Rough Groove

Quiapo Church

Below is one of the production notes from the website of the film “Santa Santita” by Laurice Guillen:

Under “About Quiapo”

In the Quiapo district of Manila stands the church of the Black Nazarene - named for the 7-foot statue of a black-skinned Christ that resides in it. Reaching the Philippines in 1606 as a gift from Mexico to the Recollect Priests, the image of the Black Nazarene has gained the adoration of devotees because of its alleged powers to grant wishes and heal illnesses.

So on every 9th of January, the image’s feast day, devotees flock in the millions to Quiapo, braving the heat and each other, limbs outstretched in vain to try and touch the image - all to be healed and have their wishes granted.

And while millions flock to the Black Nazarene, we find all around the grounds of the church the various forms Filipinos’ faith take the shape of - herbal concoctions to cure all ailments, charms and amulets for a variety of uses, and even human-shaped, multi-colored candles for all occasions.

But the most distinct of these practices is found in the dark corners inside the Black Nazarene church, known as the haggadical - old women sitting in bagnios, making a living as prayer intercessors in exchange for “donations”, preferably monetary.

These practices - herbal concoctions, haggadical and all - though not acknowledged by the Catholic church but nonetheless allowed to persist, have been thriving for the past 50 years, proving once more that for Filipinos, faith DOES come in various forms.