Visita Iglesia in Manila (Revisiting the Old Manila)

Pilgrimage? Old churches? A glimpse of the past? Lalayo ka pa ba e marami naman tayo sa Manila. (Syempre lalayo rin naman tayo pero love your own din kasi.)


This is to conclude my Lenten Season posts. Well, come to think of it I didn't do a Lent series naman. I just gave some suggestions about the churches you may visit but nonetheless.... HAPPY EASTER!

We decided to go to Manila for our Visita Iglesia this year. Closer and cheaper compared to our last year's Visita Iglesia in Tagaytay (link: here) yet still "holy" and "fullfilling".

Last April 9, Manila Cathedral was re-opened to the public after two years of restoration. 

Ganda, noh?
I wanted to post a before and after picture of the cathedral but I'm too lazy to look for the pictures I took way back 2011.
The original cathedral was built in 1579. Alam mo 'yung dati nag-aaral ka lang ng history tas maririnig mo 'yung pangalang Miguel Lopez de Legazpi na sinasabing Founder ng Manila? Then, malalaman mo na siya pala 'yung namili ng location kung saan itinayo 'tong cathedral. 
The street to the next church was filled with vendors that day.
San Agustin Church
San Agustin Church is one of the Baroque Churches in the Philippines and it is also a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE. At si Miguel na binanggit ko kanina (close lang. hahaha) ay dito inilibing. I don't know if our history teacher failed to mention that before or I was just not paying attention but I had no idea he was buried there until now. Balik na lang ako para sa'yo, Sir Miguel.

The thing with century old places is that they reconnect us with the past and somehow make us realize that our stay here on Earth is also temporary. 'Yung existence ko ba ngayon, kagaya ng kay Miguel, ay magbibigay ng curiosity sa isang tao hundred of years from now? May chance. Sana may chance.

Everyday, the world makes us realize that there is a lot to learn. Sabi nga, life is a continuous learning process.


At na-markahan ko na 'yan, God-willing din syempre, gaganapin ang 25th Wedding Anniversary ko either sa Manila Cathedral o sa San Agustin Church. Dahil dyan, invited ka mga 35-40 years from now. Please po, God. hihihi. :))) Baka ikasal. hahahaha.
Ate lunch before leaving the walled city.
Isa 'to sa mga binibenta doon, grilled corn.


 Be thankful for the small things.
Left Intramuros and went to Quiapo for our third church that day. 
Quiapo Church is also known as the Shrine of the Black Nazarene.

Sabi ko, isa na siguro ang Quiapo church sa pinakabanal na sardinas sa buong mundo. Tipong hindi ka na makahinga sa sobrang dami ng tao na sinabayan pa ng napakainit na panahon. We listened to the 7 Last Words here from 12 NN to 3 PM. It was both a challenge and a sacrifice to stand that long. Buti na lang maganda ang sound system kaya rinig na rinig.

 Life is also a series of struggles. Sarap sumuko, sarap tumakbo, sarap tanungin kung bakit sa'yo nangyayari ang isang bagay pero sa kabila ng lahat, mas masarap isipin na kahit anong mangyari Siya na ang Bahala at kahit kailan di ka Niya pababayaan.

 "God, Kayo na po ang bahala." 
Santa Cruz Church

It is also a historic church built in 1916. 

Veneration of the Cross
Across the church is this fountain and behind it is one of the gates to Binondo where the next church is located. 
Binondo Church also known as Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary built in 1762.

I've been here once last year during our Binondo Food Walk link: here.
Ulit, ang sarap balikan ng nakaraan (minsan)

Si San Lorenzo Ruiz, the First Filipino Saint, trained here before going to Japan as a missionary where he was executed for not renouncing his religion. 

This Visita Iglesia was more than church visits since it has allowed me/us to look back into the past. Ang sarap lang ng aside from fulfillment dahil nakagawa or nakapagsacrifice ka, busog pa 'yung utak mo from the informations na makukuha mo upon visiting these places. 


Sabi nila, mahirap mamasyal kasi mahal pero if we only try to research more and be more appreciative of what's closer to us. Okay na sa Manila. If you're into history or just want to explore, why not try visiting the Old Manila? Babalik ako to tour the Walled City again and for another food trip in Binondo. Hihihi. Di na naubusan ng gustong puntahan. :)))



ANYWAY, dahil ang Visita Iglesia na ito ay medyo Walking Tour din:

Manila Cathedral is near Plaza del Gobernador (gate ng Intramuros na malapit sa pier) and from there San Agustin Church is a few blocks away.

Lipat ng Quiapo (Carriedo Station kung sasakay kayo ng LRT), ang Santa Cruz Church ay walking distance lang din. Sa likod ng SM ang daan, tapos sa harap ng Santa Cruz Church ay may fountain (sinabi ko na kanina) at 'yung gate ng Chinatown ay nasa Ongpin Street, dire-diretso lang at sa dulo ng street ay Binondo Church na. 

Galing sa Santa Cruz papuntang Binondo church ay pwede naman lakarin (nilakad lang din namin) pero baka malayuan 'yung iba kaya pwede rin mag tricycle. :)




Other Churches:

Baclaran Church (Our Lady of Perpetual Help)
Malate Church
Sto. Domingo Church
Saint Pancratius Chapel in Paco Park link: here.

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