Collection of Catholic Religious Chalkware in Marinduque

During this pandemic and home quarantine, people are stuck in their homes have time  to reflect and pray. An FB friend and also a member of the religious group send some photos and recounted the tales of their cherish Catholic religious statues made from chalkware or eskayola/ escayola.

Marian statues and religious chalkware ( photo courtesy of Mr. Arwin Jones Epa)

Collection of Catholic Religious Chalkware

Mr. Arwin Jones Epa’s family who hails from Boac, Marinduque shared in his FB post on their collection of Catholic religious chalkware.

Most of their Catholic religious statues were handed down from his grandmother and parents. His father was Social Studies ” Araling Panlipunan” teacher and serves as the local town’s historian recounted that most of the chalkware were bought from peddlers from Pampanga, purchased from Catholic Trade in Tayuman, Manila and elsewhere.

Our Lady of Caysasay made from eskayola – is one of the cherished religious statues by the family

There were at least 50 to 60 Catholic religious chalkware, among the oldest was Our Lady of Caysasay made in 1954, Christ the King purchased from Catholic Trade in 1955.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Among the cherish collection is the Our Lady of Perpetual Help inside a wooden container ” Urna“.

He hopes to preserve the religious chalkware statues and sharing some his their family heirloom collection.

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Search for Catholic Religious Items within Tayuman Street in Manila

Tayuman street and parts of Oroquieta street are located within Santa Cruz district in Manila. This earn the moniker as ” Religious Hub”  for Catholic religious items ranging from from rosaries, bible, estampitas, novena booklet, religious statues . This is a short walk from LRT line 1 Tayuman station ( just a few meters away).

For several decades, These streets near Espiritu Santo Parish Church are the best places to buy cheap Catholic religious statues. There are about a dozen religious stores which sells different kinds of religious items.

 

SVD Catholic Trade

The most popular religious store is SVD Catholic Trade which is just along the intersection of Tayuman and Oroquieta street. The building is a circa 1960’s style with brise-soleil windows . Local parishes would buy communion host ( sacramental bread), sacramental wines , priest vestments among other items. Department of Tourism had accredited this religious store.

Santo Niño made from cast fiber resin with wooden base

I accompanied my friend few days ago who have a personal devotion to Santo Niño ( maybe a Santo Niño collector) and after a brief stop in a religious store.  He was able to buy a small santo niño for a discount. Popular religious statues includes child jesus, virgin mary, holy family and black nazarene.

The cheapest religious statues which is made from fiber resin and maybe imported ones from China cost about Php 40 each about 4 to 6 inches. According to the vendor, They can give us Php 35 each if we will buy at least 6 different items.

Religious trade would involve ecclesiastical artists, carvers, artisans, encarnadors, painters, lateros, bordadors, costureras, cultural activists, devotees and collectors.

metal craft works -posted by Our Mother of Perpetual Help Religious Store FB page

I was also amazed that in some instances, religious dress may cost several thousands of pesos and may be worth more than the wooden statues, not to mention the aureole, crown, septer and accessories. They are normally handled down from one generation to another.

religious statues made from cast fiber resin

Religious statues made from cast fiber resin and plastics are the cheapest priced item . They are priced depending on the material, craftsmanship, details and size. The bigger the statues. The more expensive it becomes.  Religious statues made from fiber resin and plastics are more preferred by the general public, since they are cheap , lightweight and easy to transport.

1 to 2 feet religious statues like Saint Peter and Saint Paul only cost between Php 1,200 to Php 1,700 ( made of resin fiber).

The wooden religious statues cost between Php 2,000 to Php 2,500 for a small one about 12 to 14 inches. Usually they are made from batikuling , santol, langka or other softwood tree varieties.

Batikuling wood or scientifically known as Litsea reticulata, Litsea perottetii  or Litsea leytensis seems to be the most preferred wood material for religious statues. For religious ( santo) collector . They would prefer wood, which could last for generations.

Source:http://www.woodworkerssource.com/

 There are also some re-sellers of these items . Some of the stores have customization services for those who do not like the ready-made religious statues. I think they ordered those statues from Pampanga or Laguna provinces. Old folks would recount that several decades ago, that there were good santo carvers ( santoreros)  from Santa Cruz, Quiapo and even in Tondo districts.

One of my friend who would roam around different religious stores within Manila would dispute that there are some places which would sell cheaper santos compared to Tayuman area. Since their rents have risen within the district. Some of the buyers would prefer the ” suki” patron system.  They would built a long lasting relationship between buyers and sellers.

