The Truth about Tondo

When you first hear the word Tondo, the things that come probably into your mind are the fearless proletarians on filthy streets. Most of us have this idea regarding this place. However, beyond the imperfections that Tondo has lays a distinct character of this particular urban community that we usually misinterpreted.

Excepts from the filming of TRIBU an Indie film

The district of Tondo in Manila is one of the densest areas in the world. It is known as the “Hub” of the notorious gangs which makes Tondo a homeland of wrath and chaos. This specific quality of Tondo only signifies the boldness of each people in the society.

But do you know that Tondo is a birth place of numerous prominent Filipinos? The great leader of the Katipunan, Gat Andres Bonifacio was born in Tondo. No wonder where men of Tondo are claim to be fearless and brave. He is considered champion of the masses during those times because despite of the poverty, he seeks for the possibility of how he can helped the country to be free from the Spanish colonization. But long before Bonifacio, the local Rajahs used to rule the entire Tondo, for it is once a Muslim principality before.

Tondo Church

Despite the negative character that has been inflicted with Tondo, the people of the said district are in no doubt devoted Catholics. Every third Sunday of January, they were celebrating the Feast Day of the Sto. Niňo de Tondo. The feast was celebrated with a fluvial procession that seems to attract thousands of visitors. The procession is done the day before the feast day, a group of women in pastora hats will dance through the sunny streets, showering petals as the Sto. Niňo passes. Event the men carrying the image were dancing with their bare feet. After that, the image is then place into a pagoda which will sail along the northern part of the bay. The dancing continues on the pagoda and after the voyage, the image will land in Velasquez and Pritil for a livelier celebration. They really pay tribute the Sto. Niňo for they believe that it continue to lavish them favors.

One thing is for sure about Tondo and its people; I may say that their unfortunate status in life didn’t hinder them to capture a better future. There are many Filipinos that were raised in Tondo that became successful in life. It is also a breeding ground for artists and poets as well as business tycoons.

Tondo will always be marked as the home of the city’s massive slums. But this lost paradise is also a land of eternal hope.