WHERE TO GO THIS HOLY WEEK 2022?
Planning your 2022 Visita Iglesia? Here’s a suggested travel route on where to go this coming Holy Week.
Banner art by Angelica Flores Juan
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At the latest briefing on March 17, Francisco Duque announced that the Alert Level 1 status of Metro Manila and along with 38 other areas will likely remain until further notice. Establishments and public transit are authorized to operate at full capacity at this status.
April 14 and 15 are considered regular holidays and April 16 is a special non-working holiday.
As a known Catholic country, the Philippines considers the Lenten season an important period. The Visita Iglesia is just one of the many traditions that Augustinian missionaries brought with them. Visita Iglesia is when devout Catholics visit at least 7 churches. For nearly 300 years, the Spaniards built churches in practically every town in every province, some a little more extravagant than others. Below is the list of churches you and your family can visit this Visita Iglesia 2022.
Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene (Quiapo Church)
Address: Plaza Miranda, Quiapo, Manila, 1001 Metro Manila
One of Manila’s best-known locations, Quiapo is the residence of the Black Nazarene, an image of Christ claimed to be miraculous.
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Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz (Binondo Church)
Address: 1006 Plaza Lorenzo Ruiz, Binondo, 1006 Metro Manila
This church was constructed in 1596 by Dominican missionaries to service their Chinese Christian converts in the Binondo district, which was authorized to Chinese and Chinese mestizos by Spanish authorities. Additionally, the church serviced indigenous Filipino devotees.
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Manila Cathedral
Address: Beaterio St, Cabildo St, Intramuros, Manila, 1002 Metro Manila
The Manila Cathedral is the most recent version of the Church of Manila, which dates all the way back to the 16th century. It is a marvel of architecture, constructed between 1954 and 1958 under the guidance of Filipino architect Fernando H. Ocampo, following the destruction of the old structure during World War II.
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San Agustin Church, Intramuros, Manila
Address: General Luna St, Intramuros, Manila, 1002 Metro Manila
San Agustin Church, also known as the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation and Cincture or the Immaculate Conception Parish, is a Roman Catholic church run by the Order of St. Augustine in Manila’s old walled city of Intramuros.
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Our Lady of Remedies Parish (Malate Church)
Address: 2000 M. H. Del Pilar St, Malate, Manila, 1004 Metro
The Our Lady of Remedies Parish, also known as Malate Church, is a church in the district of Malate in the city of Manila in the Philippines. This Mexican Baroque-style church looks out over Plaza Rajah Sulayman and Manila Bay.
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San Sebastian Church
Address: Pasaje del Carmen St, Quiapo, Manila, 1001 Metro
Many devotees go to the San Sebastian Church, or Basilica Minore de San Sebastian, in the Plaza del Carmen in the city of Quiapo in Manila during Holy Week. It is an all-steel church. It has unique and well-preserved Gothic Revival architecture that draws a lot of tourists. It is also said to be the only steel church in Asia.
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Barasoain Church, Malolos, Bulacan
Address: Paseo del Congreso Street corner Don Antonio Bautista Street, Brgy. San Gabriel, Malolos, 3000
The famous icon was once printed in ten-peso money bills. The Barasoain Church was originally founded by Augustinian Missionaries and built for the Roman Catholic masses in Malolos, Bulacan during the mid-1500s to early-1600s. The Barasoain Church was chosen to host the First Philippine Congress, most commonly referred to as the Malolos Congress, which was presided over by Don Pedro A. Paterno. This resulted in the Malolos Constitution being drafted and ratified in 1899.
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Minor Basilica and Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Malolos, Bulacan
Address: Central District Malolos City, Bulacan
Just a few blocks away from Barasoain church stood the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception. The construction of the present church was started in 1814 and completely finished in 1817 under Fray. Melchor Fernández. The Malolos Cathedral convent served as the presidential palace of Emilio Aguinaldo, during the First Philippine Republic from September 15, 1898, to March 31, 1899. Aguinaldo used the convent as his office.
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National Shrine and Parish of The Divine Mercy, Marilao
Address: Brgy. Sta.Rosa 1, Marilao, Bulacan
The National Shrine of Divine Mercy is located in Marilao, Bulacan. It has been one of the most popular destinations for pilgrims since its completion in 1994. People can go visit the grounds as well as other places, like the Guadalupe Chapel and Grotto of Resurrection, Little Poland Museum, a covered area where masses are held temporarily, and eco-friendly pews outside the chapel.
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