Sto. Domingo Church and Santissimo Rosario Church: Visita Iglesia One and Two

Happy Easter everybody! Last month, my and my friends planned to have a holy week vacation in Puerto Galera, or probably to the more proximal Batangas beaches to relax and unwind. It was a much needed getaway since we seldom see each other these past few weeks due to busy work schedule. But how can one relax in a crowded beach where everybody wants to have fun and party at night. As traditional and conservative as it may seem, a Visita Iglesia (latin for Church Visit) is more apt. For those who doesn't know how that works, it is simply visiting one, seven or fourteen churches and praying the 14 stations of the cross, spread among the visited churches if 7 or 14.  Our original plan is to visit the Bulacan churches first thing in the morning on a Maundy Thursday, but we barely left northern Manila because the traffic is already thick. We headed back to Quezon City and had our first church.

"Jesus is condemned to death."

Sto. Domingo Parish Church
National Shrine of the Queen of the Holy Rosary
Quezon Ave., Quezon City
Founded in 1941 in Manila and 1951 in Quezon City. Houses the Marian image of La Naval.

The church's facade

An angel font

The alter and the aisle.

Stained glass depicting Christ's crucifiction.

"Jesus accepts the cross."

Santissimo Rosario Parish Church
University of Santo Tomas Chapel
University of Santo Thomas, Espana, Manila
Manila Archbishop Michael O’Doherty canonically inaugurated the UST Chapel into the Santisimo Rosario Church on April 26, 1942.

The church's facade.

Church bells in modern mounting.

Truly pontifical, Sancti Thomae Aquinatis.

Simple and solemn.

Sun marble pavement.

Next stop, San Sebastian Church, St. Jude Church and the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat.

Credits for Sto. Domingo Parish Church info.
Credits for Santissimo Rosario Parish Church info.

Naaalala mo ba Pap?

Naaalala mo ba na lagi kami naghuhulaan ng kapatid ko kung anong billboard ang susunod pag tayo ay pa-probinsya.

Naaalala mo ba nung binigyan mo ako ng tig-singkwentang limang-libong pang-tuition.

Naaalala mo ba nung naglilinis tayo ng aquarium tapos namatay sa chlorine lahat ng isda natin.

Naaalala mo ba nung isang beses na bumiyahe tayong pa-Cogeo tapos ako ang taga-singil mo.

Naaalala mo ba nung umalis ka at hindi ako lumabas ng kwarto.

Ang tagal mo narin palang malayo Pap.

The Rail from Katipunan to Santolan

I really love it when I zoom out of the darkness to the lush greeneries of the rail from Katipunan. The sunlight first peeks, seeps past the cables, through the train windows. Then one by one the trees line the road to the left, and to the right a patch of life. Further, the rail jumps over a river of Marikina valley. The riverbanks stretch for about a kilometer at sight and it is surprisingly refreshing. Vast bushes are scaterred to right as the train moves past the riverbank, and when you turn to the your left a magnate building of glass and stone presents itself among a busy bridge, roads and calm trees. I'm almost home.

At night time, after zooming out from darkness, darkness still awaits but a starred, coming from nearby residences. The riverbank stretch is almost amazing as lights from distant sources crystallize over the waters. As I gaze the reflections from right to left I was stunned by the the marriage of nature and civilization. It's a beauty. The mall's facadé radiates a white light through the glass wall, and reflects a soft blue over the darkness, to waters, just before the river bends. As the train approaches Santolan, I somewhat forgotten all my troubles. A moment of peace then an unstoppable rush.

Millicent

Oh as articulate as you are
Never have i met someone
So in depth with passion and persistence
Believing in true love is a feat.

Your selflessness and and self-worth is insane
They can never lie side by side
Millicent, let me doubt you
Lay, here, lie and lie.

Come down off that old branch dear
Whenever you're ready or weary
Here's a hand to hold, here's a foot to step on
Crash, but you can always jump back off.

STATUS: One and Only

You've been on my mind, I grow fonder every day
Lose myself in time just thinking of your face
God only knows why it's taken me so long to let my doubts go
You're the only one that I want

I don't know why I'm scared, I've been here before
Every feeling, every word, I've imagined it all
You'll never know if you never try
To forget your past and simply be mine

I dare you to let me be your, your one and only
Promise I'm worthy to hold in your arms
So come on and give me a chance
To prove I am the one who can walk that mile
Until the end starts

If I've been on your mind, you hang on every word I say
Lose yourself in time at the mention of my name
Will I ever know how it feels to hold you close
And have you tell me whichever road I choose you'll go

I don't know why I'm scared 'cause I've been here before
Every feeling, every word, I've imagined it all
You'll never know if you never try
To forget your past and simply be mine

I dare you to let me be your, your one and only
Promise I'm worthy to hold in your arms
So come on and give me a chance
To prove I am the one who can walk that mile
Until the end starts

I know it ain't easy giving up your heart
I know it ain't easy giving up your heart

Nobody's perfect
(I know it ain't easy giving up your heart)
Trust me, I've learned it
Nobody's perfect
(I know it ain't easy giving up your heart)
Trust me, I've learned it

Nobody's perfect
(I know it ain't easy giving up your heart)
Trust me, I've learned it
Nobody's perfect
(I know it ain't easy giving up your heart)
Trust me I've learned it

So I dare you to let me be your, your one and only
I promise I'm worthy to hold in your arms
So come on and give me a chance
To prove I am the one who can walk that mile
Until the end starts

Come on and give me a chance
To prove I am the one who can walk that mile
Until the end starts

One and Only by Adele.
A celebration of her recent Grammy acolades!