Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church and Morong Church: Visita Iglesia Five and Six

"Simon of Cyrene carries the cross."

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish Church
Broadway St., New Manila, Quezon City
In Dec. 30, 1954, the cornerstone for the church was blessed by Archbishop Vagnozzi. This church is favored for weddings, with its large, ornate array of stained glass windows, the church is romantic as it is serene.

The church's grandiosity



In baroque-like fashion



The long aisle you want to walk someday,
if you're the bride.

A station of the cross on a pillar



Beautiful stained glasses, to die for

In contrast

"Veronica wipes the face of Jesus."

Morong Church
St. Jerome Parish Church
Iglesia de San Geronimo
Morong, Rizal
Constructed in 1615 by Chinese craftsmen, this neo-baroque wonder of Rizal province boasts of its octagonal bell tower and it’s intricate baroque facade. The church houses the 1st class relic of St. Jerome.



The grandiosity

the intricate facade



Christ at the cross

The Jesuses



St. Jerome praying

In contrast

Next stop, Sta. Clara de Montefalco Church and Church of Gesu.

Credits for Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church info.
Credits for Morong Church info: Habagat Central and Wikipedia

San Sebastián Church, St. Jude Church and San Beda Chapel: Visita Iglesia Three and Four

"Jesus falls for the first time."

San Sebastián Church
Basilica Minore de San Sebastián
Parish of San Sebastian and the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Plaza del Cármen, Claro M. Recto Street, Quiapo, Manila
Completed in 1891, noted for it's Gothic architectural design, pre-fabricated and for being the only all-steel church or basilica in Asia. In 2006, it was included in the Tentative List for possible designation as a World Heritage Site.

The facade in powder blue.

The twin spires!

The all-steel work is amazingly charming.

I just can't get enough of the grandiosity.

"Jesus meets His mother."

St. Jude Church
National Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus
J.P. Laurel St., San Miguel, Manila
Completed in October 23, 1960, one of the three erected parishes for the Chinese/ Filipino-Chinese. Known for it's Thursday novenas.

Church's facade

Modern interior

San Beda Chapel
Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat
San Beda College, Mendiola St., Manila
Built in 1925, it's titular patron is the Sto. Niño de Praga. The murals and paintings inside is most admired of the church.

The neo-Gothic facade

This Abbey does have a European feel

Beautiful, just beautiful.

Amazing paintings, almost Trompe-l'œil

Next stop, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish Church and Morong Church.

Credits for San Sebastian Church info.
Credits for St. Jude Church info.
Credits for San Beda Chapel info.

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.