Quiapo and Antipolo, Connected Places for Performing Panata: An Analysis on the Idea of Commutatio and Transitio in the Study of Alay Lakad in the Philippines
Mark Inigo M. Tallara
Abstract:
This paper focuses on Quiapo and Antipolo as a connected place for performing Catholic religious practices.
The discussion explores Alay Lakad or penitential walk as a form of panata or sacred vow to the Black Nazarene
of Quiapo and to the Black Virgin Mary of Antipolo. What makes the two places very popular for Catholic
devotional practices? What draws many devotees to penitential walking? This paper argues that Alay Lakad
as two distinct events that are “in season” and “out of season” in the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church.
Moreover, this religious practice is very popular for many devotees to perform their personal and collective
panata. The discussion highlights the presupposition of this study that: (1) devotees are using the symbolism
of kalooban to account for their religious experience; and (2) as a form of panata and the recognition for their
utang na loob or debt of gratitude, devotees in return are joining the Alay Lakad. This study is ethnohistorical.
It traces the origin of the Quiapo-Antipolo penitential walk. The first part focuses on the re-enactment of
the “transferring of the image of the Black Virgin Mary” that was temporarily enshrined in Quiapo Church;
and the “retuning of the image” back to Antipolo Church in 1945. The second part of the analysis examines
the more recent religious practice held every eve of Good Friday of the Holy Week known as the Alay LakadVisita Iglesia. The main argument and focus of this study are consistent with the theoretical and conceptual
discussion on how substituting a sacred site or commutatio (Tallara, 2020) in performing Alay Lakad and the
suspension of time or transitio (Turner, 1969) are crucial to the devotee’s motivation and how the changes
on performing the Alay Lakad contributed to the interconnectedness and continuity of Catholic practices in
the Philippines.
References:
- Interviews of selected devotees in Quiapo: and Antipolo - April & May 2014; April & May 2015; April, May 2016; April, May 2017. Selected online interviews: April, May 2019; Online April, May 2021
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- The Netherlands: Egbert Forster Groningen. Tallara, Mark Inigo. (2018). “Chasing Miracles in Quiapo and Antipolo: Symbolism and Expression of Popular Piety in the Philippines”. Ph.D.
- Thesis, Singapore: National University of Singapore.(2020). Quiapo and Antipolo as Shared Spaces for Performing Panata: An Ethnohistorical Analysis of Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno and Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje. Pamana at Sining: Valuing the Arts, Rediscovering Heritage and Reaffirming Identities (Proceedings of the 13th DLSU Arts Congress).
- Manila: De La Salle University. (2022). Symbolism and Expression of Performing Panata in the Philippines: An Ethnohistorical Analysis of Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno of Quiapo. Religions 13 (4) 272.
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