Exploring the Paradox of Religion and Commerce: The Case of Quiapo, Home of the Black Nazarene and the Hub of Alternative Medicine Sale

Abstract

It is a known fact that the district of Quiapo houses the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, more commonly known as the Quiapo Church, as well as one of the oldest and biggest public markets in the Philippines. Identified as the biggest center of Catholic faith in Manila, Quiapo Church sees hundreds and thousands of devotees walk its streets day by day to attend the masses being held hourly. On the opposite side of the Church, the Plaza Miranda also sees a great number of people traversing the streets of the markets in search of their desired products most oftenly sold at bargain price. Among these products are mystic items such as amulets and charms, and alternative medicine such as herbal medicine and hilot or massage services. Employing a purposive sampling method, this phenomenological study aims to examine the insights and experiences of vendors of religious and non-religious/mystic items in order to delve deeper into the general objective of the study which is to analyze how the religiosity of a people built on Catholic devotion exists side-by-side with a commerce built on a belief on indigenous medicine, as well as its specific objectives namely to examine the strength and persistence of the Filipino people’s belief on the Black Nazarene to solve their physical illnesses and ailments and to examine the strength and persistence of the Filipino people’s belief on the efficacy of medicinal plants, charms, and potions as relief from physical illnesses. Utilizing an inductive thematic analysis, the researcher was able to derive different themes for each objective. On the first, themes are as follows: (1) location of market in Quiapo principal factor in booming Quiapo commerce; and (2) purchase of alternative medicine not fully linked to level of spirituality/religiosity. On the second objective: (1) family as the primary theme of prayers to the Black Nazarene and (2) strength of faith in religious items (statues and rosaries). Lastly, themes that emerged from the second specific objective are: (1) alternative medicine as top-selling products in non-religious/mystic items commerce (effectiveness across all products) and (2) no advertising needed to market products; most consumers with enough knowledge prior to visiting Quiapo. The results and findings yielded from this paper may benefit the Filipino citizens, public and tourism officials, and the Church in gaining a deeper understanding of the Catholic devotion in the country existing alongside a much older Filipino culture on mysticism and utilizing different forms of alternative medicine.