Religion has a firm grip on Filipinos. With the Philippines having more than 86 percent of the Roman Catholic population and another six percent belonging to a diverse Christian denomination, the country has become the only Christian Nation in Asia. The pervasiveness of Christianity goes back to the country’s long-standing history of Spanish colonization.
Filipinos are very expressive of their faith, especially the Roman Catholics. Annually, there is an observance of the Holy Week among the Christian faith community. Holy Week is known to be the most sacred week in the liturgical year in Christianity. Hence, it is observed with special solemnity as a time of devotion to the Passion of Jesus Christ.
Visita Iglesia Philippines | Holy Week
One significant tradition during the Holy Week is the Visita Iglesia or the Christian act of visiting seven churches during Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. It is the Catholics’ form of penance to share the same experience with Jesus during His crucifixion. Each of the seven churches represents the last seven places that Christ visited, from entering His Passion to His Death at Calvary. Catholics usually visit grand and old churches when going for a Visita Iglesia.
There are countless promising churches to experience Visita Iglesia in the Philippines. If you’re still wondering where to visit this year, here is the list of recommended and notable churches for Visita Iglesia nationwide.
Manila for Visita Iglesia | Seven Churches Visitation
Manila is a popular destination for the Catholic tradition of Visita Iglesia, which involves the visitation of seven churches on Maundy Thursday or Good Friday. Among the numerous Catholic churches in Manila, some of the most significant ones for this tradition include Santa Cruz Church, Binondo Church, Quiapo Church (Minor Basilica), San Agustin Church, Malate Church, and Manila Cathedral. These churches offer not only a place for worship but also an opportunity to appreciate the rich history and architecture of Manila. Whether it’s for a spiritual journey or a cultural experience, visiting these churches can provide a unique insight into the Catholic faith and the city’s heritage.
Antipolo Cathedral in Antipolo, Rizal
Referred by locals as “Simbahan ng Antipolo,” Antipolo Cathedral enshrines the Marian image of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage or the Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje. This divine image is also called the Black Madonna. Antipolo Cathedral is the most well-known church in the city, attracting millions of pilgrims annually because of the mysterious stories about the Black Madonna. It is being said that back in the 1630s, during the cathedral’s construction, this wooden image of the Virgin Mary would mysteriously disappear from its shrine only to be found at the top of a tipolo tree, a breadfruit tree that birthed the locality’s name. The incident happened several times.
The name ‘Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage’ was given after Governor General Juan Niño de Tabora brought the image from Mexico to the Philippines. He attributed his safe expedition to the image of the Virgin Mary. Hence, in the present time, car owners visit the church to pray and have their vehicles blessed for safe travels.
Antipolo cathedral is located at the center of Antipolo City, Rizal. It is the home of the Archdiocese of Antipolo, which supervises other parish churches in some cities in Manila. Other interesting churches in Antipolo that you could visit to complete your Visita Iglesia stations are St. Therese of the Child Jesus Diocesan Shrine, San Isidro Labrador Parish, The Transfiguration of Christ Parish Church, Parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, St. John Mary Vianney Parish Church, and the Nuestra Señora de la Annunciata Parish Church.
National Shrine of Padre Pio in Santo Tomas, Batangas
Declared as a National Shrine in 2015, the Shrine of Padre Pio in Santo Tomas, Batangas, became the first-ever National Shrine in Batangas and the CALABARZON region. After his canonization as a Saint in June 2002, Padre Pio’s already large-scale following became even more colossal in the Philippines. Thus, this church in Batangas set off as a significant landmark not only to devotees but also to other tourists and local travelers.
Aside from its momentous history, one of the main contributors to its popularity is the church’s architectural design consisting of bamboo, driftwood, sawali, stones, nipa leaves, and arrangements made of indigenous materials. The church bears a no-door style, reflecting that it is open to anyone who wants to visit and seek refuge.
