 04, 2007 7:28 AM  

Blogger Araceli said...

Lovely picture, the candles. But then, so are all the rest...

June 11, 2007 10:50 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Many thanks, Araceli :)

June 13, 2007 8:48 AM  

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Life in Manila as observed by a former New Yorker who with a laptop and camera has reinvented himself as a storyteller. Winner of the PHILIPPINE BLOG AWARDS: Best Photo Blog in 2007 and three Best Single Post awards in 2008.

 
 

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