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

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