Sunday, March 16, 2008
THE PALM VENDORS OF QUIAPO
What these children sell signify the palm branches that the crowds waved as Jesus entered Jerusalem. And these young vendors' joyful mood derived from their play reflected the great time of celebration in the ministry of Jesus a week before he made his journey to the cross and resurrection.
For Christians, Palm Sunday ushers in the Holy Week which concludes on Easter Sunday. For these children, this Sunday is going to be a very busy day. Hundreds of churchgoers will certainly buy palms from them to be blessed by the parish priest before they are brought home. But until then, these kids managed to squeeze in some playtime in between their selling tasks in this Saturday afternoon right in front of Quiapo Church.
posted by Señor Enrique at 12:07 AM
12 Comments:
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Panaderos said... The way the country marks Holy Week is something I really miss. It's been more than 12 years since I've witnessed it. I miss seeing kids sell palms by the doors of churches. Those kids' smiles brought back a lot of memories for me. Thanks for the pics, Eric.
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Sidney said...
Great smiles...time is really passing by quickly... Holy Week ulit.
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nutart said...
These artistically woven plam leaves remind me of how the Balinese make theirs. Isn't it interesting---offerings din nila to the gods? Must be something deeply culturally interconnected in that!
These "palaspas" are also contra-lightning in the house. I recall my childhood friend's lola would always tell us that. Well, I think it works because their house never had a lightning strike them :-)...and they lived on a hill.-
Señor Enrique said...
My pleasure, Panaderos. I'm so glad I ran into these group of kids who were selling palms in front of the church last Saturday afternoons. I was afraid that no one would bring them out until Sunday.
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Señor Enrique said...
It's sometimes astonishing how fast time flies. It's Holy Week once again, Sidney, and then summer vacation for the kids. Before we know it, it's Christmastime once more :)
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Señor Enrique said...
Wow! And if the 'palaspas' works against lighting strikes, I'm sure it'll work on other things such as keeping evil spirits away, Bernadette.
Interesting how the Balinese offer woven palm leaves to the gods as well. But most of all, I'm impressed by our local folks who produce these palms so creatively for Palm Sunday.-
said... When I was a kid, I remember - there were no woven 'palaspas' sold in front of churches. Hindi pa uso noong araw.
What people did in our province was bring their own palm leaves (or any kind of leaves) to the church for blessing on Palm Sunday. There used to be an abundance of palm leaves then.
But I actually appreciate it that there are people who now weave and sell 'palaspas'. They are very creative and resourceful. They, somehow, make life easier for others. :)-
Señor Enrique said...
I've heard that there's such a great demand for these items on Palm Sundays here in the city, Rhoda, that a friend's neighbor and his kids would make and sell them on this time of the year, and would always make quite a handsome profit.
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Unknown said...
Love the photos, Eric. I saw people with lots of palaspas last Saturday afternoon at the vacant lot near the World Trade Center. Faith healers in the province use the ashes of burned palaspas as their healing powder. My great-grandmother placed the palaspas on the front door to ward off evil spirits daw.:D My older cousins teased our lola that evil spirits could enter through the window!:D
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Señor Enrique said...
And I wonder what your lola would say to your older cousins, Luna. I'm sure she had a smart retort ... hehehe!
Thanks!-
Ebb Tide said...
Pretty palm leaves scenes and photos. Very colorful and love the green hues. Something that I miss here at L.A. during Palm Sunday. Today, I think of palm leaves as decoration for luaus.
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Señor Enrique said...
Sometimes, Ebb Tide, I'm simply amazed by God's creations such as the palm tree. And how nature simply took care of distributing this tree in some parts of the world.
Check out the many uses one can make out of this tree. The PVO (pure virgin oil) that one can derive from it alone is simply impressive.
