Tips and Great Trips

I stayed in San Jose, Nueva Ecija for 4 days and stayed at Hotel Tierra. Just a few meters away is St Joseph Cathedral, one of the oldest cathedrals in the country. I must say, the cathedral looked really nice. I was in awe even just by looking at its facade. And as I walked in, I felt more drawn to it. I took a few moments of silence to say my prayer and made my wish. Well, as they say, if it’s the first time you visit a church, you can make a wish and it will be granted so that’s what I did (no harm done for trying).

Looks like I have started a new tradition for myself…that is, every Panagbenga festival at Baguio, I would pass by Our Lady of Manaoag Church before going up to Baguio.  I would leave Manila, boarding Dagupan Bus at around mignight (cost: Php228 one way) and reach Our Lady of Manaoag in Pangasinan at around 4 am, just in time when the Church opens.

Our Lady of Manaoag Church at 4 am

It’s still pitch dark but there are already a lot people. By the time you go down the bus there are tricylce drivers offering a ride (you don’t have to take one since the bus stops right at the side of the church), children selling candles, women selling sampaguita and some already opening up their stalls.

Usually before going inside the church, I’d pass by the Petron comfort room to relieve myself after a 4 hour worth of bus trip and/or eat some snacks at the nearby burger machine (buy one take one jumbo burger at Php35.00).

The mass starts at around 5 am.  If you arrive earlier than that, you still have some time to light some candles, view the statue exhibits or do some shopping from the stalls outside the church where you can buy tupig, puto calasiao, kutchinta, relics and statues, and a whole lot more.

It can really be very early for some, but a lot really vouch that most of the petitions (if not all) that they have prayed for at the Manaoag Church have come true.  Well, I hope God hears my prayers.

Sleeping young boy during the 5am mass

Anyway, the mass ends at around 6am, which is actually the first trip at the terminal of vans going to Baguio at the side of the Manaoag Church.  It’s around 2 hours to reach Baguio (cost: Php 70.00).  The vans do not have aircon, but it does not matter since when you open the windows you would greatly appreciate the fresh air, especially when you reach Baguio where it’s really cold.

One of the things I never fail to do when going to Our Lady of Manaoag Church is to light some candle.  They have this space by the backside of the church where you can light your candles.  There is something very serene about the place that I feel very comfortable talking to God while lighting the candles.  With the intercession of Our Lady of Manaoag, I hope all our petitions be heard.

Prayer before lighting the candle

Father in Heaven, the light of Jesus has scattered the darkness of hatred and sin.  Accept this candle and let the light of yourtruth guide me to your kingdom.  Inflame my heart with your grace.  Keep me in the radiance of your truth.  Fill my heart with your diving love and please help me with my needs (mention your petition).  Grant this through Christ, our Lord and the intercession of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag. Amen

Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory be…

I’ve actually snapped some pictures in binondo already last April.  I was originally just going to Times Trading to shop for some of my scrapbooking needs and since the church is just a few steps away I decided to visit it as well and take some pictures.  Good thing I had my camera with me.

The church is really nice but the surrounding is just not too picture friendly.  It’s a challenge to take pictures of the church without having extra buildings or electricity wires being included in the picture.

It was just a short photoshoot since I was already tired that day, but vowed to return…more prepared and ready!

Going home, I had to take a jeepney to the Manila City Hall where I can grab a jeepney going home (Project 6) .  Since I was there already, I also decided to take a couple more pictures.

Hopefully next time I can also cover Intramuros!

We would usually go and do Visita Iglesia every Holy Thursday.  Our usual itinerary are those churches near our place.  This year, I suggested that we extend our range of Churches and cover those in Manila as well.

Armed with a map, I made out itinerary and made sure  to know where to pass by since my uncle would be driving and doesn’t know how to go to the other churches.  I didn’t want to inconvenience my family to stop by every now and then just to ask for directions.

Anyway, it’s taking me time to upload the pictures, but here’s the list of Churches that we went to today.

1. Our Lady of Hope (Pag-asa, Quezon City)

2. Sto. Nino Church (Bago Bantay, Quezon City)

3. Christ the King (Project 7, Quezon City)

4. Heart of Jesus and Mary (Twin Hearts) (West Triangle, Quezon City)

5. Christ the King (E. Rodriguez Quezon City)

6.  Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Shrine  (New Manila, Quezon City)

7.  Sto. Domingo Church (Quezon Ave, Quezon City)

8.  San Beda Chapel  (Manila)

9. St. Jude Archdiocesan Shrine (Manila)

10.  Sta. Cruz Church

11. Binondo Church

12.  Manila Cathedral (Intramuros, Manila)

13. San Agustin Church (Intramuros, Manila)

14. Church of Our Lady of Remedies (Malate Church) (M.H. Del Pilar, Manila)

15. The Shrine of Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life (near Mall of Asia)