Via Crucis/ Visita Iglesia

Lenten Season is always tough! There's always the dilemma of getting away from it all albeit, temporarily, by heading towards the nearest resort and by sticking to age old traditions of keeping the entire week holy and spiritual. Gone are the days when my friends and I would plan for months in advance where and how we would spend Holy Week. Eventually, everyone got busy and had other plans and commitments and the yearly trek to the beach among friends have been all but ababndoned.

I spent the season in my most solemn and austere celebration. I did my own stations of the cross, went to Mass and then did the Visita Iglesia. For the past few years, we have been doing Visita Iglesia with friends. The twist is that each church we visit is one Station. It's heartwarming to note that some families who remain in Manila during Holy Week are still carrying on the tradition and tagging their kids along to learn what the significance of the season is all about. I remember my dear departed parents who taught us the tradition by making my sister and myself lead in prayers as we went from station to station in church.

This year, I feel truly blessed that I was able to complete the 14 stations by visiting the following churches with friends:

1. La Paz

The parish of La Paz in the district of Zobel Roxas is a modest chapel that serves the community in various ways. They have a hospice (St. Camillus) which helps the under privileged with their health care needs. I also visit the chapel when I'm about to embark on a journey abroad. This, aside from the national shrine of La Paz y Buenviaje, is a favorite visita for me as it's a lot nearer than Antipolo. Not that I wouldn't jump at the opportunity to visit Antipolo in a heartbeat.

2. San Pablo

The chapel is secluded within the San Paul seminary in Makati City. The Libreria de San Pablo, the store fronting the seminary, is a favorite haunt of mine when looking for prayer books and Christian reading material. Spreading the word of God through printed material is the order's vocation. The compound is located along St. Paul Road, San Antonio Village Makati. The back entrance is in Sampaloc Street of the same village.

3. Sacred Heart Shrine

The  National Shrine of the Sacred Heart is also in Makati. Just a stone's throw away from the Libreria San Pablo and St. Paul seminary. The church is done in Spanish colonial style which iron grills and arched porticoes . The small church is delightfully air-conditioned. It is situated right across the Makati YMCA. The national shrine is also close to Cardinal Ceramics which I run to for Christmas presents and give-aways. Directional signs to the shrine can be found along Kamagong extension so it's impossible to miss it.

4. St. Andrew

St. Andrew church is situated along Kalayaan Avenue in Makati City. The simple structure of a church in the round with glass and steel walls has an almost sculptural roof in a stylized dome executed in concrete. St. Andrew serves the spiritual needs of adjacent posh villages of Bel-Air and San Miguel and portions of the Zapote area in Makati.

5. Saints Peter and Paul

Perhaps one of the more serene altars of repose was in Saints Peter and Paul. The church lies along P. Burgos street in Makati. The area of Guadalupe Viejo in Makati is rich in religious folk tradition. Numerous "kubols" form stations of the cross along the area as rich families deck out their personal collections which have been inherited from one generation to another. This historic church boasts of an original retablo in silver which is still intact.

6. Nstra. Sra. de Guadalupe

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is located in Makati in an area called... Guadalupe, natch!!! I come to this church when I need  to find solace in troubled times. Much like how I prayed in the Cathedral dedicated to our Lady in Teppeyac Hill in Mexico City, the church in Makati never fails to soothe frazzled nerves and calm the senses. This year, the altar steps were completely lined with votive candles and the altar of repose was decked simply in small delicate floral arrangements.

7. St. Therese National Shrine

The shrine to St. Therese of Lisieux is easy to find. Just head towards NAIA3 and Resort World and you're certain to find it. The massive Church is a composite of Spanish colonial and modern. It has basement parking and another small chapel in the columbarium area. The shrine is cavernous with wide arched stained glass windows and a high ceiling.

8. Mary Help of Christians

The church serves the parish of Magallanes Village. It has a modern structure of concentric arches framing glass panes and a cross on its highest arch. The church figured prominently in the 80's when then parish priest Fr. Niko served as a very vocal critic of then First Lady Mrs. Imelda Romualdez Marcos. Fr. Niko went so far as to address her as Nstra. Sra. de Metro-Manila. Then in one of his eucharistic celebrations, the first lady decided to show up. Fr. Niko acknowledged her presence and she visited him after Mass to tell him that she had heard so much about his famous sermons. She was obviously peeved but civil.

9.Our Lady of Sorrows

The historic church of Our Lady of Sorrows along F.B. Harrison and Villaruel streets in Pasay City is the church where Benigno Aquino and Corazon Cojuangco Aquino were wed. These two figure prominently in our history eventually becoming the thorn in President Ferdinand Marcos' side. The unassuming church is rather small and not prominently known but it is gaining support from the National Historical Institute.

10. San Isidro

San Isidro is situated in Taft Avenue which is very near Donada Street in Pasay City. San Isidro is a parish church that has the usual parochial school located right beside it. San Isidro is known as a prolific farmer and miracle worker. The most prominent celebrations of his feast day may be found during the Pahiyas festival in the province of Quezon.

11. Saint Joseph the Worker

A small church located in Dian street, Palanan, Makati City, St Joseph is a modern structure with a gable shaped roof and a very simple modern altar design. The church is sparse and moderately sized serving the Cash and Carry area and its environs.

12. St. Martin de Porres

This is actually a private chapel built as an offering in reward for the healing of a family member. It is dedicated to St. Martin de Porres, a simple man who tended to the poor and the sick in his time. St. Martin is located along Leon Guinto in Manila in a small esquinita called Pasaje de Galvan. The chapel is also home to a mystic who does healing sessions and receives locutions. She is there for "consultation" every Tuesdays when Masses are said in the chapel. they are also open to the public during Lent.

13. Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

The shrine to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal is located along San Marcelino Street in Ermita, Manila. Built around the late 1500's to early 1600's, the church is within the Adamson University compound and is now known as the St. Vincent de Paul parish. On the left side of the church is a walkway that leads to Taft avenue. Not halfway along the said walkway on an external corner of the church transept is a marker to commemorate the victims of the Japanese occupation in Manila.

14. Our Lady of Remedies

Other wise known as Malate Church, the church of Our Lady of Remedies was built by the Augustinians after they had started to teach cathecism in Manila. The church was used as the barracks during the occupation on Manila by British troops during the British Interlude in 1762 when the British conquered Manila by breaching the walls of Intramuros. Then the Irish priests (Columbans) were murdered here during WWII. Subsequently the church was completely destroyed during the bombing of Manila in 1945. It was then rebuilt and restored through private donations from its parishioners and companies around the area.

I hope your Holy Week was as solemn... Enjoy your Easter celebrations, everyone!!!