October 10, 2010
Amidst the bustle
A street-side shrine in Binondo, Manila's Chinatown. I can't figure out what religion it serves though, since it has both incense sticks and a crucifix, and the sign on the right was announcing a Mass. Are incense sticks used instead of candles in Chinese Catholic churches? If anyone knows, I'd appreciate a little cultural lesson.
How impressive a sight ! this being on a street.
ReplyDeleteMay you all have a safe road ahead and a good Sunday as well.
daily athens
This is a very interesting scene. I'm sorry that I can't help you with the answer to your question.
ReplyDeleteReally like the fishes on top.
ReplyDeleteI just posted the catholic Filipino church in my borough
As I know, Christians do not use joss sticks but only candles during prayers. I have always thought that joss sticks are for Taoists, Hindus and Buddhists. Those in the picture looks like joss sticks on an urn. This is only my humble opinion.
ReplyDeleteTypically chinese style in our China Town here, very impressive.
ReplyDeleteMy Bangkok Through My Eyes
Can't help, I'm afraid. Perhaps it's a pick 'n mix, hedge your bets amalgam of several religions.
ReplyDeleteHilda, I don't know anything about the incense vs. candles but I can't believe the fish running all across the top. Now that's terribly interesting. What does THAT mean??
ReplyDeleteSo interesting, intriguing.
ReplyDeleteGosh, I hope the churches never switch to incense sticks. I love to see and hear incense swinging.
I'm curious as well.Anyway I like the candles, I'm always praying with the lights around, I mean that I like to light candles when I'm praying in the churches.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice week,
Léia
By the way tomorrow ( October 12) it's a holiday Saint day in Brazil for Our Lady of Aparecida, the patron saint of Brazil.
Oh, this is so Chinese... cover all bases! I have a friend who was very interested to learn more about Christianity and went to church religiously for several years... until the pastor told her she'd have to rid her home of all her ancestor worship references; she never went back, but still prays to Jesus. And why not? :-D
ReplyDeleteNice blog you have here, and what a wonderful coincidence that we live in the very same neighborhood!
ReplyDeleteThis is actually a Catholic shrine within Binondo/Chinatown, called Santo Cristo de Longos. There's a background story here (it involves miracle), hence the shrine, but I recommend you take Ivan Man Dy's food tour of Binondo as he explains it better and in a more entertaining manner :)
This is definitely a good representation of the fusion of the many cultural influences in the Philippines - Spanish, Filipino, Chinese. It's a Catholic shrine that also lets the Chinese residents burn incense sticks. Catholicism has "acculturated" here, so to speak, in order to entice more Chinese to practice Catholicism :-)