"Apir" part 2

Commuter did not commute this time for this story. He was with his volunteer group who had gone to Manila for the Visita Iglesia last Thursday. He was relieved to be in a private car as they visited 14 churches, mostly in Manila, for the Visita Iglesia. Had he commuted, he would have atoned all his sins.

It was a beautiful day, with occasional winds and agreeable temperature. We left Paranaque at six that Thursday morning. The road was clear, generally. Our first church was Baclaran. It was my first inside the Church. Next was Malate Church. The first time I ever heard mass in Malate was during a Simbang Gabi, after clubbing in Malate way back in college.

Malate Church

Next was the Ermita Shrine (Nuestra Senora de Guia Church in Ermita). It was my first time to be in this church. Since I was not very superstitious, I did not make wishes. My companions tell me that a first-timer in a church can make wishes.

Ermita Shrine

Then, we were off to the walled city of Intramuros. There was a Chrism Mass for priests at the Manila Cathedral. It was impossible for us to get in then. So, we walked a meters to the San Agustin Church. The Chrism Mass might be over after going to San Agustin Church, the oldest stone church in the country.  Its ceilings never fail to amaze me. This church was one of the reasons for my love affair with Intramuros.

San Agustin Church

When we got back to Manila Cathedral, there was still mass. Manila has many other churches, so we moved on to another historical Manila district - San Miguel.

 

Even priests have fans. The crowd outside Manila Cathedral  was waiting with banners for their respective parish priests.

At San Miguel Church near Malacanang

As we were approaching San Miguel Church, there was a procession. We did not anymore enter the church, instead we said our prayers outside. I don't know what this procession is called. Do you?

We went to school-based churches after that. There was St Jude, San Beda and San Sebastian. It was the San Sebastian Church that captured my imagination. It was the first and only steel church in the whole of Asia. From its view outside, it was majestic despite the many wires crisscrossing the view.

San Sebastian

If my memory serves me right, this was taken in UST. 

Quiapo Church

After UST, whose campus we admired, we went to Quiapo Church.

"Mall of Asia Church"

We were heading back towards South. We went to that church near the Mall of Asia. By this time we were already tired but we were closing in to our 14th Iglesia. But hungry we were not because at lunch time we were in the area of Binondo Church. We had dumplings for lunch!

Our penultimate church was St Jerome in Alabang.

St Jerome Church in Alabang

14th Church: Tuloy sa Don Bosco Church

AMEN.