2 CHURCHES: VISITING THE MANILA METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL - BASILICA

The Manila Cathedral is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Immaculate Conception located inside the Walled City – Intramuros, Manila. This church with a complete name of The Manila Metropolitan Cathedral – Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is the official seat of the present Manila Archbishop – Luis Antonio Tagle. I’ve been wandering inside Intramuros and visited places like Casa Manila and San Agustin Church for a reason that requirement for school projects but never came in my mind to stop over at the Manila Cathedral. And this made me realized that it should be part in my seven churches visitation.

This is the fourth church after Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, and Parañaque. I was already thinking to take cab from Baclaran Church all the way to Manila Cathedral. Luckily one of the vendors told me that there are FX’s and vans traveling all the way to Intramuros. Then after a couple of minutes waiting on the side of the road under the fiery sun, I saw UV Express van approaching going to Intramuros. I paid Php 25 and thanks to the driver because he brought me right in front of the cathedral.

When I get at the façade of the cathedral, I was surprised by the countless people visiting the church. I was just expecting of local devotees but there were also a huge number of foreign tourists taking pictures and observing holy week in the country. People were coming in and out, there were vendors outside hawking different dollies for the youngsters and photographers with huge cameras hanging on their necks. Getting near the entrance I’m quite amazed with the architecture especially the inscription of the tympanum on the main door.

The cathedral reopened to the general public on April 9, 2014 after two years of renovation, the mass then led by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle attended by President Ninoy Aquino. Upon entering the basilica, the architecture is pretty amazing, the structural design still in line with the original pattern but added with interior LED lightings. These lightings enhance the exquisiteness of the basilica with yellow lights on the pillars. I am also captivated and focus most of my attention by the stained glass windows pinned all over the ceilings and on the sides. It is made of different colors and when the sun focuses its sunlight into these glasses it will surely made some astonishing lights that will envelop the whole church. There are also flat screen monitors that will cover the mass so people at the back can still the ministers in front. 

Manila Cathedral is just one of the places to check inside the rich history of the walled city. Intramuros has monuments and shrines that were witness in the past and yet still standing in the present-day telling the young generation how the people fought to attain the freedom. And so will have to start in the churches of San Agustin and Manila Cathedral. I should visit one of these days to attend mass.

THE MANILA METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL - BASILICA

Cathedral - Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

Address: Cabildo cor., Beaterio St., Intramuros, Manila, Philippines

Telephone: +63.2.527.1796 / +63.2.527.3093 / +63.2.528.3876

Email: mlacathedral@yahoo.com / mlacathedral@gmail.com

Website: www.manilacathedral.org

4 CHURCHES: VISITING THE BAMBOO ORGAN CHURCH; ST. JOSEPH CHURCH OF LAS PIÑAS

Padre Diego Cera Monument.

Every student should know or heard about of the Bamboo Organ. I remember it printed on elementary textbooks, though I’m not sure which subject but the appearance of this organ always painted on my mind. Hence during Visita Iglesia, I choose St. Joseph Church in Las Piñas should be part of the seven churches series.

Padre Diego Cera began working of this world famous organ in 1816, while the stone church was still under construction. He gathered bamboo poles then buried into the beach sand for one whole year for preservation against termites.  Through the help of local community, Padre Cera began building the organ. It was then completed in 1824 and first of its kind in the country and the whole world to have this unique musical instruments made of bamboo and metal pipes. In more than 60 years of heavenly music, the Bamboo Organ wrought by three earthquakes which totally damaged the organ. Then it was sent to Germany for restoration and brought back in the country on March 13, 1975.

In front of St. Joseph Church.

St. Joseph Church (famously known as the Bamboo Organ of Las Piñas) is the second stop to complete the seven churches series. After my prayer I went straight to church museum at the old convent house where the famous organ is up close and other historical instruments. There is an entrance fee of P100 for 20 minutes tour. There you can see all the preserved materials in the history of the town of Las Piñas. It brought back the memory when I first time visited the museum of the Baclayon Church in Bohol where most of the churches' apparatus found.

Chair used by Pade Cega during his masses.

The World Famous Bamboo Organ, Bamboo Pipes.

Here the Metal Pipes.

View from the Balcony, inside St. Joseph Church.

Original Chandelier.

One of the Chandeliers, the only one left after huge earthquakes devastated the whole stone church. This chandelier is placed inside the museum and still lighting.

In front of St. Joseph Church, Las Piñas

Las Piñas Bamboo Church is among the popular destination in Metro Manila because of its world famous organ. Most of the people visited here during Holy Week season. As of this writing, The Bamboo Organ is still working played by experience organist. The Bamboo Organ Music Festival is said to be the oldest and the longest music festival in the country held every February. So I should go back to Las Piñas to witness the crowd and proud Bamboo Festival.

