The Foodinista

I followed the life of a man named Niño, who have lived inside Manila North Cemetery for years already. He lives in Sta. Cruz Manila and has spent his life living in the city with his family because of few opportunities available in their province. He lived in the niche of his boss' late parents who owns the tomb and works as a caretaker for them. There are a lot of people who lives inside the cemetery which I thought shouldn't surprise me, but it did. Most of the people who came from the different provinces of the Philippines and moved in the city cannot afford to pay the high rental fees and can't afford to buy a house so they had to resort in living somewhere - the cemetery.

At first, I couldn't believe that it is possible but then I've realized it's already becoming a norm in the country because of the immense poverty in the Philippines and growth of population in the metro.


There were kids roaming around the area and playing. I have always looked at the cemetery as a place of grief and fright. I believe in spirits and ghost that's why one of my concerns if the kids living here aren't actually afraid of them? I'm not sure if i'm just too paranoid or these people don't even think about these facts anymore cause what's more important is for them to be able to have a place to stay.


Nino is in a family of 4. He lives with his wife and two kids, a boy and a girl.
They don't have electricity during evenings but use the available sun light during the mornings and maximize it to dry their clothes.
As you can see in the photo above they improvise a small wire and used it as their "sampayan" / hanger to hang all their clothes.


I have reflected on this moment too many times that I feel like crying while i'm in front of these kids. I look at them and they were so happy with the few toys they have. I feel so guilty not being thankful enough to have the things that I have now.





This is Nino's little girl, she goes to school during mornings. He loves to play with his younger brother.





Who would have thought that it's so ordinary to see these pillows being dried on top of the niches?


There were even little sari sari-stores in the area.





These kids use the cemetery as their playground. They don't mind climbing on top of them. Roaming around playing touch-taya and taguan.






Public Bathroom?
Yes this looks like their public bathroom. They have set up a washing area, a dipper, balde, and even resourcefully used the wires as their towel hanger.








Some had even set up their own spaces inside the house niches. Placed their speakers, tv sets, electric fans, and cables inside. They treat it as if it's really their houses.








FINAL OUTPUT
I used these final output to submit for my project. I must say staying here and visiting these place a few times made me rethink a lot about my life. How blessed I am and how should I be happy and be contented because not every child and Filipino are given the privilege to live a good life. I know this kids, with their hard working parents who still aims to provide them a place to sleep in despite their living conditions will be happy and successful in the future.

Blumentritt Signs

Hilot is an ancient Filipino Art of Healing. They are cheaper alternatives to medical doctors which are popular in deep rural areas. However, we also have them here in Manila. They can be found in Quiapo and Blumentritt. It is just a few walks away from Blumentritt station, in Quiapo - Carriedo Station.

I was tasked to do a photo essay on Magtatawas and Manghihilot. These two are a little different actually. The manghihilot uses body/ coconut oil and massages the person who needs medication. While the magtatawas uses a candle, do a prayer or ritual afterwards, drips the candle wax to the water and does some reading based on what shaped have formed on the water.

Our helper at home suddenly had a feelings of leg aches during that week. She has been taking oral supplements to ease the pain and tried going to a doctor for a check up but apparently she has not been healed yet.

This is Aling Tinay, a traditional manghihilot. They do this job from 8am to 5pm just like normal jobs. A tawas cost P50 and so as the hilot. It's cheaper if you get it in bundle.
So at first, our helper Glenn was asked to put her feet up and then Aling Tinay massaged it right away. She carefully caressed her legs, slowly and looking for the so called "lamig" as we call it here in the Philippines.

Manghihilot

Tools

Her tool contains the basic items such as alcohol, a plastic container for the water, a baby oil, tawas, and other unidentified objects.


I believe this business is doing good for them that's why they had been here since 2005 or even earlier. Most of the manghihilot and magtatawas are already in thier 40's, Most of them are really old.


After the panghihilot treatment, according to Aling Tinay, our helper stepped on a Duwende in our bathroom probably when she was cleaning it so she was recommended to drink plenty of water and give an offering to the space where it is believed where the Duwende's were staying.



Aling Tinay took a piece of rice and then wrapped it in a white parchment paper gave it to Glenn and asked to keep it for protection or pangontra for a few weeks.


We went home and right away prepared our offerings to the washroom and apologized to the "bad" spirits.



We smoked incense inside the bathroom and did a short prayer.
I actually don't believe in paranormal beings or Duwendes, Capres and Filipino mythical creatures.
But who knows if they're real or not?
It is part of our culture being Filipinos and don't think there's any harm in believing it once in a while as long as we're not doing any harm to them or to ourselves.