Quiapo

Once upon a time, when I was sick, really sick, my grandmother dedicated me to the Black Nazarene of Quiapo. She promised that, one day, I myself would make the pilgrimages she used to make every Friday. It took more than 30 years for that particular vow to finally be taken seriously - and not just because God had saved my life and I was thankful for it. It's a much longer story than that. Then again, come to think of it, I go to Quiapo precisely because God has saved my life, and I will be ever grateful for it...and then some.

I go on Tuesdays now, because my usual Wednesday Quiapo mornings are presently occupied by the classes I teach (and will finally stop teaching on Friday, thank goodness). My Mom likes to tag along, but she tends to always be in a hurry to get back to work so that's not really the perfect set-up. AG's gone with me a few times, as well as some friends on occasion, but for the most part, I make the trip alone. I like the solitude sometimes, because I have more time to myself for prayer, for shopping, for exploration without worrying about another person's preferences, for a change. I like having company, for the most part, but there are those days when I just need to go on a date with the Lord (not just a prayer date, but a date date!).

I even have my "own" parking space (I once attempted to FX it, but I had too many stopovers to make en route and back). For the grand sum of 40 pesos, I can park my beloved chariot safe and soundly and leave it in the care of the parking attendant of - how ironic - the Ang Dating Daan building. And then Mass at the Basilica at 12:15 noon. More often than not, I make it on time - if not, I spend the hour before the Blessed Sacrament instead. God, indeed, is everywhere, and His Real Presence may be adored at the nearest Church, but the element of sacrifice is what finds me at this place.

If my diet allows (or if I'm in the mood to cheat), lunch is a short walk away at the dingy "air-cooled" Ma Mon Luk. You have to understand my love affair with this place: this was the McDonald's of my childhood. I adored this restaurant so much that when I was knee-high, I swore they would cater my wedding reception (hmmm...still not a bad idea). No one, but no one, makes mami and siopao that can compare with theirs. You know right away if a customer is an old regular - they know exactly what they want (in my case, regular mami, regular siopao - the specials are much too big for my appetite) without having to look at any menu. And I appreciate the fact that I usually dine alone (with only an envious Amats, a fellow Quiapo/Ma Mon Luk groupie, to text as I slurp away) because of my semi-disgusting habit of adulterating my mami with half a bottle of siopao sauce (bakit ba!). Someone I know once used Ma Mon Luk as a litmus test for his dates - he would take them there, and if they so much as cringed at the peculiar aroma pervading the place (it smells suspiciously of simmering week-old gym socks), they were "elimidated." I admire his methods; I should probably adopt them.

Every so often, I drop by the Salonga store on Raon to stock up on "number 4" nylon strings for Ney's guitar, which has been put to very good use at He Cares. Three for P100, where else can you get a better deal? The only trick is trying to walk the streets of P. Paterno and Raon with horse blinders - to avoid the pirated video sleaze that seems to be on sale on every square inch of the road. And then back towards Carriedo for my weekly fix of earrings - at 10 to 30 pesos a pop, who can resist? But I'm giving away too many of my shopping secrets, enough of that for now...

One of my favorite things to do when Mom's not around is cross over to the Muslim side of Quiapo - Hortaleza for henna and other kikay stuff not just for kikay women, and DVDVDVDVDVD central. This Tuesday, they were selling certain titles at three for P100. But I was more than happy to walk away with half a dozen foreign art films - Almodovar, Hirschbiegel, Mandoki, etc., you really have to dig deep and keep an eye out for these treasures - for the exorbitant amount of P50 each. If that doesn't put a smile on your face, I don't know what would (unless you're from the Videogram Regulatory Board...)

Quiapo, in all its chaotic color, always makes me feel better. The visit to the Church is always the main highlight, but I thank God for the myriad sidetrips every Tuesday has to offer. I was going to attempt the walk towards Binondo - couldn't be that far, really - but I decided against it and chariot'ed away instead (the smells and sounds of Chinatown are another story for another blog). Perhaps next time. Because when it comes to Quiapo, there will always be a next time.