The Bamboo Organ is located at the P. Diego Cera Avenue, Brgy. Daniel Fajardo, Las Piñas City, Philippines 1744. It is accessible if you’re coming from the South via Alabang Zapote Road and North via Mall of Asia Jeep Terminal.                                                                                                                                     Website: www.bambooorgan.org                      

Contact: (02) 820-5454

5 HOLY WEEK 2014: SEVEN BEAUTIFUL CHURCHES IN METRO MANILA FOR VISITA IGLESIA

Last year I made a promise during my first ever Visita Iglesia that I’m gonna do it year after year. And exactly one year yesterday I accomplished the vow and hopefully it would endure for the rest of my life. Highlights of last year’s churches visitation was only Makati area so this time I have decided to cross the border. Seven Churches in Seven Metro Manila Cities.

Right after my shift (I work graveyard) I went straight to my first stop. Packed with just faith and dedication I know myself I will be able to complete this kinda penance. I know it would be stiffer since I get off from work so I’m lack of sleep then will be walking and traveling under the scorching sun. But I have no worries at all, God will be there. So please join my trip as we go starting from the far south going far north of Metro Manila.

First Church – Muntinlupa City.

St. Jerome Emiliana & Sta. Susana Parish. This church is located in Commerce Avenue Ayala Alabang. It is situated at the right side of Alabang Town Center Mall. I spent my high school years in downtown Alabang – heart of Muntinlupa City so I remember I attended mass here once with my older sister. Unfortunately renovation is ongoing so I had no chance to pray inside so I decided to just pray right in front of the closed door and standing.

How to get here? Starting from Magallanes, I took bus going to Alabang, from Alabang take jeep going to Baclaran or SM Southmall. Jeeps will pass by Alabang – Zapote Road and ask the driver to drop you off at the Ayala Town Center Mall. There you can ask vendors where the church is, it is only few steps away from the highway.

St. Jerome Emiliana & Sta. Susana Parish

Second Church – Las Piñas City.

St. Joseph Church. This church is better known as The Las Piñas Bamboo Organ. This has been the city’s popular tourist destination for locals and foreign visitors. This organ is still working until this modern time schemed by a skilled organist. When I started traveling and blogging this church is one of the places that I’m eager to visit and today would be the perfect time to make it possible. I remembered that I am only looking at this in elementary textbooks and now I’m really pleased that it is right before my eyes.

How to get here? Starting from Alabang, you can ride jeep with a route sign going to Baclaran-Tambo. Then you can ask the driver to drop you off at the Bamboo Organ Church. If you are coming from Baclaran, take jeep going to SM Southmall and you can also ask driver to drop you off there. In my case, I used my Google Maps because sometimes drivers do forget, Google Maps application shows St. Joseph Academy when you put Bamboo Organ on your search box, so if it’s showing like this don’t worry you are on the right place it is Church and a School.

St. Joseph Church (Bamboo Organ)

Third Church – Parañaque City

The National Shrine of our Mother of Perpetual Help, also known as Redemptorist Church of Baclaran. This church was part of my previous Visita Iglesia but I still want to include it in my list this year. Devotees from different places overflow the church during Wednesday or popularly called Baclaran Day to attend mass and pray the novena of Mother Perpetual Help. When I was in college, I normally go here to pray while I lived in Malabon. You can visit this website for the list of mass schedules.

How to get here? Baclaran Church is accessible wherever you are. If you are coming from North, LRT Line 1 ends in Baclaran which the station is only few meters away from the church. EDSA also ends in Mall of Asia and pretty close from Baclaran Church. If you are coming from South, there are jeeps traveling straight to Baclaran. In my case, Las Piñas is pretty close so I just take jeep straight to Baclaran.

Baclaran Church

Fourth Church – Manila

The Manila Metropolitan Cathedral – Basilica, informally known as Manila Cathedral recently opened the gates for the worshipers coming from two years of massive repairs and restoration. Honestly I’ve been walking around Intramuros but I haven’t gone in this Church yet that’s why I made sure that this will be part of this year’s Visita Iglesia.  I must say very beautiful, shiny marbles and fresh paints, glimmering lights and perfect architecture in and out view. There were plenty of parishioners, local and foreign tourists taking pictures and also praying. And I would say this church has the most number of people from the churches I have visited.

How to get here? In front of Baclaran Church, I take FX (UV Express) bound to Lawton for P25 fare. I asked driver that I will get off near the Manila Cathedral. As soon as I get off I thought it would be couple of minutes of walking but I’m surprised that it only few steps away.

Manila Cathedral

Fifth Church – Caloocan City

Shrine of Our Lady of Grace. I used to go here every Sunday when I was in College. I find this church peace and solemn, I don’t know for some reason it feels like there’s an enigmatic connection between us. When I have my personal prayer, I feel the emotion and just found my eyes went crying. This Church been my watcher my entire life in College, all success and failures, happiness and sadness. That’s why I want this Church be part of my list since I really missed it.

How to get here? Located in Monumento Circle Caloocan, it is also accessible wherever you are. If you take LRT Line1, drop-off at Monumento Station.

Shrine of Our Lady of Grace.

Sixth Church – Malabon City.
Sts. Peter and John Parish. The township of Brgy. Potrero in Malabon. Here where I lived and pretty close to my place, can be reached by foot. SPJ called to become “Fishers of Men”. You can visit this website to check their updates and mass schedules.

