John Felix Santos, collector of Catholic sacred images, in a Holy Week exhibit he co-organized at the Manila Cathedral. Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- When John Felix Santos turned 4, like any other kid his age, he wanted a party to celebrate -- and his parents obliged.

It was November, a few weeks before Christmas. There were balloons, the usual party food, and visitors. But unlike any other kids, the young boy didn't ask for the usual superheroes, cartoon characters, or colorful toy cars to top his birthday cake. He wanted something different. He wanted a full nativity set for his birthday decor.

It was a fitting signal for how he would spend the next years of his life.

Even at such young age, Santos, who is now 25, began collecting Catholic sacred images.

"Wala akong pakialam sa Toy Kingdom," he said, referring to the chain of toy stores found in the Philippines' shopping malls. "I started with the small images na nabibili sa mall. Nagta-tantrums ako kapag hindi ako nabibili ng mom ko."

[I didn't care about Toy Kingdom. I started with the small images which are being sold in the mall. I would throw tantrums if my mom would not buy me what I wanted.]

A four-year-old John Felix Santos standing behind his birthday cake with a nativity set on top.

For every occasion, he would ask for an image as a gift. He would continue to buy small ones, with prices ranging from P200 to P300.

He kept all of them, even the nativity set once featured on his birthday cake.

But it was not until 2008 when he was a college freshman when Santos decided to have his very own commissioned life-sized mage.

"Every Saturday papaalam ako, sasabihin ko may klase ako, but honestly wala akong class. I would go to Apalit, Pampanga to check on my 'project,'" he recalled.

[Every Saturday I would tell my parents that I have class but the truth is I didn't have any.]

Santos's vision was an image of Virgen Alegria (The Virgin of Joy), the type of Marian image used for the traditional Easter salubong.

He supervised everything. He was relentless in his pursuit to achieve the image he had envisioned. He said it took eight revisions before he was finally contented with the image's face alone.

"La Virgen Gloriosa" (The Glorious Virgin), the crown-jewel of John Felix Santos's collection of Catholic sacred images. Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News

The image is 165 centimeters tall (without the base and crown). A sculptor from Macabebe, Pampanga did the initial works but another artist overhauled the image to further satisfy his preference.

The crown was gold-plated and the flowers that the image was holding were made of silver. The fabric used for the vestments were imported from Italy, while the "fajin," which is the belt-like string tied to the image's waist, was bought from Spain.

The eyes that were used came from Germany. They were called "ojos de Europa," the same ones used for European dolls, according to John, and were prized by collectors.

"Siya 'yung parang no expenses hold na santo ko," he said.

[I didn't held back when it comes to expenses for that image.]

A rough estimate would peg the image at P500,000 by the time it was finished. But Santos insisted that it is already impossible to calculate the exact amount as he continued to shell out money for years to finally achieve the look that he had in mind.

"Hindi naman siya 'yung biglang bagsakan I purchased everything. Siguro it took me 8 years to finally complete the set-up that finally I'll be happy with," he said.

[It wasn't a one-time big-time purchase. It probably took me 8 years to complete he set-up that finally I'll be happy with.]

A closer look at John Felix Santos's "La Virgen Gloriosa." Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News

He named the image "La Virgen Gloriosa" (The Glorious Virgin), a Marian title taken from a 4th-century prayer.

Since then, "La Virgen Gloriosa" become synonymous to the name John Felix Santos, especially among collectors and enthusiasts.

Currently, he estimates that he owns around 400 Catholic sacred images.

Among his prized possessions are life-sized images of Saint John the Evangelist, Mary Magdalene and a Mater Dolorosa (Our Lady of Sorrows). He also owns a figure of a risen Christ and a nativity set used by the Manila Cathedral during the Easter and Christmas season last year.

John Felix Santos's collection of small sacred religious which started all the way back to his childhood.

His very first antique image was a small figure of Saint John the Evangelist which he acquired in 2012. Two years after, he acquired another antique image -- a figure of Mater Dolorosa. Both are 45 centimeter tall, with the heads and set of hands made of ivory. Both were made back in the 19th century and worth almost P500,000.

