Quiapo is…

… the place to be.

It is the place to be to buy gifts this Yuletide Season. If you’re thinking of good stuff to give to your loved ones and friends, I believe that Quiapo is one of the best places to visit. For friends who enjoy kikay stuff, you can buy fresh water pearls, Swarovsky crystals, other type of crystals, beads, and other fashion accessories at a very reasonable price in Villalobos St (also along the street going to the LRT station).

On the other hand, if you enjoy creating personalized gifts (like me) for the season, you can visit the handicrafts market in Quiapo (sa Ilalaim). There you can find loads of items that you can use for creating personalized gifts. You can find materials that you can improvise as scrapbook stuff.

Aside from that, there are also good buys in Quiapo like bags, watches, and home displays (also along Villalobos St.).

It is also the place to be if you're into photography. Photography professionals and enthusiasts consider Hidalgo St. (if I’m not mistaken) in Quiapo as heaven. All the stuff they need for photography (cameras, lenses, printing, etc.) could be found there. And the good thing, photography materials are sold at a cheaper price.

… the most ironic place ever.

The place is known for its Church. Devotees of the Black Nazarene would visit the church on Fridays for their usual novena and mass. Sometime in January, around million of devotees gather in Quaipo to show their faith and devotion to the Black Nazarene. Ironically, Quiapo also exudes atrocious venture.

I remember one time we went to Quiapo, one of the vendors outside the church approached my friend. She was asking if we were looking for a certain medicine used for abortion (I forgot the name of the drug but I remember it was featured in Imbestigador). I wonder how they are able to transact such business just some inches away from a supposed holy place.

I’ve been thinking what the Church is doing about the atrocities in its community. While the Church abhors and considers abortion as an immoral venture, yet transaction for abortion happens just a few inches away from it.

That's just one of the apparent ironies in Quiapo.

Ironies in Quiapo:

• Church values life and Quiapo is known for abortion transactions
• Church teaches us not to believe in fortune-tellers and there are lots of fortune tellers in Quiapo
• Church teaches us to pray but there are people who make a living out of praying. They are paid by those people who believe they are not capable of praying. This thing happens inside Quiapo Church.

I don’t know how to believe the Church. I mean, look at Quaipo. The atrocities are just a few inches away from the church but it seems that “evil deeds” (evil for this matter means actions against human life & against church’s teachings) still triumph in the area. I guess it’s something that the officials of Quaipo Church should be worried about. It’s not only the preaching that matters.