I wanted to go to Quiapo in Manila last Sunday prior to the celebration of the Feast of Black Nazarene, but my husband didn’t want me to. Malayo daw.
So last monday, January 6, 2014, I left the office at 3 pm and embarked on my journey to Quiapo. I was dressed for the trip- no make up, no earrings, no watch, no wallet, dirty old looking bag, 15 year old white cotton blouse, 5 year old pair of a little kupas pants. I couldn’t look like pulubi naman kasi I would still swing by the office. Baka naman hindi ako papasukin ng gwardya.
So here I was, excited to reach Quiapo, in gusgusin look.
Nice, no traffic congestion.
Trip down memory lane
Eto pala ang PWU
Hindi ko matandaan kung nung mag boyfriend kami ni Edmund eh nakarating kami dito sa Rizal Park para mag-necking. Tila hindi. But we’ve brought Oyen here twice on a sunday morning when she was still little.
This is a beautiful building. Sayang, ito ang mukhang gusgusin na.
Eto’ng Plaza Fair, tila hindi na nag-expand.
Someone lives here?
This was the first Shoe Mart department store. This was where I did my annual Christmas shopping when I was still a student. With one hundred pesos, I would be able to buy 4 gifts– P25 pesos each, gift wrapped, with ribbon and gift card. Ngayon, gift wrapper pa lang yung P25.
Mas mura siguro dito. Mahirap pumunta, walang parking.
I haven’t been in this area for maybe 35 years. Meron ng hotel across SM.
I want to visit the Quiapo church kaya we’re making siksik in this congested district.
Parang nung araw hindi pa ganito kagulo dito. Ngayon, parang palengke every where.
My driver miscalculated where the Quaipo church was, he asked me to get off two blocks away, I didn’t want to kasi ang daming tao, dikit dikit yung ulo eh parang nailang ako.
Kasi pagbaba ko pa lang, baka susundan na ako ng holdaper. I was paranoid.
Napalayo sya ng ikot, we ended up on the other side of the boulevard. Hindi na kami maka balik, we would go all the way to Recto and make a U-turn, kaya umuwi na lang kami.
I’ll just go back next week when it’s not so crowded.
Hi Annie,
wow!! it’s so nice to see Quiapo again!
Many moons ago ….I was born on January 9, yes! fiesta ng Black Nazarene. I was named after the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene. ( My father gave me this name – Maria Basilisa, nasa calendar raw noon kopong-kopong pa! haha!)
Since my college days, I would always go to Quiapo church on Jan. 8th to
attend the first mass. Then would visit stores and restaurants.
Here are some of my favorites in Quiapo:
1) Master Hopia Bakery – I would buy mainit-init pa na monggo hopia, for me it’s the best! You will love it! Yun nga lang, paliit na sila ng paliit. (When I’m on vacation sa Phil. I would buy in boxes pag pabalik na ako abroad. Panic buying! haha! Freeze it here sa U.S.)
2) Excellente Ham – masarap! I buy a small whole or yun “tastas” na cut.
3) Killion Merchandising – for baking supplies.
4) New Sin Kian Heng – big selection of kitchen supplies, (my mother’s favorite store)
5) Nuts Trading – all kinds of nuts, flavored shakes, black sago etc.
6) New Citizen Dental Supplies – dental materials and more ( college days)
Then, maglalakad ako sa may Carriedo, all the way to Escolta and Santa Cruz papunta sa Ongpin to buy some Chinese meds, Jap-Stick, ( for headache) then kakain sa;
– Masuki Mami Restaurant or
– Hap Chan Tea House
– or lately sa President Grand Palace Restaurant.
Yes, one whole day and parang field trip na! haha!
Whenever I’m on vacation sa Phil. and will go to Our Lady of Manaoag Shrine, magpapaluto ng Chicken lugaw in 2-3 big styrofoam container (kagaya sa ice candy) and pandesal at idadaan sa Quiapo church for their feeding. (I’m from Cavite)
Quiapo is almost a part of me…..good memories.
By the way, dyan sa bandang SM all the way to Excellente kami parking. May mga attendants (or tambay sila)
Wow! ang baha ng comment ko! Thanks Annie! 😉