Just recently, the best images among his collections were featured in an exhibit at the Manila Cathedral which he co-organized with friends who are also fellow collectors.

FAMILY TRADITION

Santos's passion for religious iconography is partly rooted from his family, who have acted as custodians of a post-war image of Mary Magdalene that was commissioned by his grandfather as an act of thanskgiving for a daughter who was sickly but was healed.

"Since it was made, lagi na siyang nilalabas for Good Friday [procession]. When we were kids, we would watch our titos and my dad fix the caroza," he said. "We were not allowed to touch them... So we just watched sa gilid and probably that sparked my interest."

[Since it was made, our family made sure that it is always part of the Good Friday procession.]

Young John Felix Santos standing behind his family's old image of Mary Magdalene.

One of his uncles once led the restoration of a revered image of the Our Lady of Rosary in their barangy's chapel in Pasig. His aunt later brought her to that chapel and told stories about the image.

"Naka-pajama lang ako, naka-sando... We would go there. I would look intently doon sa patrona namin. She's very beautiful and my tita would tell stories na pinagawa 'yun ng tito ko to have it restored, na pumunta pa siya sa U.S. to get gold dusts for the dress. So sabi ko, okay. Pinangarap ko na magkaroon ng kamukha ng image nung patrona namin."

[I was just wearing pajamas and tank top. We would go there. I would look intently at the image of our patron saint. She's very beautiful and my aunt would tell stories that my uncle had it restored, and that they went to the U.S. to get gold dusts for the dress. It was my dream to have my very own image similar to our patron saint.]

His dream came true when his mother gave him a 30 centimeter ivory-made image of Virgen del Rosario. It was a gift for his birthday in 2004.

"Lahat ng mga pinangarap ko noong bata ako, unti-unti, natutupad," Santos said.

[Everything that I dreamed of when I was kid, little by little, they're coming true.]

MORE THAN AN ART

Santos admitted that his passion for Catholic sacred images comes with a literal "heavy price."

He works as an Immigration officer and uses his salary from his job to finance his passion.

"Who sets the numbers? If you have it, why not? Sky's the limit," he said. "Pero, oo, minsan sinasabi ko sa sarili ko 'last ko na to.' But then again it's art. It's passion."

[But yes, sometimes I would tell myself 'this is going to be my last.']

But more than this, Santos insisted that an honest devotion must prevail in creating and collecting the images.

Church-goers admire the sacred images featured in an exhibit at the Manila Cathedral which John Felix Santos co-organized and where some of his collections were displayed. Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News

"Whenever people ask me about how to commission an image, ang una kong tinatanong sa kanila, 'Do you have a devotion to that santo or to that particular title of Mary?' Kasi if your intention was to have an image because gusto mo makipagsabayan sa mga kabarkada mo sa barangay ninyo that would really be a bad start," he said.

[Whenever people ask me about how to commission an image, my first question is, 'Do you have a devotion to that santo or to that particular title of Mary?' Because if your intention was to have an image because you want to to look cool to your friends, that would really be a bad start.]

It is also not enough that the image is beautiful. He said it is of paramount importance that it is correct.

To ensure this, Santos said that the entirety of the image -- from its expression, the clothes, and the accessories in its hands -- must adhere to the scriptures and to the tradition of the Church.

"'Pag nag-deviate ka masyado, you degrade the image to a Barbie doll. Mag-Barbie doll ka na lang. Kasi kung gusto mong suotan 'yan ng spaghetti strap or ball gown, you're not looking at the santo. You're looking for a Barbie doll," he said.

[If you deviate way too much, you degrade the image to a Barbie doll. Go for a Barbie doll. Because if you want to dress your image with just anything, like a spaghetti strap or ball gown, you're not looking at the santo. You're looking for a Barbie doll.]

Sastos's advise is simple: "Follow the antiques."

