Friday, September 05, 2008
THE NOW PASSABLE SIDEWALKS OF QUIAPO
A little more than a year ago, I featured a photo essay on these virtually unpassable sidewalks of Quiapo. Well, lo and behold! Much to my great surprise, the vendors that used to hog the major portion of these sidewalks along Quezon Boulevard are gone.
I couldn't believe it. It is no longer a hassle to walk to and from Quiapo Church. Enough said.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor!
Mayor Lim and Manila's Illegal Vendors
Sidewalk Vendor Clean-Up Operations
Barangay Meeting
I very much appreciate my articles and photos appearing on fellow bloggers' sites, popular broadsheets, and local broadcast news segments, but I would appreciate even more a request for permission first.
Thank you!
*
Labels: life in Manila, Street vendors
posted by Señor Enrique at 5:31 AM
| 20 comments
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
THE SNAKE OIL OF AVENIDA
Snake oil, most especially in the States, is commonly equated with fake miraculous medicines. It is also used as a metaphor to succinctly describe any aggressive marketing campaign that's fueled with insidious intent.
However, according to Wikipedia, snake oil originally came from China, where it is called shéyóu, and to date, remains popular as remedy for alleviating inflammation and pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis, and other joint pain.
Supposedly, fats and oils from snakes are higher in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) which is considered to have inflammation-reducing properties when rubbed on the painful area of the body. However, such claims were ridiculed by rival medicine salesmen from established pharmaceutical companies.
The Chinese laborers who came to America to help build its coast-to-coast railroad system introduced snake oil in the West. Today, it is still sold in traditional Chinese pharmacy stores and, as I've discovered one Saturday, along the Avenida Rizal as well. Hard to believe, indeed, although I've read about this somewhat infamous product a day or two before at Christina's World.Chris is a photojournalism student who chanced upon a snake oil merchant when she spontaneously decided to get off at the LRT station one day to explore and take some pictures of the Santa Cruz district of Manila.
I invite you all to read her entry to know more about this snake oil from Davao.
Labels: Local culture, Street vendors
posted by Señor Enrique at 8:59 AM
| 20 comments
Monday, July 30, 2007
THE AMULETS AND TALISMANS OF QUIAPO
We were introduced to Manang, a popular amulet and talisman vendor in Quiapo, by Carlos Celdran when we joined his Escolta and Quiapo walking tour some time ago.During my visits to Quipao, thereafter, whenever passing by the rows of street vendors on Evangelista Street near Plaza Miranda, almost always it is only Manang whom I notice to carry quite an impressive variety of these items believed by some locals to exude certain magical powers.
Now, although both amulets and talismans are locally referred to as anting-anting, they are not at all necessarily the same. According to the book, Quiapo: The Heart of Manila, edited by Dr. Fernando Nakpil-Zialcita, a talisman is either offensive or defensive; whereas, an amulet is always defensive and/or protective.
Moreover, the anting-anting is further grouped into two types: the positive Right Hand Path (Kanan) which is created by God's angels and saints, and 2) the Left Hand Path (Kaliwa), powered by demonic spirits and dark, elemental spirits. Why anyone would buy the latter kind is somewhat bewildering when it only attracts ill health and bad fortune to its owner.
Most buyers of these magical items are Filipino overseas workers who, on their return trip abroad, either give them as pasalubong (gifts) to friends and co-workers, or sell them to fellow Filipinos in their destinations. The most expensive amulet is the aluminum or brass figurines of the naked Santo Nino which cost 200 to 250 pesos each. The medal of Saint Benedict (or San Benito) is another very popular amulet but costs less. It is believed to have the power to ward off evil spirits and demons.
Here are ten of the most common amulets and talismans sold in Quiapo:
1. Medallions with cabbalistic engravings that prevent general to specific accidents;
2. Large Ivory medallions with the decapitated head of Saint Paul, which confer bravery in adverse circumstances;
3. Assorted brass medallions that protect against witchcraft;
4. Kambal Tuko, a figurine showing a couple in Siamese embrace that is meant for lovers or married couples, or for making one more attractive to the opposite sex;
5. Atsuwete (annatto-colored) hand, which is meant to attract good fortune in business;
6. Brass figurine of Santiago Apostol, (or Saint James the Apostle, often shown in combat while mounted on a steed), earlier used to acquire courage in battle, and today used to acquire courage in business;
7. Nazareno's face, to guide travelers;
8. Branch from a palaypay tree, to get lovers unsure of each other; finally hitched;
9. Green quartz colored egg, to obtain good luck in business;
10. Crystal quartz, for not very smart children.
Most of these items sold in Quiapo come from Cavite. A few come from as far away as Ilocos Norte and Baguio; some as near as Quezon City.
Supposedly, vendors did a brisk business of these magical wares during the '90s; however, with the start of the new millennium, business has slowed down. Perhaps, these vendors could use some extra help and should keep in their person an atsuwete, a brass figurine of Santiago Apostol, and a green quartz egg.
QUIAPO: HEART OF MANILA
Edited by Dr. Fernando Nakpil Zialcita
The Cultural Heritage Studies Program
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Ateneo de Manila University
Metropolitan Museum of Manila
Labels: Local culture, Street vendors
posted by Señor Enrique at 7:30 AM
| 24 comments
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
SOME MANILA STREET VENDORS
As wise men say, change is good, especially when buying from street vendors. Check out this fruit stand left unattended by a vendor who was desperately looking to get some change from other merchants in the vicinity (top photo).
Anyway, I took some pictures of street vendors as my initial attempt in street photography. Sidney was right! All one has to do is ask for people's permission first before shooting away like mad. I was happy that those I asked gladly consented; without so much as obliging me to buy anything beforehand.
Please click on the following images to enlarge for a better view:
Viral marketing: An entire family of street vendors. There’s grandma, mama, sonny, and grandpa. Papa was still home sleeping; dead tired from last night’s drinking binge.
The sampaguita garland vendor: She once aspired to conquer Tokyo by entertaining a flock of Japanese power brokers, but her extremely possessive husband refused to let her go. Even now when she’s working, he’d sneakily check up on her. But that’s not him at the background, though; he’s the one on the photo below near the rice cake ladies.
The rice cake, suman and kakanin vendors: According to these three women, they stopped bickering and joined forces upon realizing that underselling each other only hurt their profit margin. Nowadays, with collective price-fixing, they’re as happy as can be. Come to think of it, don’t they look like they’re about to break into a song?
The Indian Mango vendor: Even in street peddling, “it helps when you got the good looks,” so claims this Senor Romantico. Check out the woman in blue in such scandalous position; unable to wait a second longer to cop a feel of his mango.
The Davao grapefruit and Indian mango vendor: I asked her why she looked so gloomy. “Is it because of the impending rain?” I asked while trying to catch her eyes. “No,” she said as she half-peeled a grapefruit.
“Is it the hardship involved in your line of work such as fending off some street thugs hustling for protection money, or dodging the traffic cops out to weasel a couple of bucks off you for their merienda?” This time she motioned with her head to indicate another no yet, her chest heaved a deep sigh of longing.
“Is it because of our universe that's constantly expanding?” I persisted. “No! I’m just out of load…I cannot text my boyfriend in Dumaguete,” she exclaimed.
Labels: life in Manila, Street foods, Street vendors
posted by Señor Enrique at 6:38 AM
| 19 comments
