Convento
Parroquia del Santiago el Mayor
Poblacion
San Angel
27 May 2019
8:34 am
Drake and Migz follow Doctor Francia through the arched corridors enclosing the inner courtyard of the convento. A huge rectangular painting over 8 feet in length hangs on the walls of the corridor leading to the parish office. The now faded painting is an attempt to mimic the style of the late National Artist, Botong Francisco, with scenes from the life of Santiago el Mayor [Saint James the Great]. Drake notes how vivid those colors could have been when the painting was newly finished.
The regal figure of Saint James on horseback with a medieval long sword trampling over a dark-skinned soldier with scale armor and a turban at the center of the painting tickles Drake's curiosity. He tries to recall where he has seen this particular part of the painting before.
Doctor Francia opens a door with the sign that reads Parish Office.
Lolo Luis: Good morning!
The elderly doctor greets the office clerk, Candy. She is seated behind a wooden desk folding printouts stacked on her right.
Candy: Doctor Francia, good morning po!
She greets him.
Lolo Luis: Si Drake pala, visita siya ni Vicente ngayon —ito yung binatang may interes sa ating Flores de Mayo.
Drake: Hello po.
He greets her.
Candy: Ay, opo. Nakita ko po siya noong bini-bihisan ang Mahal na Inang kina Don Vicente.
Drake smiles.
Lolo Luis: Candy, sa archive room kami ngayon.
Doctor Francia informs Candy.
Candy: Sige po, Doc. Alam niyo na naman na. Andoon pa rin po ang susi.
_ _ _
After ascending the steps of the convento at the end of the corridor, they turn right and walk further down the second floor corridor. Doctor Francia stops before wooden door with an antique statue of Santa Lucia standing atop the carved capital of an old pillar on it's left.
Doctor Francia reaches for the plate on the right hand of the Santa Lucia statue. Beside the two carved eyes on the plate is the key to the door of the the Parish Archives. He takes the key and unlocks the door.
The Parish Archives is a fairly large room with capiz windows on one side. The bookshelves in various styles from wood to pre-fabricated steel is proof of the history contained within this room. An assortment of framed and laminated photos adorn the stone wall while another painting of Saint James the Great as a medieval pilgrim takes center.
A long wooden table that could seat about six to eight people is placed in the middle of the room matched with two long benches on each side and a bulky squarish chair with a carved backrest.
Doctor Francia makes his way towards to older wooden shelves on the left end side of the room.
Lolo Luis: I think it would be best to check baptismal records, deaths, and marriages. Anong taon ba sabi ni Mirza na namatay si Segismundo de Arrastia?
He asks Miguel.
Migz: 1897 po, Lolo Luis.
He takes a few steps along the narrow space between two shelves.
Lolo Luis: 1751 to 1800, 1801-1850...
He reads out the yellowed paper labels stuck on the shelves written using thick markers.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Coño Boy 6: Ten Lifetimes With You
RomanceThey say that we are reincarnated with the same set of souls that we have spent our previous lives with, and that we fall in love with the same person in this life and the next. This is the story of two souls and the journey of their love through t...