There are some religious stores which used to sell religious statues with carved ivory head and hands. During our brief stop over, We have not seen santos with ivory heads and hands displayed at their stalls. Maybe some of them stopped or went into underground trading.

We were able to get some contacts and as i have posted, my friend bought some Santo Niño statues for a little discount and a couple of religious statues made from fiber resin. One will be donated to a local chapel somewhere in Caloocan.

A religious store was having a mid-year sale and we were quite lucky to have bought 1 religious statue. Overall, His total bills reached around Php 10,000 and took a side trip eating at a local eatery ( carinderia ) near SM San Lazaro.

I have learned a lot by joining my friend in his short search of religious statues within Tayuman and Oroquieta streets.

Here is a short list of the religious stores within Tayuman and Oroquieta street.

Catholic Trade ( Manila ) Inc. 

Address: 1916 Oroquieta street, Santa Cruz, Manila, Philippines, P.O. Box 2036

Telephone : (02) 711-3630/ 741-4868 , 711-1320, 711-1321, (02)369-98-93

Fax: (02) 711-5410

Website: http://www.catholictrade.com.ph/

Operation : Monday to Saturday : 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Perpetual Help 

Address: 1853 Oroquieta Street , Santa Cruz, Manila

Items: Makers of Quality Statues, Fiber Glass, Special Resin and Cement, Specialized In: Embroidered Dresses, Crown, Abaca Hair and Accessories

Made to Order, Repair and Repaint

Contact Persons : Denmarc and Imee Cadorna – 0939-2502222/906-4762222

Telephone : (02) 423-2507

New Angels and Saints, Inc- House of Religious Articles and Candles

Address: 1858 Oroquieta street corner Tayuman , Santa Cruz, Manila

Telephone: (02) 741-4310

Holy Family Religious Store

Address : 1656 Tayuman St Santa Cruz Manila, 341 Zone 34, Manila

Telephone: (02) 493 6852

Our Mother of Perpetual Help Religious Store

Address: 1660 Tayuman Street , Santa Cruz , Manila

Contact: 313 6074/ 09184866986/ 09194539162

 

Visit to Clarence Bakeshop in Tayuman , Tondo

Clarence Bakeshop is one of the iconic bakeshop that is located along Tayuman street , Tondo , Manila.

Clarence Bakeshop

The bakeshop had been in operation for 27 years and specializes on ube halaya cake, cassava cake , pinipig , leche flan cake, yema , ensaymada, cookies and atsara ( pickled papaya and vegetables)

We loved the pinipig , cassava cake and egg pie which are sold for Php 11.00 each.

Clarence leche flan and ube halaya

shelf life is not that long , one must consume the leche flan or ube halaya cake within 1 day .

The bakeshop is located on ground floor in an old ancestral house near LRT Tayuman station and Immaculate Conception Church

cookies are among the items sold at the bakeshop

Address : CLARENCE BAKESHOP 860 TAYUMAN STREET Barangay 54, Zone 004, TONDO, MANILA

Operation : Everyday

TELEPHONE NUMBER 251-20-73

Note : Prices quoted are subject to change without prior notice 

A Quick Food Trip at Lola Seseng : Lutong Kapampangan

A quick food trip was organized by the team , while we are covering the Missionaries of Charity event.

Out team arrived a little early at the site and we decided to eat a morning breakfast at the restaurant a few meters away.

The restaurant was formerly called Kainan Kay Tita Tess but was renamed Lola Seseng. The restaurant specialties includes kakanins and dishes from Pampanga province. The family hails from Minalin town.

The restaurant is about 20 years -old and that people within Tayuman , Tondo, Santa Cruz and nearby areas would come and eat .

It had a quaint rustic ambiance with some semi-vintage decor items . The restaurant also offers buro and other famous Kapampangan dishes.

ukelele hung on the wall of the restaurant serves as a decor and those items are also for sale.

Mr. Ramon Avorque -Vice President of Manila Times

menu and prices : palabok Php 35, fresh lumpia Php 35 and fried ubod Php 15

The quaint restaurant had about 40 to 50 sitting capacity, offering home cooked meals, party foods , packed meals and catering services.

menu board

lumpiang sariwa

different kinds of viands

fried rice and longganisa

I  bought 1 order fried rice and 1 longganisa worth Php 45 .00 

Lola Seseng

The group also got an opportunity to talk with Lola Seseng. She is the culinary icon and manages the restaurant.

