San Agustin Peeking Through the door
Just a short walk from Manila Cathedral is another church where people flock for the Misa de Gallo. Inside the walls of intramuros stands the oldest church in the Philippines – The San Agustin Church, one of the Baroque Churches classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This church built in 1607 now sports a new paletada and is aglow with simple drop line of lights on its facade. Honestly, this church need not to be extremely adorned for it sports one of the most beautiful church interiors I’ve seen.
San Agustin Simbang Gabi
Just a word on security, a personnel near the Manila Cathedral questioned me about taking pictures. It would seem they are wary of ‘large’ cameras and told me that it’s prohibited to take Video in the vicinity. He didn’t actually want me to put my camera on a tripod since it looks like I’m taking a Video. I explained to him that I need it to keep my pictures still. He left me alone but he told me if it was daylight it would be a different story. I find this a bit funny prohibiting photos and videos is somewhat out of place. How bout if foreigners are carrying cameras like mine would you warn them as well? I asked. He told me that they only allow ‘small’ cameras in Intramuros with no tripods. DOT or security are simply ignorant lately on how technology advance gadgets are. Some small compacts even have very good video capabilities and can take high quality pictures as well. Well just the point of prohibiting taking pictures of historical sites as this would make it hard to appreciate the place. A sure turn off to some photo enthusiast tourist.
San Agustin aglow
Another sad fact that during Simbang Gabi, some unlawful individuals would take advantage of sleepy or half awake church goers and attempt to rob them of their belongings. lagal[og] was almost a victim of this while he was walking towards San Agustin Church good thing nothing happened. There was a ruckus however nearby when someone was snatched of his/her cellphone nearby. It’s a good thing there were some police patrols regularly roaming nearby. So be very careful and alert at this times.
How bout if foreigners are carrying cameras like mine would you warn them as well? – I have experienced the same thing, and it ticks me to death. I just think that the guards can’t speak English well that’s why they won’t prohibit them from taking photographs. Grr.
Can they not realize that such technology can promote the country’s tourism by another level? Just my opinion though. =)
this is something the management should rethink and discuss. i’ll try to get in touch with DOT, though this might be intramuros policy. im sure DOT can help discuss. i agree with your point, they just dont know that thru your photos and people using DSLR provides the best photos to promote our country.
encountered the same problem a lot of times since madalas ako sa intramuros. pinagbabawalan talaga kami ng friend ko na si aaron eh since mukhang syang koreano ay nagpanggap sya na koreano at ako ang friend nya na tour guide para maka shoot lang kami. kinagabihan eh kinausap namin ang guardia civil para mag mount ng tripod at mag night shoot sa harap ng manila cathedral, pinayagan kami sandali. we asked bakit bawal? ang bawal lang naman daw talaga ay videocam at mukha raw kasing videocam ang mga dslr na naka mount sa tripod. may lumabas daw kasi na porno (foreigner) na ang background daw ay background ay walls ng intramuros kaya sila nag hihigpit. di ko lang alam kung totoo.
kainis naman yata yung ganun ferdz, tinutulungan na ipromote ang place tapos ganoon pa sila. plano ko pa naman mag intramuros next year pero kung gnayan sila eh di bale na lang tutal marami pa naman lugas sa pinas na mas maganda lol. merry christmas bro.
baka kailangan pa ng permit bago magkuha ng pics, hehe. maganda sana kung may clear policy sila at reason bakit ipinagbabawal ang pagkuha (video cam or dslr na may tripod). kung valid naman bakit di natin susundin right? ang pangit dun yung subjectivity ng mga nagbabawal. saka anong difference bakit bawal magkuha sa umaga at sa gabi hinde? labo ah.
yung sa nakawan, kahit ata saan maraming ganyan lalo na ngayong mga panahon na ito, so dapat talaga mag-ingat. wala namang pinipili ang mga magnanakaw ngayon, kahit sa simbahan di na safe.
nwei, gusto ko lang sabihin na ang ganda ng texture ng first shot mo Ferdz, tipong parang nasa loob din ako ng simbahan. ganda ng mga kuha as usual. nasa Quiapo lang ako kanina, nagtitingin ng pancake lens. tapos may isang lalaki naghahanap ng Oly camera. nang-discourage na agad yung may-ari. Mag Nikon or Canon na lang daw siya kase as a consumer, talo siya sa service. Sa Singapore pa daw ang pinaka-malapit na service ng Oly.
Hi Pao! Medyo Old School pa ata sila. But I agree, iba na ways to promote places or other things ngayon.
Thanks Dom! That would be helpful para linawan nila ang policy nila regarding this.
Hmmm.. Porno video at Intramuros. Bago nga yung ah Erick! Pero point ko naman, you don’t have to use large video cameras for that. malay mo nag shoot sila dun using their compacts or cellphones. Kelangan lang siguro mag masid sila mabuti.
Cguro i try mo pa rin Oman, baka magbago isip nila. merry Christmas din.
That’s tru Rayts. Kelangan malinaw yung policy nila on this. Natawa ga ako rin kung bakit ngayon gabi pwede ako mag shoot. Wala namang difference sa time. Hmmm… anong store yun sa Hidalgo. hehehe. Axis Global, the local distributor of Olympus Cameras services camera units din bought locally or even grey units (with additinal service charge) palagay ko sinabi lang nya dahil wala syang kargang Olympus units at para mabenta yung Nikon and Canon products nila.
I have been to San Agustin Church before but only the outside because at that time someone had a wedding reception there … Really beautiful interior. It would be nicer if I saw it with my own eyes.
Merry Christmas Ferdz….I wish you the best while you are celebrating the birth of Christ….well,I don’t have Simbang gabi its because I’m an SDA christian..nonetheless,we also celebrating the yuletide season in remembrance of His birth….
I do not understand the restrictions regarding the taking of pictures or video at San Agustin Church or other places in Intramuros. In most places I have been, the only consistent restriction is the use of flash photography.
It is probably true, in and outside of the Philippines, that it is not generally a management policy to prevent picture taking; it is just some security personnel or “power tripper” acting on their own to be selectively ornery. Less power to them!
Hi Kyels! Sayang. I hope you could see it when you come back here
Merry Christmas Eric! I also don’t attend the ceremony since I’m no catholic, but it’s a Filipino tradition that’s really worth keeping.
I could say that as well BertN. Some people I guess just wanted to power-trip.
this is a really beautiful church alright. too bad, we couldn’t go inside because of the mammoth crowd.
the simple draping of lights complement the simple facade. bagay na bagay siya.
Is this the church with the big carved wooden doors? I think I’ve visited this church once when my friends and I did Visita Iglesia around Manila. Great pics
I miss Intramuros.