43. 'TIQUES TRIPPING, part I

I knew this one day holiday was coming, so, as early as last week, I reserved May 1 as my LWL day (read: LiWaLiw, a code my friends in the office use when we want to do a bit of gallivanting, yes—even during office hours.) Heck, I need this break; I’ve been under tremendous stress lately, coping with work while dealing with sickness and death in the family.

What better way to recharge than to go antiquing, a hobby that I’ve put on hold for the last few months? I have not made the rounds of Manila shops lately, and so, on this day dedicated to workers, I decided to work the antique circuit and see what’s in stock (or what’s new, but then that would have been inappropriate).

Mind you, the intent of this trip was to de-stress, which, in my case, could be accomplished by feasting my eyes on objects of history, beauty and value (read: santos), nothing more. But of course, I am always noted for uttering those famous lost words. More often than not, after filling up my senses, I end up filling a bag with an antique purchase.

On this hot sweltering day, I took a cab and found myself in Manila’s antique enclave: the streets of Mabini, M.H. del Pilar, Padre Faura. It was just past 10 a.m. when I entered DEUS—it was open! Immediately, santos attack my senses and my heart palpitates..

 I was in luck. Noted director and owner Floy Quintos, an acquaintance, was around! He was rushing to Iloilo that day but still found time to show me interesting santos of all shapes and sizes. But the one that caught my eye was a seldom-seen antique Sta. Ines—our barrio patroness! Hmm, there was a sense of familiarity when I beheld this image. It’s chapel size, the body definitely old, the carving folksy—in fact, a tad too folksy for my taste.

  Next to it was a not-too-old, not-too-new ivory Del Rosario. Yours to bring home for PhP 200K! Any takers?

 On top a nearby altar table is this Raffy Lopez restored ivory Crucifixion scene in its original virina. Nice! Nice price too.

 So, okay, to the wooden santos then. This polychromed San Roque is a good piece. Heavy wood. Now if only it had a dog and angel…

 Floy also showed me an unusual miniscule all-ivory Nino sitting on a media luna (half moon) and dated 7-17-1959. A vintage piece, but still a rare representation of the Child Jesus. In my excitement, I forgot to take a photo. Sayang. I think, though, it will go to his private vault.

Next door to Floy is the shop of Nellie Enriquez, who sells more bagong luma (reproductions) now than genuine antique pieces. Nellie’s shop had always been here; I would go to her to buy new santo bases and for santo vestments repair. I found several items here that piqued my fancy: First, a complete 2 footer San Roque (albeit undressed), with a silver pukpok base, that unfortunately does not show in the picture.

 There's a repro San Sebastian, which also caught my eye:

 The glass escaparates yielded these small ivory Ninos, just around 3 inches long. One looked like a Nino Inocente for a Virgen Desamparados. The tag? PhP 4,500 each.

My heart skipped a beat when Nellie brought out a cardboard box where this well-carved head of a processional Veronica emerged! It was in great condition, encarna and glass tears intact, and well-carved. The only problem was that it was fairly new (dated 1982 incised at the nape, too recent for me!). The other bigger problem was the price (25K!—arrggh!, 5K more and I can have Nick Lugue carve a whole complete santo)..

I found out that this head was consigned by Nora Ignacio of SINAG TALA ANTIQUES, which explained why the price is so—impossible. I must go to Atsing Nora! But wait, BERNALES ANTIQUES nearby may have something worth seeing too. No santos, but I was shown these embroidered altar cloth pieces with Agnus Dei and floral motifs that offer a lot of possibilities.

The asking price of PhP70K was just too much for these frayed pieces that are threatening to disintegrate at a touch. Oh, well. Perhaps, it's really time to go to Atsing Nora, it's almost lunchtime anyway.

I’ve known Atsing Nora for over 20 years, back when I was a fresh graduate in my first job. She was the first to offer installment payments on santos I wanted to buy, and some of my initial pieces came from her shop.

But upon reaching Casa Tesoro, her shop was nowhere to be found! In fact, all the other antique shops housed in Casa Tesoro are gone!

(1 May 2007)