There is also an active Lola Seseng Fb Page

Address: 842 Tayuman Street, Tondo , Manila 

Operation Hours: 7:00 am to 9:00 pm 

Contact Person : Ms. Maricel Maniego

Contact : 252-8850 or 255-0817

Advocacy Behind the Missionaries of Charity : Home of Joy for the Sick Children

Missionaries of Charity Home of Joy for the Sick Children is located along 1030 Tayuman street , Tondo , Manila.

Missionaries of Charity Home of Joy for the Sick Children

This was established as a special place which caters to special children, those with down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy , hydrocephalus, children with special needs and even establishing a feeding program to indigent community and homeless that are living within Tondo and surrounding areas.

This is just in front of Manila Cathedral Parochial School or Immaculate Concepcion School and just one ride away from Tayuman LRT station – One can walk or take a jeepney ride from Tayuman with Pritil / Tondo signage for just Php 8.00 minimum fare. There is another compound nearby at the back of the Immaculate Conception Church .

Manila Cathedral Parochial School and Immaculate Concepcion Church

They have a daily feeding schedule for the less fortunate, unfortunately – Due to photography restriction, we were not allowed to take photos except a few snap shots . ( This is to protect the identities of the children and those in the feeding program )

They told us that the children are lucky during Christmas season (charity season) because there are many visitors and donations.  They said that they have less stocks during the lean charity season.

This is not my first time coming to this institution, But what we experience is worth writing, I am also encouraging people who wanted to have a more meaningful birthdays or kind hearted people to donate . In our own personal capacity, we would collect clothes and buy the daily essentials from diapers, biscuits, baby’s dress , toys  and organize some donation drive during the lean season .

Visiting Hours 

Lean season normally falls after Christmas season from February to mid-August, in which there are few individuals , corporate or institutions would give donations to their causes.

One can visit daily from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM except Thursdays

We were met by some sister , volunteers and members of the congregation.  They gave us  prayer leaflets , estampitas of Saint Teresa and gave us a short information and guidelines.

When you visit them,  (Sisters of Charity) will personally allow the people to be with the sick children.  It was really an eye opener for all of us to personally experienced how it is to be with them.

Saint Teresa of Calcutta

There were about 75 children with several volunteers or helpers . There are also some homeless people living within the compound. There is also another compound located nearby .

We also saw Brother Peter Francis who is doing his volunteer works, Brother Peter Francis is a French brother from the order of Saint John.

photos of Saint Teresa of Calcutta

When then Mother Teresa of Calcutta was still alive, She visited this place several times – One nun recounted that she personally saw her in 1977, 1978, 1984  and in 1995.

There is also a small chapel, where one can take time praying. Just leave your shoes at the entrance.

Mr. Kaizer Chua is a Filipino-Chinese businessman , philanthropist together with his wife and some friends co-celebrated with some of the children . He wanted to have a more meaningful birthday celebration. His group also donated some medicines and  daily essentials like vitamins and baby diapers.

His group is planning to have at least a weekly donation drive to different parts of the country like Isabela and Cagayan region , where their family resides.

The project have donated more than 10,000 pairs of slippers and school supplies to indigent and needy children in the provinces.

Since, most of the nuns and helpers does not use cellphones and telephone line, it would be wise to personally visit them.

A well-known Fil-Chinese bakery also donates pan de sal and pastries to the institution everyday .

We also learned that some schools like Xavier High School, San Juan would conduct regular outreach projects with the institution.

Here are some of the guidelines posted

• Taking photos is only allowed at the grounds. Strictly no taking of photos and videos at the ward particularly on the sick children.
• The institution follow an early schedule starting with an early breakfast, lunch at 10:00 AM, snack at 2:00 PM, dinner before 5:00 PM and lights off at 7:00 PM. This schedule gives ample time for the children to rest early and to save electricity. One must also talk very softly as to avoid disturbing the sick children.
•  The institution takes care of around 75 sick children and helpers attending to the sick children ( During our visit)
• The institution also take care of sick but not abandoned children from very poor families who bring their sick children to the nuns. The nuns and helpers take care of them and provide them food and medicines. Parents can have weekly visits and take their kids back home once cured.
• Coordination is a must to those who wanted to donate items to the institution and the institution observe a strict visitation policy.

Address: 1030 Tayuman street , Tondo , Manila 

Contact :0930 123 6398

There is an informal FB group