Unholiness Around Holy Ground

Let’s take a look around Quiapo Church.

"Crowded, clamorous, and busy. Buzzing people moving around here and there, buyers arguing with vendors to get cheaper items; untidy little lads walking around bare-footed, selling their packs of cigarette sticks."

This is a usual scenario in the eyes of people living in the vicinity of Quiapo. And this district of Manila would never be complete without the huge church occupying its core. The Quiapo Cathedral, officially known as the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazareneis one of the most famous churches in the country. It serves as home to the renowned Black Nazarene.
During Fridays, thousands of devotees stream through the street of Hidalgo, wearing magenta shirts and holding handkerchiefs printed with the face of the Black Nazarene and head to the Quiapo church to attend the weekly novena in devotion to the Nazarene. Traditional Filipinos believe that the much venerated statue of Jesus Christ has miraculous attributes. Devotees even attempt to take hold of it and be blessed with its life changing wonders.
Quiapo is referred to as “old downtown.” Known for its cheap items. Ranging from electronics, bicycles, native handicrafts to photo-related items. Unfortunately, illegal transactions have been infecting what was once a flourishing trade in the area.
Despite of the church’s unparalleled fame among devout Catholics, Quiapo has been painstakingly cracked up as a crime haven. Religious Catholics inside the gigantic house of prayer kneel and wholeheartedly pray to the Almighty, while its extremities are vividly depicting an image of lingering black market for fly-by-night abortionists.
What a terrible irony, isn’t it?
A mass communication student of UP Diliman walked on Quiapo’s grounds and tried to interview an abortionist. Unluckily, three of them resisted. On the fourth try, she even attempted to bribe the woman. Still, she refused. The next time, having no choice, she acted to be three-months pregnant. She pretended to be interested with the products that the fat baby killer is offering. The student naturally inquired on how she can get rid of the sprouting life inside her tummy. The woman gladly entertained her and dictated all the possible solutions to that. But according to her, the most effective way is to use a drug called cytotec.
Cytotec or Misprostol is a drug that is used for the prevention of gastric ulcers. Licensed medical practitioners use this for early abortion, to treat missed miscarriage and to induce labor. It only costs P20 in the drugstore counter before it was banned. But here in Quiapo’s black market, it costs P70 to P150.
After knowing all these creepy, sinful stuff, the student decided to go away and told the abortionist that she changed her mind. The woman even thought that the lady was setting her up with the NBI. But the girl quickly denied it.
Before leaving, the student noticed that the abortionist was actually pregnant with her own flesh and blood. The curious lady asked her if her conscience bugs her. Or does her conscience even let her sleep soundly at night.

“Do you feel guilty?” the student asked. “Of course I do! Who wouldn’t?” she says.
“Everyday, I swallow my dignity and go here for my children.”

She panics for a moment, but the student handled the situation. She even asked how many children the woman has. She answered, “Four. This is my fifth.” Shockingly, the woman conveys that she, herself doesn’t believe in abortion! That’s really odd and ironic.
According to Pro-life Philippines, one out of four pregnant women chooses abortion than life. Apparently, the woman happens to be pro-life. It makes me feel totally confused.
The Quiapo church is a paradox: outside are parades of sinful infant-killers who prevent sweet, innocent creatures from the opportunity to live in this world. While inside the huge church, infertile women drop down on their knees to pray and ask for a miracle baby. Everyone likes it fast nowadays. Instant noodles, automated teller machines and the like. Everybody wants it quick, easy, and cheap. Even a quick fix for unwanted babies. Every detail that I have founded contradicts. It has made me think harder than usual. A church supposedly is a temple of the Almighty God, not a marketplace as stated in John 2:15-16. Verse 16 says, “To those who sold doves, he said. “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my father’s house into a market!” In fact, it is not just a buy-and-sell market. It is a league of sinners surrounding God’s temple. You can barely see the faithfulness and devotion that they tend to display around the Black Nazarene. The commitment which they call “panata” during the annual procession of the statue. It’s a little bit hard to understand.
We are Filipinos. And we are distinct for our intimate faith and religiosity. Now, is that really faith or godlessness? Religious or earthly? Maybe, it is sometimes called self-centeredness and wickedness. This time, let’s think harder.

A church is a holy sanctuary, not a folly mockery. It is a house of prayer, and not a den of robbers.

by Danielle Nakpil