Located at Brgy. San Pedro in Santo Tomas, the National Shrine of Padre Pio also serves as an abode to the massive replica of the Glorious Cross of the Archdiocese of Lipa during the Jubilee Year 2000.
When going for a Visita Iglesia in Batangas, you can also visit San Sebastian Cathedral and Mt. Carmel Chapel in Lipa City, Immaculate Conception Church in Bauan, San Rafael the Archangel Church in Calaca, and Caysasay Shrine and Basilica de San Martin de Tours in Taal.
Pink Sisters Convent in Tagaytay, Cavite
Found in Tagaytay, the Pink Sisters Convent has always been a famous Holy Week and Simbang Gabi church. The convent is led by nuns from Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration following a solemn vow of strictly detaching themselves from the external world. It is said that the nuns render prayers for the world the whole day inside the convent. Therefore, when visiting the chapel, individuals write down and put their intentions into a ‘drop it’ box for the nuns to read.
Entering the church, you will find that it is divided by grills. Its purpose is to separate the nuns from ordinary people to perpetuate the solemnity of the prayers. The church also has one of the most beautiful and serene Stations of the Cross in a garden setting where pilgrims and tourists can relish Tagaytay’s fresh and cold breeze and the area’s solitude.
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Church, Silang Church, St. Benedict Church, Taal Basilica, Chapel on the Hill, and Caleruega Church are just some churches inside and around Tagaytay that you can visit for your Visita Iglesia.
Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan
Touted as the “Cradle of Democracy in the East,” the Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan is the most important religious building in the Philippines. Founded in the 1600s, its historical importance is renowned to most, if not every, Filipino as it previously served as a meeting place for anti-Spanish and anti-colonial illustrados. Three major events in Philippine history also occurred in Barasoain Church—the convening of the First Philippine Congress in 1898, the drafting of the Malolos Constitution from 1898 to 1899, and the inauguration of the First Philippine Republic in 1899. Thus, visiting Barasoain Church is diving into a great experience of history.
The church’s intricate architecture and adornment cast up its popularity. Although the original establishment was burned down during the Philippine Revolution, its evocative beauty is still engraved in the renovated building standing in the present time.
Barasoain Church was declared as a National Shrine by former President Ferdinand Marcos in 1973. Adding cultural significance to its worth, it stands alongside the Barasoain Museum, an interactive gallery that houses historical and cultural artifacts from the 1800s.
The church is situated along Paseo del Congreso, corner of Republica Street, City of Malolos, Bulacan. You can also drive to nearby churches like the Holy Rosary Church, Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto, Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod, San Isidro Labrador Parish Church, National Shrine of the Divine Mercy, and the Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus and Columbarium.
Our Lady of Peñafrancia Shrine in Naga, Camarines Sur
This stone church in Naga was constructed in honor of Our Lady of Peñafrancia. The name ‘Peñafrancia’ originated from a place in France called Peña de Francia, meaning Rock of France. Its history speaks about a rich man, Simon Vela, who hiked a rocky mountaintop in Spain in pursuit of finding the Virgin Mary’s image after hearing a prophetic voice. The original image of the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus is currently enshrined at Salamanca, Spain. However, Fray Miguel Robles de Covarrubias commissioned the miraculous image when he served as rector of the cathedral and Nueva Caceres’ vicar general.
Filipino devotees associate the name Peñafrancia with “Mother of Bicolandia” or, in simple Tagalog terms, “Ina.” Many traditional beliefs tell about the miracles of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, like how a dog was slaughtered to use its blood in painting the holy image of the Virgin Mary with Child Jesus, but after it was thrown away to the river, the dog was resurrected and swam back to the land. Today, pilgrims flock to this stone church with a strong faith in the miraculous power of Our Lady of Peñafrancia.
When you visit the shrine, you can also come across religious attractions nearby, like the Basilica of Our Lady of Peñafrancia and the Naga Cathedral.