He said the Philippines has enough references for young enthusiasts to follow.

"I always advocate, ipukpok ninyo sa utak ninyo, follow the old traditional style. Never invent... We have a lot of good references for beautiful and decent 'santos.' Always follow the old."

MAN OF SAINTS?

Santos may be collecting images of saints, but he was quick to dismiss any idea that he lives a saintly life.

"Honestly, I gauge myself and people would call me as 'demonyo' (demon). I don't care. I think I'm a bad person," he said. "Let's establish that. Hindi ako maglilinis-linisan... I think I'm a bad person."

Santos considers his collection as a form of reminder.

"The Church teaches that these images would be a part of reminding the people. Whenever we see these images, [we are reminded that] they achieved their saintly glory already because they lived the good life," he said.

John Felix Santos talks about his passion that started when he was four years old. Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News

And like his grandfather, Santos pursues his passion as an act of thanksgiving.

In 2015, his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.

"Tinawag ko na lahat ng santo. [I prayed to every saint.] Fortunately we were heard and I'm still thankful for that," he said.

But six months after, it was his father who then got sick.

"That was New Year. Bigla na lang siyang nilagnat and then we didn't know. Tapos nung in-x ray na siya dun lang namin nalaman na may fluid na pala siya sa lungs niya," John recalled.

[All of a sudden he was feverish and we didn't know why. After undergoing x-ray, that's when we learned that he had fluid in his lungs.]

Thankfully, both of his parents are fine now.

"Siguro 'yun na rin 'yung mga santo namin. It is a testament ng pagpapsalamat namin kay Lord, kay Mama Mary, sa mga santo for taking care of us always."

[Maybe that's what our images are. They are testament to our thanksgiving to God, to Mother Mary, and to the saints for taking care of us always.]

THE PASSION CONTINUES

Santos is aware that there are people who frown at his passion, especially those who adhere to other religions.

He said so far, now one has approached him to question what he is doing. But if ever that time would come, he said he is ready to explain, not to convert but simply to enlighten.

"I would be welcome to talk to someone na [iba ang paniniwala.] To have a dialogue... To have my side explained. To have their side explained. And then we part ways. And then we meditate on what transpired," he said.

A man venerating one of the sacred images owned by John Felix Santos. Photo by Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News

For Santos, his passion for collecting religious images will always be an integral part of his life, something that he sees himself doing until he is capable of doing so.

His mind still swirls with ideas of planned images.

"I have some images in mind that I would like to commission. For example, the Belen that we enthroned here at the Manila Cathedral, hopefully by December I would have three kings of the same size commissioned," he said.

Having his own chapel where he could house his entire collection is also one of Santos's dreams right now. He said his father already gave permission for him to have a piece of their land.

Right now, his images are displayed in their living room, while the others are kept in his room.

But more than continuing a passion that started since his childhood, beyond the high expenses and the hard physical work, Santos said the fulfillment comes with every chance that he lends his images to a church and every time he sees a person get inspired with his collection.

"Kapag passion mo, wala. Everything is easy. Hindi ka mapapagod. Once you're really dedicated to what you're doing hindi mo mapi-feel 'yung pagod," he said.

[If it's your passion, everything is easy. You don't get tired. Once you're really dedicated to what you're doing, you won't feel tired.]

"For example, may makikita ka na matatanda diyan bigla na lang luluhod, magdadasal. Wow. Tapos. You inspired others. You moved others to such deep devotion and prayer."

[For example you see an old person who, all of a sudden will drop to his/her knees to pray. Wow. It's done. You inspired others. You moved others to such deep devotion and prayer.]

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John Felix Santos was 4 years old when he started collecting sacred images and since then, he was relentless in his passion that he considers both an art and an act of devotion.

'Man of saints': A young man's passion for sacred images

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'Man of saints': A young man's passion for sacred images

Erik Tenedero,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 22, 2024 04:14 PM PHT

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Updated March 22, 2024 04:15 PM PHT

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John Felix Santos

sacred images

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