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Being a professor of cultural anthropology in St. Louis University in Baguio, Dennis Santos-Villegas used to go to Plaza Miranda in Quiapo just to have a look around and have his fill of Manila’s interesting personalities. “I’m very interested in the weird but colorful Manila personalities,” Dennis tells Coconuts Manila.
In 2008, he caught sight of Lauro Gonzales garbed in a bright red cape, an accompanying velvet cap, with three other companions. He quickly went up to them and was surprised to find out that he came face to face with Kristong Hari.
“Mang Lauro offers himself as a flesh and bone alternative–a living god if you will, and one you can actually converse with, because he claims that he is the flesh reincarnation of God, of Jesus Christ, and the Santo Nino,” Dennis writes on a Facebook post on the Manila Nostalgia page.
In the ‘70s Mang Lauro was once a show business personality, often casted as a contrabida. A series of misfortunes — bad business deals, worse business partners, his penchant for gambling, and then a liver sickness — led Mang Lauro to a life on the street. “Until in 1981 when Mang Lauro claims the Senyor Nazareno took pity and possessed his being. His illness miraculously cured, he began to live again from scratch. From then on, Mang Lauro reinvented himself,” Dennis continues.
He found himself some believers and then some donors, allowing him to commission a tailor to make his costume and soon his transformation began: his normal speaking voice was replaced with a shrill one mimicking a boy’s. He then declared he had healing powers, and finally he took the name “Kristong Hari.”
Kristong Hari performing miracles in Plaza Miranda
He gained followers and every Friday, they’d go to Plaza Miranda and heal, bless, and accept donations. They live in Banlat Street in Quezon City.
Kristong Hari with his apostles
Dennis continues: “I was in the middle of my interview with Kristong Hari in Plaza Miranda when the church bells announced 6pm. Mang Lauro and his followers stoody up. They sand and danced to the amusement of the crowd around Plaza Miranda. Mang Lauro performed some martial arts, doing karate chops, punching, and kicking in the air. The crowd loveed his performance and some even asked for his blessing, genuflecting in front of him.
“Kristong Hari is visibly pleased by their adoration. When at last they finished their bizarre ritual, they return to their seats and assumed once more the air of piety.”
Unfortunately, Kristong Hari couldn’t save himself. In 2013, he died. His group is still around though, with one of his followers taking over his role as Kristong Hari.
Photos: Dennis Santos-Villegas
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