Jaro Cathedral in Jaro, Iloilo City (Our Lady of the Candles)
The first cathedral built in Panay, the Jaro Cathedral flaunts a baroque style with a bit of addition of Gothic elements. A classic, Jaro Cathedral was built in 1864 and currently houses the shrine of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of Candles). The original structure of the religious establishment was almost entirely ruined by a massive earthquake that hit the island in January 1948. However, by order of the first archbishop of Jaro, the church was restored and renovated in 1956. Its intricate architecture, with an asymmetrical triangle façade, distinguishes it from other churches in the area.
The Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria shrine displayed in Jaro Cathedral is believed to be continuously growing over the years and has become too large to fit into its original niche. It is the only female statue among the all-male array of figures in the church. People from all over the country never miss visiting this church and lighting a candle for Candelaria to hear their solemn wishes.
One of the remarkable moments of this religious establishment was the Pope’s visit in 1982, where he conducted a mass for the Ilonggos. Pope John Paul II then declared the Our Lady of Candles as the Western Visayas’ Patroness.
Jaro Cathedral is the most prominent church in Iloilo City. Still, you can also visit popular provincial churches like the Miag-ao Church in Miag-ao and the San Joaquin Parish Church in the municipality of San Joaquin.
Basilica Minore del Santo Niño in Cebu
Cebu is the cradle of Christianity in the Philippines. Therefore, it is filled and surrounded by beautiful and historic churches. Among them is the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño in Cebu City.
Basilica Minore del Santo Niño was built on the exact spot where Spanish explorers in 1565 first got hold of the image of the Holy Child Jesus, now known as Pilgrim’s Center at Osmeña Blvd, Cebu City. The church is also the biggest and oldest Catholic Church in Cebu, safeguarding the image of Sto, Niño, the city’s patron saint and the biblical foundation of the famous Sinulog Festival.
After Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, get the best out of your Visita Iglesia experience by visiting one or two of these stunning churches in Cebu—Simala Lindogon Church at Sibonga, Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral at Cebu City, Saint Catherine of Alexandria Church at Carcar, Saint Peter and Paul Bantayan Church, Nuestra Señora del Patrocinio de Maria Parish Church at Boljoon, Saint Michael Parish Church at Argao, and the Santo Tomas de Villanueva Church at Danao.
The San Pedro Cathedral in Davao City
Davao City’s San Pedro Cathedral is named after its patron saint, Saint Peter. Built in 1847 during Spanish colonization, the San Pedro Cathedral is the city’s oldest and most spectacular religious structure. Situated at the heart of Davao, this sacred and historical landmark also stands along the oldest street in the city, San Pedro Street.
The arch-shaped church has a striking Spanish style and a distinctive modern design. Some of the notable sights at San Pedro Cathedral are the image of the Virgin Mary carrying Jesus’ dead body on her lap (The Pieta) and the Ten Commandments tablets in her arms. Additionally, a museum that shelters a collection of antique images and relics of Saint Peter and the Holy Grail can be found beside the church.
Furthermore, if you’re missing a Visita Iglesia station, you might also want to visit some of these famous churches in Davao: Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish – Redemptorist Church, Sta. Ana Shrine Parish, Shrine of the Holy Infant Jesus of Prague, and St. Jude Thaddeus Parish.
Camella Homes at the Forefront of Your Visita Iglesia Convenience
Convenience and accessibility have always been one of Camella’s brand pillars for decades. Each community is strategically master-planned, close to commercial centers, educational institutions, medical establishments, and places of worship. Suppose you’re looking for a home near these prominent and notable churches that you can visit annually for Visita Iglesia and anytime for regular masses. In that case, you can check out Camella Sierra Metro East in Antipolo, Camella Sto. Tomas in Batangas, Camella Alfonso in Cavite, Camella Provence in Bulacan, Camella Pili in Camarines Sur, Camella Savannah in Iloilo, Camella Riverfront in Cebu, and Camella Davao.
