in the Capitol Area,
We are all familiar with the
Kapilla at Kamia, Escario.
The area residents
often had novenas and prayers.
During fiestas,
they had a diskoral and baile
(fenced disco).
Kapillas serve many purposes-
it is a kind of community center,
where people converge
to pray, dance and grieve.
For those who cannot afford
a funeral parlor for the wake of a loved one,
there is always a Kapilla in every neighborhood.
Kapillas also show us-
vernacular architecture,
unique grill interpretations
of sacred art
and folk design.
These days, they are fast disappearing.
With city lots becoming very expensive,
many kapillas have been demolished
to make way for progress.
The latest kapilla to get axed
is the Kamia Kapilla.
In one of my walking photography adventures,
I unknowingly took a last shot
of a community structure.
It is sad, that so many of our memories
are being erased by so-called progress.
We seem to forget
that without our heritage
and cultural landmarks,
we are virtually erasing
our shared history as well.
May these photos remind you
of something from your childhood...
