In my early collecting years, I must admit I was guided by impulse more
than judgment, when buying antiques. That is what happened around 1983, when I
made a decision to purchase my first ivory santo, a brown Virgen from the ramshackle shop
of Momoy Cabuenos on Arquiza St. which had been there on display for over a
month.
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| The brown ivory image, with new base. new wig, original clothes. 1983. |
It was not exactly what I wanted—it looked folksy, but definitely
old—having browned with age. The solid ivory head was set on a crude body with
wire armature arms, on which small “tinidor” brown ivory hands were attached.
It had no base, and the old tattered, abaca-lined clothes came with the
deal—Php 3,500—the exact amount of money in my pocket.
Had I been more patient, I could have saved more and
could have purchased a better- looking santa, but at that time, all that
mattered was this desire to have my first ivory image, period.
It took only a
week or so, to realize the “folly” of my purchase, for as soon as I took it
home, cleaned it, dressed it and affixed it on cheap-looking, gold-tinged base,
I was, to say the least, disheartened. Even with a wig, a crown and a virina,
the Virgin looked stiff and unappealing.
I usually take pictures of my santos upon their complete
restoration, but not this image. I just
put it behind some of my more better-looking, classically-carved santas I
acquired in the years that followed, and stayed in that relegated position for
years.
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| The image, as kept in a corner, next to a ivory Sta. Veronica. ca. 1983. |
When I became acquainted with the works of Dr. Raffy
Lopez around 10 years later, I decided to show the image to him to see if
there’s any way to give her some “character”, as she looked so plain and
ordinary. Dr. Lopez was fascinated by the deep brown coloration of the
image; he even praised its naïve
features and folksiness.
He then pored over his files and showed me a picture of
Ermita’s famed patroness, the oldest Marian image in the Philippines—Nuestra
Señora de Guia (Our Lady of Guidance).
History tells of its discovery by
Legazpi’s men in 1571—the hardwood, 20 inch figure was found resting on a clump of pandan leaves being
adored by natives. It was assumed to have been left behind by Spanish
missionaries who came to the islands earlier. “This is going to be your image”,
he said.
It was a perfect choice, all things considered. What’s
more, the Marian title had a special
connection to my hometown, Mabalacat. The Estado General of 1879 reports that
the Mabalacat parish was elevated to a vicariate status under the titular
patronage of Nuestra Snra. De Guia most
probably around 1836—so that sealed it for me.
In the next few months, Dr. Lopez undertook the conversion
and restoration of the ivory image. The long, unproportional body had to go,
and a new one was made. Features like eyebrows and lashes were added on to the brown
ivory face.
A cloud base was carved, while a latero meticulously
carve the pandan leaves from tin plates that were then painted green.The blue
green cape and ecru tunic of satin were sewn, gold-embroidered with pandan leaf
and floral motifs. A new set of crown and 12-star halo were ordered. Only the
wig with its long, wavy hair was saved.
When the assembled image was presented finally to me
after 2 months, I could not helped but be overwhelmed by its incredible
transformation. The brown Madonna that I used to conceal behind other, prettier
ivory santas now possesses a quiet, dignified beauty unlike any other, thanks
to the guidance of Dr. Lopez.
Today, in
my little home, my Ntra. Sra. De Guia now stands centerstage in one shelf, reserved for the most special and most
precious santas in my collection.
