288. SANTO SIGHTINGS IN TIENDESITAS ON A RANDOM DAY, 2011

VINTAGE STA., VERONICA Processional Santa.

When Tiendesitas, a shopping complex located within Frontera Verde in Pasig on 26 Sep. 20015, it was met with much hoopla. After all, it was envisioned to be a budget-friendly shopping destination (“tiendesitas” means a cluster of little shops), with specialty “villages” that sold fashion, native food, pets, plants and other novelties.

VINTAGE STO. SEPULCRO

Of course, for santo collectors, the opening of the “Antique Village” was a welcome section of Tiendesitas, another happy-hunting ground for antique santos, all in one location.

VINTAGE CRISTO DE LA PACIENCIA

Indeed, the early list of shops that could be found there included well-known names like Sarimanok (Henry Wee), Laong-Laan Antiques (Yanga), Unang Panahon (Esposos), 888 Noble Antiques and Henry Babiera—who was instrumental in getting the shops together at the new shopping hub.

VINTAGE RESURRECION

The shops did not disappoint, as the prices were relatively reasonable (the shops were not air-conditioned and the location—along C5—was then considered very far). But when access and generation of traffic became major issues, the shops started to close—and the “antique village” shrank in size to give way to more lucrative businesses.

NEW IVORY-FACED MANIKIN SANTOS

Tiendesitas deteriorated to the point that the antique shops were reduced to a handful. Eventually, as the area became more developed commercially, Tiendesitas was upgraded by the developers in 2014, adding buildings, second-level shopping places, escalators and airconditioning. The business climate improved with its relaunch and today, Tiendesitas has 450 traders from all over the Philippines.

ANTIQUE SAN VICENTE FERRER IN URNA

However, the same cannot be said of the antique shops. The dwindling supply of quality items forced more closures and for the remaining shops to carry lower-quality antiques and reproductions—a sad statement that the glory days of the Philippine antique trade is really gone.

ANTIQUE SAGRADA FAMILIA IN URNA

In March 2011, a few years before its renovation, a walk around the antique village of Tiendesitas yielded these santo offerings from select shops still operating in the complex.

ANTIQUE SAN YSIDRO & SAN ROQUE

VINTAGE STO. ROSARIO IVORY

ANTIQUE IVORY PURISIMA

ANTIQUE STO. ROSARIO, now in R. Lopez Collection

ANTIQUE BONE SAGRADA FAMILIA IN VIRINA

OLD INMACULADA CONCEPCION