Rough Groove

Two exciting book finds on Philippine colonial churches and art

Two exciting finds, one in Powerbooks Greenbelt and the other at the Ayala Museum. A must read for enthusiasts of colonial church architecture and history that is both awe inspiring and makes one proud but at the same time alarm to the various state of neglect of these structures.

Fortress of Empire - Rene Javellana
The country’s colonial fortress structures are documented in this beautiful book. Ancient ones still standing, preserved, or in different state of decay and ruin and those that were supposed to be standing but lost forever due to natural and manmade calamities. Its a rich resource for understanding the somewhat violent past, the Moro raids for slaves, how the communities under the Spanish colonial government defended themselves that most often, is led by a lone Spaniard in the person of the parish priest and in the process, came up with noble structures that stand proud like those in the various forts (Santiago in Intramuros and San Pedro in Cebu), the different watchtowers, though some are crumbling that stretch from the coastlines of Ilocos, the Visayas (to cite, the ingenious alarm system developed by Fr. Bermejo of Boljoon that snakes down the southern coastline of the province).

Simbahan: Church Art in Colonial Philippines 1565 - 1898 - Regalado Trota Jose
The structure, the priests’ vestments, altar pieces, convents and history richly detailed in this fine and affordable book. Though the photos are in black and white compared to the colored ones above, its very informative. It makes me want to document more the existing churches before they are lost forever due to natural or man-made calamities.

Series 23: Simbahan

Simbahan. I’ve always been fascinated with the catholic churches of the country. Legacies to its colonial past standing proud despite the ravages of time and the so called modernizations inflicted by man and unappreciating priests and clergy. Except for the Antipolo Church (and perhaps that of Puerto Princesa in Palawan and also that of Talaga, Argao which is a mid 20th century edifice) which is a modern structure erected in place of the original, these churches, from as far as Ilocos to Quezon, Bicol and Cebu are testament to the rich cultural and architectural heritage that can be proudly claimed as truly and uniquely Filipino.

This series of Philippine churches at binary silver will be the start of my postings of these grand structures as I continue to document the remaining colonial churches nationwide that are worth saving.

My Flickr Top 20 faved photos for 2005

My entry for the Top 20 Favorites for 2005 as chosen by the Flickr world in Flickr.

You can also veiw my 2005 Top 20 Faved set.

Starbucks Coffee 2006 planner

For coffee lovers, especially those who frequent Starbucks, Christmas time is one of the awaited months since the coffeeshop is featuring again their Red Cups which translates to stickers and when completed the coming year’s diary or planner done beautifully and is artistic.

Well, I had mine last month after collecting 21 stickers (spending more than P2,000, about $36 - in order to complete it) mostly on frappuccino and a few hot coffee.

Front and back of the Starbucks Coffee 2006 Planner

Some pages inside the planner.

Well, not only that you’re enriching Starbucks, you’re also donating a small proceed to charity.

Laguna churches trip

I’ve always wanted to visit the famed old churches of Laguna but never made it due to work or other reasons even if its just a few hours from my place. But last Friday, a holiday, feeling itchy for a photoshoot, I woke up early at around 0415H, took a shower, prepared my things, ate breakfast and went immediately to the bus terminal in LRT-Taft along Buendia. Took a bus bound for Lucena and embarked at San Pablo City in Laguna to start a four churches trip.

San Pablo City. Haven’t been back to the city’s center in years. The last time I was in this place was when I was still in college. Lately, I just pass the highway at the periphery when traveling to Quezon. Nothing much have changed except for the obiquitous Jollibee fastfood outlets.

Nagcarlan. I’ve been reading about the old catacombs, the only one in the country, that can be found in this municipality. While I’ve passed this place before, I have not explored and seen close the church and the cemetery. Well, both are impressive!

Liliw. I was supposed to go to Majayjay after Nagcarlan but since the jeepneys I’ve rode in going to Nagcarlan also go to this municipality, I instead went there to look at the church. While it has been remodeled, its charm and uniqueness is still intact.

Magdalena. From Liliw, I would have proceeded already to Sta. Cruz to catch a bus for Makati but coming from the cemetery, I saw a sign for Magdalena. Why not? Off I went and visited the church.

Doing a shoot in the morning and at this month, is not too good as the churches I’ve visited were facing west in the direction of Laguna Lake. This coupled with overcast skies. I really have to reschedule a trip and this time, in the afternoon to have good lighting and should be with clear skies.

Nagcarlan, better known by Filipino televiewers as the church where a local TV station’s fantasy miniseries, Ang Kampanerang Kuba (literally, the lady hunchback bell ringer - a take on the character Quasimodo with a twist - a very big twist) was filmed.

I was quiet disappointed to see that a canopy was obstructing the facade of the church which was used to shelter people probably from the rain during the misa de gallo. Another trip should be scheduled here to better get a good picture of the church.

Outside the church grounds, I was just amazed at the number of shops lining the streets with almost all of them selling shoes, slippers and sandals. These might be there main product but the competition is just too much!

Magdalena church is equally impressive but I was not able to enter as it was locked during that time.

As for San Pablo Church, it was the only religious structure out of the four that I’ve visited to have a media naranja (literally, half orange in Spanish), a dome above the alter. The inside has already been remodelled and the facade has been painted. The sides still show the original brickwork though.

*I’ll be covering each church in more detail once I’ve returned and took more photos.