Visita Iglesia in Manila

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.

1^ST 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

2^ND 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

3^RD 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

4^TH 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

5^TH 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

6^TH 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.

7^TH 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!