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| These were the churches I visited in Makati last Holy Week
I never tried doing my own Visita Iglesia. I've done this holy week ritual with the company of my family. But this year, I thought of doing it alone for a change. Since I love going outdoors in my own pace, I did this despite the scorching heat of the summer sun that will accompany my journey during this entire experience. Yes, I finally did it in my childhood hometown, Makati.
I've chosen doing this activity in Makati because I wanted to go back to where I used to live. What has been my Church hometown looked like after several years I haven't been a parishioner. My family used to live here for 7 years before we decided to permanently reside in our present home in Laguna. Also, I have selected Makati for budgetary constraint. Other than that, I believe Makati has unique church structures- a mixture of historical and modern ones.
I did my Church rounds last March 27, Holy Wednesday, so as to prevent myself from being surrounded with the crowd who will flock to churches to do the same thing every holy week.
 First Stop: Santuario de San Antonio Parish Church - Brgy. Forbes Park This was my first in my list of itinerary, Santuario de San Antonio Parish Church. I came from my godparents' residence in Parañaque, rode a bus going to Ayala to get to one of the beautiful churches in Makati.
Located at Forbes Park, an exclusive village in Makati, Santuario de San Antonio is one of the famous churches to do a celebrity wedding because of its elegance and proximity to other nearby cities in the Metro. The cream-colored facade of the church reflects simplicity and elegance it has maintained. Entering the church's premises, I was awed with its big ambiance and beauty.
Talking about dramatic wedding entrance, no wonder, why a lot of brides would like to do their wedding here because it has a long aisle to walk on before reaching the altar.
At the right side of the church is the Station of the Cross Garden which was built in 2010. This is where I did my Station of the Cross. It was good that they designed such place because you will feel the solemnity of the activity. You can pray without being distracted. Apart from that, you are surrounded with green plants that you will be able to breathe at least fresh air despite the city's pollution.
Second Stop: Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Church - Brgy. Guadalupe Nuevo
After my first ever church visit at Santuario de San Antonio, I headed to Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Guadalupe Nuevo, where I was a former parishioner. We lived here back in 1997. This was used to be our worship place when I was in my First year in High School. It was good to be back as I went inside the premises. Nothing has changed except that it is now become the National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Reading the marker (Sorry, I did not have a decent picture of the marker) of the establishment of the parish as the National Shrine by former Archbishop of Manila Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales in 2010, I found out that my former professor in my Paulthenics class, Mr. Gerardo Guiuan, is the president of the Parish Coordinating Council of the said church, who helped in making the establishment a National Shrine.
Third Stop: Nuestra Señora de Gracia - Brgy. Guadalupe Viejo
If there is one church in mind that made most of my childhood years special in Makati, that would be Nuestra Señora de Gracia. As far as I can remember, we attended regular Sunday masses as a family in this old church for five straight years from 1990 to 1995. When I arrived at this church, I couldn't help but recall the memories of my childhood years. I used to attend the 3'o clock afternoon children's mass with my playmates before. Going to this church meant a lot to me. Inside the church, while doing my prayer, I said my gratitude to God for bringing me again in this place. I could not contain my happiness as I took pictures of my former parish church. I am glad that I was once a part of the oldest standing church in Makati.
Nuestra Señora de Gracia was built in 1601 by the Augustinian Friars. The marker installed by Historical Research and Markers Committee in 1937 narrated the details of the formation of this baroque church in the city.
Fourth Stop: Sts. Peter & Paul Parish Church - Brgy. Poblacion
Second to Nuestra Señora de Gracia, Sts. Peter & Paul Parish is one of the churches we visited to hear Sunday Mass. If we fail to attend Mass in our parish church, this was our worship place alternative since it's near to our residence and they have regular mass schedules at 9 in the morning.
Fifth Stop: St. Andrew the Apostle Parish Church - Brgy. Bel-Air
St. Andrew the Apostle Church is also special to me because this is where I rendered my 40-hour church service when I was in college. Our college instructor in Religious Education (Rel Ed) given this project back in second year. Through the help of my classmate in college, Kathleen Cruz, she invited me and the rest our friends to do our project in this beautiful, dome structured church. We were the ones who helped the parish in finishing the encoding of baptismal registry of the church and did parish clean-up during our 40-hour service. Nice experience especially if you are with the company of your friends.
St. Andrew the Apostle was built in 1968 by a legendary Filipino architect, Leandro Locsin. It was known for its X-shaped cross which signifies the manner of a martyr died crucifixion.
Sixth Stop: St. Alphonsus Mary de Liguori Parish Church- Brgy. Magallanes
Whenever I passed by South Luzon Expressway going to Sucat, I cannot help but stare at the magnificent structure of St. Alphonsus Mary de Liguori Parish Church or otherwise known as Magallanes Church. The architectural formation of this church is very modern and exquisite. I'm so intrigue of how its interior look like that's why I included it in my church visit.
When I arrived here at lunchtime, the church was holding a 12nn mass that's why I couldn't take much photos of the interior design of the church. Throughout the mass, I was mesmerized with the view I was seeing then. After the mass, I went out and did the station of the cross. What's good about their station of the cross, is that the prayers are already posted in every station and the depiction was very modern. Several national artist contributed in making the way of the cross.
After finishing my first Visita Iglesia alone, I have realized that the suffering of Jesus Christ during the way of the cross was very significant and should serve as a lesson to all of us that Love is a Sacrifice. No one has experience love without a sacrifice. This activity also has made me meditate on the significance of passion and death of Christ.
Other than Jesus show of unconditional love to mankind, I appreciated the creativity our fellowmen expressed in building these churches. They shared their time, effort and talent to build such wonderful masterpieces shown above. These churches are not only a place of worship but also a standing witnesses of a flourishing and continuing story of love of God to mankind.
It was a tiring experience but a very fulfilling one. I get to remember the past events of my life while I discover what are new things to look forward to. I will do this activity again next year in a different location.
All photos were taken by the author herself.
TouRIZta
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Tour, Recreation and Adventure: Vast Experiences in Life. That's TRAVEL.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Church Visitation - remembering my childhood roots and discovering anew
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