This 'self-service' temple in Binondo is open to all

To the uninitiated, a Taoist temple can seem intimidating.

- By YVETTE TAN

But the San Fernando Four Kings Mansion aims to welcome everyone.

The temple is located inside the South San Nicolas Volunteer Fire Brigade at the intersection of Dasmarinas and Juan Luna Streets in Binondo, at the foot of the San Fernando Bridge, after which the temple is named. The volunteer fire station has an ornate Chinese-style roof that makes it easy to spot.

The temple’s origins are compelling: stories say that historically, there have been many deaths along the bridge dating back to when it was first built in 1796, during the Spanish occupation. While most of the deaths have been accidental, there are also allegations that the waters below were a dumping ground for bodies. Whether true or not, the bridge acquired a local reputation as an area that attracted death. It was said that sometime in the 1960s, some community members, in cooperation with the local government, contacted a “monk” to build a temple on the site to appease the souls that lingered nearby. Locals say it worked for a time, but then the deaths continued.