This is the second year that I
practice Visita Iglesia tradition during the Maundy Thursday of the Holy Week.
Last year together with St Peter Parish Shrine of Leaders choir, we visited
seven churches around the Quezon City area. This year, me and my choir mate
Virgie decided heading to Manila for the traditional churches visitation.
Visita Iglesia can actually be done
at any day in the Holy Week, and the main intention for it is to pray and
reflect on Jesus’ Way to the Cross and beyond. It is not necessary that the
churches you visit must be some big, beautiful and prestigious form of
architectures, as what our Parish priest reminded us, we do Visita Iglesia for
Jesus and not for the lifeless church structure. While taking pictures is a
tolerable activity of churches’ visitors, one must never forget his purpose for
going there and that is to contemplate and to pray.
If you’re also planning to do
Visita Iglesia around Manila, let me share you the Churches we visited and the
way we got in there.
1ST STOP ~ MANILA
CATHEDRAL
From Commonwealth QC, we rode a
jeepney going to Quiapo Kalaw (fare is 25Php) and we got off in the Intramuros.
Actually we were dropped to the wrong side of the Intramuros, which was to the end
side where Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila is located (to make it to the right
end you should ride Quiapo Pier instead). The Manila Cathedral is on the other
end. We called a pedicab to pedal us to Manila Cathedral and we paid 20Php per
head. It can actually be a walking distance from PLM to Manila Cathedral, but
we opted to ride since the sun was on its peak and Virgie was wearing wedge
sandals.  |
| Manila Cathedral Church |
2ND STOP – SAN AGUSTIN
CHURCH
I must admit that I’m really
fascinated with old and historical churches so I never miss the opportunity to
pay a visit to one of the oldest churches constructed during the Spanish Colonial
period -- the San Agustin Church. San Agustin is also located in Intramuros
just a few distant ahead of Manila Cathedral. After saying our prayer and
reflecting on the Stations of the Cross, we left Manila Cathedral and walked our way to San Agustin and
passed through sidewalks full of vendors. Finally we reached San Agustin Church and
started praying on the stations before we got inside to pray and at the same
time admire the beautiful adobe stone structure of the church. |
| San Agustin Church |
3RD STOP – MALATE CHURCH (Our Lady of Remedies Parish Church)
After from San Agustin, we went out
of the Intramuros (to the Pamantasan ng Lunsod ng Maynila side). There were
jeepney passing there bound to Malate. We got on the public vehicle and paid
8Php per head going to Malate Church. We got off in San Andres street where
Malate Church’s old structure is easily spotted. This is one of the oldest
churches constructed outside the walled city and has been very significant for
British soldiers who took refuge in here during their attack on the Intramuros. We said our prayers and headed on to our next church destination.
 |
| Malate Church |
4TH STOP ~ OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION PARISH – MALATE
From the Malate Church, it’s
already a short distance going to Our Lady of The Assumption Parish. You can go
walking (we did) or have a ride on jeepney passing by in front of Malate Church
for only 8Php fare per head. The parish is near to the famous Manila Zoo so you'll definitely have no trouble in finding it. Our Lady of The Assumption Parish is a small but
homey and soul-comforting place. After the people-filled first three churches
we went into, we were relieved as we entered Our Lady of The Assumption Parish.
 |
| Our Lady of Assumption Parish |
5TH STOP ~ QUIAPO CHURCH
We walked to the street where Quiapo jeepney are passing and waited a ride going to Quiapo Church. The fare is 10Php per head.
We reached the church in less than 10 minutes and got off at once. The
underpass was closed so we followed the people who were heading on the market
place under the overpass and crossed our way going to the Quiapo church. As
always, Quiapo Church is filled with devotees and churchgoers. We said our
prayers and headed then to our next church stop. |
| Quiapo Church |
6TH STOP ~ SAN BEDA
CHURCH (Our Lady of Montserrat Abbey)
In the other side of the road from Quiapo church, we took a jeepney going
to San Miguel, Manila (near the Hortaleza building) and got off at Centro Escolar University in Mendiola. The
fare is only 8Php per head. Right after we got off, we walked towards Our Lady
of Montserrat Abbey in San Beda. We went inside and recited our prayers to the
Stations of The Cross of which artworks are illustrated on the Church’s ceiling.
7TH STOP ~ ARCHDIOCESAN
SHRINE OF SAINT JUDE THADDEUS
After in San Beda Church, we went straight
to our final stop which is the Shrine of St. Jude – the church known to almost
all students in the U-belt. First we went inside to pray, and then went out to
the stations that are set up outside the church. We said our prayers and headed
towards the exit.
We were soaking wet in
perspiration, our stomachs were rumbling in complain and our feet were crying
in soaring pain but all of those were relieved by the thoughts that those were
just tiny dots of sacrifices compared to what Jesus has done for the humanity –
He was punished and executed like a criminal not for His sins but for ours! He
saved us, thus, it is only rightful enough that we become grateful to Him in any
possible means.
Hope this blog has given you ideas
for your Visita Iglesia plan this Holy Week, have a meaningful one!