How to get here? It is located in Orange Rd., Brgy. Potrero, Malabon. It’s pretty close from Monumento Caloocan. You can ride jeep going to Malinta or Malanday then ask the driver to drop you off at the Potrero Elementary School; across the school is a street with a sign board of the parish. Then you can walk just few meters.

Sts. Peter and John Parish.

Seventh Church – Pasay City.

Our Lady of Sorrows Parish. Traveling from Malabon all the way to Pasay is just too far, no LRT operation and jeep is the only option, good thing Avenida Manila is free from traffic. I was already sleeping during the trip, the moment I close and open my eyes it was different people on my side and in front of me. So I know I am sleeping. Anyways, this Parish is just walk away from Gil Puyat Avenue so I checked my Google Map which church that will complete my seventh heaven. I was actually planning either Guadalupe in Makati or in Pasay. But I’m afraid I’ll be stuck in EDSA due to series of reblocking that causing heavy traffic. That’s why I decided to visit this Parish. No regrets, I love the interior, the flooring and painting are quite refreshing as well as the stained glass.

How to get here? Located in FB Harrison Street in Pasay City. Starting point is LRT Line 1 Gil Puyat Station. From there you can just walk or ride small orange cabs way to MOA then ask the driver to drop you off at the Harrison Street and just cross the other side.

Our Lady of Sorrows Parish.

And once again, I have completed another cherished thing in this world, though I was sunk in the middle of the sizzling sun, hungry and sleepy yet it’s not enough to recompense all my sins. I hope in this little thing it would help reduce all my shortcomings to the Heaven’s King and the people around me. I also hope that He assist me to make this possible year after year after year. #HolyWeek2014!

SIGNPOST:

Visita Iglesia, also known as Seven Churches Visitation is a kind of Christian practiced to visit seven different churches or religious institutions. Although this can be happened any day in the Holy Week before Easter Sunday but usually during Maundy Thursday.

What to Pray? Please refer to this site, it will teach what to do from First Church to Seven Church. Prayer Guide for Visita Iglesia (For PersonalUse).

4 Las Piñas Nature's Church

We were scheduled of visiting an abandoned house in Las Piñas to put some barricades, particularly in Moonwalk Village where most of the huge houses and some elite families reside. Not actually my own house, and how I wish having my own one. It is owned by a family whom I was joining. They actually received reports that the house was being used into some dirty works.

It was also Sunday so I’m kinda doubtful that I will not be able to attend mass. I usually catch the afternoon schedule and I know we will be staying there for couple of hours or until it gets dark. Fortunately while gliding around Moonwalk Village, we passed by a garden-like church seen from the outside so I quickly checked Mr. Google about the place. And glad that it is Mary Immaculate Parish. So I guess I know where to go during break installing the barricades.

When I stepped at the entrance I started to hear the existent sounds of nature, the trunk of trees dancing from the gale of the winds. The leaves were like cymbals wobbling and producing sound of cradlesong. Now I understand why Mary Immaculate Parish is tagged as Nature’s Church. It’s really a garden-feel-like experience and the atmosphere is perfect for solemnity and gravity. And you can really feel the presence of the Lord.

If you noticed the chairs, those are made of logs. Everything is produced by nature. Even the presider’s chair is also made from branches. The ceiling has doves figurines made of Capiz, and when I checked the internet how it look like during the night? Pretty amazing, it has lights inside it and looks like flying around the ceiling.

We wandered around and it has tiny lagoon with Nipa Hut atop of the bridge. It has a flowing creek following to a nature concept plan of the place. Leading to the path is a small ossuary garden. And if you go around it has birds house with different avian species. It looks a miniature of Manila Zoo minus the church. 

Beside the entrance is a small chapel – San Lorenzo de Manila Chapel. At first I didn’t noticed this small chapel as I was excited to see the big parish. But when I go around following the pathway we ended up on this exceptional chapel. San Lorezo de Manila Chapel is likewise as the Mary Immaculate Parish, it is also nature alike, chairs are made of trees and also covered with Anahaw leaves. The chandelier also is likewise matchless with glamorous Swarovski made glass, it’s only made of twigs of trees yet really beautiful.

This would be my second article about churches and glad that I’m able to inadvertently visited this state of the art nature like piece. Although not accessible to the most common roadways yet recommended for wedding ceremony. It’s all in one, where you can also hold the reception. Garden by the Church.

MASS SCHEDULES:
Monday - 6AM Only
Tuesday - Friday 6AM & 7PM
Wednesday Novena - 630PM
Saturday - 6AM & 6PM(Anticipated Mass)
Sunday - 7AM, 830AM, 10AM(Tagalog/Children's Mass), 4PM, 515PM, 630PM, 745PM
Baptism is every Sunday 11AM, and Wedding is by request so please see contact numbers below for reservation.

Mary Immaculate Parish - Nature Church
Address: Apollo III, Moonwalk Village, Las Piñas City, Philippines
Contact Numbers: +632 801-1806 / +632 805-7225