As I commute from the bustling streets of EDSA and head to the fishing villages of Malabon and Navotas, I'm struck by the striking contrast - a world apart but only a few kilometers from the center of Metro Manila. These cities, situated in the city's northeastern boundaries, have long been formed by their distinct histories and strong ties to the sea and the river.
My adventure begins with a search for the noodles and
delicious kakanin that have sustained this community for decades. While
navigating the roads in a public jeep and walking, I come across a central dry
and wet market typical of Philippine markets that seem nearly stuck in time.
Weathered vendors sell their items, their voices mixing with hawkers' screams
and passersby's laughing.
However, as I wander, I am faced by the unpleasant sight of
the Navotas river. Its dark and stagnant waters are a reminder of the
environmental issues that have long plagued this once-pristine waterway. I am
divided between admiring the quaintness and originality of this quaint
semi-urban place and being repulsed by the harsh realities of its polluted
river.
Seeking solace, I look to the churches that dot the
landscape, from the grandiose San Bartolome to the smaller San Idelfonso parish
church at Navotas east, more modest monuments that line the streets. Each one
is a tribute to the resilience and faith of the people who have lived here,
their pinnacles reaching for the sky like beacons of hope amidst the grime and
grit.
Dwelling on San Bartolome church, throughout its history,
the San Bartolome Parish Church has been a center of community life, not only
for religious services but also for social and cultural gatherings. It has
witnessed the pleasures and tragedies of generations of Malabon people, including
baptisms, weddings, burials, and processions, typical of the services big
churches in the Philippines offer to their laity.
San Bartolome Parish Church serves as a living witness to
the Malabon community's enduring spirit, as well as the resilience and faith
that have supported this fishing village over time. When tourists walk through
its majestic wooden doors, they are transported to a bygone era, when the
echoes of history murmur stories of a community
I'll return to this location, anxious to learn more about
the area's history and traditions, and to search out the old houses and
structures that have stood the test of time. However, I will be careful to
avoid the industrial districts, instead focusing my attention on the lovely,
unusual, and alluring aspects that make this fishing village such a mesmerizing
escape from the craziness of the metropolis.
