Visita Iglesia 2009
Visita Iglesia is a tradition I always observed during Lenten season, this is the 2nd year that I post here the churches I visited for Station of the Cross. I’ve been to other different churches in the past years since I started this devotion years ago. This year I visited churches near my place. Click image for a bigger view.
St. Joseph Church – The home of the world famous bamboo organ consists of 902 bamboos, wood and metal. St Joseph is also one of the oldest baroque style church in the Philippines, built in 1797-1819 and made of adobe stones. There are many tourists (Japanese, Korean etc) when I arrived, having pictures in different areas of the church. One thing I noticed is they never forgot to take a shot of the bamboo organ. They even noticed the chandeliers made of capiz. Since the church is small, Stations of the Cross was outside, a bamboo cross symbolized a station.
San Dionisio Chapel – (or Tata Dune Chapel) This is the first time I go to this church, a small baroque style church along Quirino Avenue. 
I will try to drop by again here next time to see Tata Dune, the headless Patron Saint of San Dionisio. I didn’t noticed the image because I’m busy with my Station of the Cross.
St. Andrew Church – is considered one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. It was established in the year 1580 by Augustinian Friars in order to spread the Spanish religion of Roman Catholicism or Christianity throughout the Philippines. St. Andrew is the patron saint of fishermen. The altar was covered now, behind the giant cloth is a classic baroque style altar, the image of Lady of Buen Suceso in the center, St. Andrew image on the right and St. Joseph is on the left. This is where I attended mass by Bishop Jesse E. Mercado.
Sto. Niño Church – I didn’t know this church before until a friend of my sister held her wedding here. 
Its a small church in the heart of Sto. Niño in Paranaque, along Col. de Leon St, locals call southern side of the long street as Wawa. I am fascinated with this church with its native fixtures, bamboo walls and banig ceiling.
Sta. Rita de Cascia Church – Baclaran is known for Mother of Perpetual Help but there are some who didn’t know that Sta. Rita de Cascia is the patron saint of Baclaran. The church is located along Quiriño Avenue. Stations are stained glass just like the image of St. Rita. 
Within the compound is the only private school in Baclaran, Sta Rita de Cascia Parochial School known before as Carmel School. Fiesta in Baclaran is every 3rd Sunday of May in celebration of Sta. Rita de Cascia’s feast day.
Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help – also known as Baclaran Church or Redemptorist Church, where devotees often go here for their novena every Wednesday. The people that come now almost feels like it is a Wednesday. From Sta. Rita de Cascia Parish Church, you could walk or ride a pedicab to go here. There is always a 6pm mass every Holy Thursday yearly.
Shrine of Jesus, The Way, The Truth and The Life – The church was built in 1999, I noticed that there more people coming here yearly. This is the last church in completion of my Station of the Cross, I also attended the 5:30pm mass and went home. From Baclaran Church, ride a shuttle from Redemptorist corner Roxas Boulevard going to SM Mall of Asia, it is near SMX.
Categories: Tourism Tags: church, visita iglesia
Pinoy Tourist In The Philippines
I was born and grew up in Manila and seldom made vacations during my younger years. A business managed by my father added to the reasons why, it was impossible for him to leave for a couple of days for a family vacation. As I grew up, I want to explore more the beautiful places in the Philippines. I’ve mentioned several times on this blog that I don’t want to be a tourist on my beloved country.
The Philippines is made up of 7,107 islands covering a land area of 115,739 sq. m. (299,764 sq. km.). Main island groups are Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Capital is Manila. Time Zone is GMT + 8 hours.
This is my blog’s special page, I’ll be updating this page to add more blog post links. I personally took the pictures, please don’t make me sad by stealing them. I have pictures (from my previous escapades) that I want to scan and post it here. Sorry, I don’t have digicam at that time. Since its summer and school vacation, I’m sure there will be more addition to this page. Mabuhay!
Club Paradise In Coron Palawan
Minor Basilica Of The Immaculate Conception
Our Lady Of Manaoag In Tagaytay
Shrine Of Jesus, The Way, The Truth And The Life
Shrine Of Nuestra Senora De Guia
San Agustin Church
St Vincent De Paul Church
Mayon Volcano Now After Reming
Vote Tubbataha Reef For Seven New Wonders Of Nature
Shrine Of Nuestra Senora De Guia
The church was built in 1606, it was made of bamboo, nipa and mulawen at first. The church was oftentimes damaged by eartquake. It was rebuilt again in 1810 and damaged again in 1945 during “World War II”. The image of Nuestra Senora De Guia was originally homed at Manila Cathedral and transferred here in 1918. The present church was built in 1947.
Her image is the oldest in the Philippines having been discovered on May 19, 1571 around the seashore which is now the site of the Ermita Church by soldiers of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi after he took over possession of the city in honor of King Felipe II of Spain. It is said that the image must have been one of those brought to the country by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 and must have been sent by the Cebu native chiefs as a gift to one of the rajahs in Manila.
The Shrine of Nuestra Senora De Guia is popularly known as Ermita Church. That’s the best picture I can show you, it was dark already and this was my sixth church on my list. Remember, Visita Iglesia is at night time. The picture of the Altar of Repose from my Visita Iglesia article was taken here at Ermita Church or Nuestra Senora De Guia Church. Their Altar of Repose is really beautiful highlighted with all the flowers, curtains and lights.
Anyway, from Intramuros, another jeepney ride bound to Harrison or Baclaran will take you to Ermita, Manila. You can see the shrine at your left, few blocks from UN Avenue.
San Agustin Church
San Agustin Church originally known as Iglesia de San Pablo, founded in 1571 is the oldest stone church in the Philippines (built in 1586). It has withstood many earthquakes from 1645 up to the present and survived the British Invasion in 1762, the Spanish-American War in 1898 and the Japanese Invasion in 1942. In this church – the ashes of early Spanish Conquistadores Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, Salcedo, Lavezares and Blessed Pedro de Zuniga and others now rest in the easternmost chapel of the transept.
It was also declared by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) as a World Heritage Site in 1993. In fact, it is one of the four Baroque Churches in the Philippines declared by UNESCO.
San Agustin Church is the fifth church I’ve visited. If I wasn’t mistaken, I think its three blocks away from Manila Cathedral. You’ll surely enjoy walking when you can see the old spanish buildings and walkway of Intramuros.
Manila Cathedral
From Sta. Cruz Church, take a jeepney ride heading to Pier. You can see from your left the Manila Cathedral. Actually, I’m happy that I finally saw the Cathedral with my own eyes on my first visit. Manila Cathedral is the fourth church on my Visita Iglesia list.
Upon seeing the official website of Manila Cathedral, I learned that I haven’t explore some parts of the cathedral. I didn’t saw the Chapels of St. Joseph, San Lorenzo Ruiz, Sacred Heart, Blessed Sacrament, St. Pius X, Ina Poon Bato, Sta. Potenciana, Sto. Nino, St. Jude, St. Peter and many more. I’m looking forward to my next visit to the Cathedral this summer.
