Visita Iglesia (Seven Churches Visitation); Holy Week 2019

Visita Iglesia is one of the staples during Holy Week. And with my family being Catholic, we do it every Holy Thursday. I tag along every year, as I have always have, even if I am Buddhist.

Visita Iglesia, is literally, visiting Churches, seven to be exact. And my family has a "Favourite Seven" that we visit every year.

1. Santo Domingo Church also known as the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of La Naval Manila. This is the largest church in Metro Manila and the second largest in Asia. It is of the Dominican Order.

Santo Domingo Church is located at:

537 Quezon Ave, Santa Mesa Heights, Quezon City, Metro Manila

2. National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes also known as Lourdes Church., is of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin. The Church houses two images of Our Lady of Lourdes (circa 1892-1894) which were once located in the original site of the church in Intramuros; which was destroyed during World War II. Lucky the images were hidden during the war.

National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes is located at:

N.S. Amoranto Sr. St, Santa Mesa Heights, Quezon City, 1114 Metro Manila

3-4. University of Santo Tomas is the oldest university in the Philippines and in Asia. It is, obviously a Catholic school. My father is an alumnus of the university, so yeah it is a must to visit when we do Visita Iglesia. When we're here, we visit 2 chapels. First is the Santisimo Rosario Parish which is in the University of Santo Tomas Central Seminary Building.

After the Santisimo Rosario Parish, we make a detour into the seminary living quarters (it's sort of a private area and off limits to the public, but because my father is an alumnus and studying to be a priest before he decided to leave, he says that it's ok, since he knows his way around). Once there we head to the small chapel, which is right before the seminary gym and basketball court and after the dining hall. There dad gets to reminisce and remember student life. We count this chapel as number four on our list of churches.

University of Santo Tomas Central Seminary Building, University of Santo Tomas is located at:

España Blvd, Sampaloc, Manila, 1008 Metro Manila

Spotted a Totoro toy in the garden while in UST

5-6. Binondo Church also known as Minor Basilica of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, is the only church int he Philippines with an 8-sided bell tower. Yup 8 sides, just like the Feng Shui Bagua. It is also my favourite church to visit because it is in an area of Manila that is close to my heart, Chinatown, particularly Ongpin Street. San Lorenzo Ruiz, a Chinese-Filipino, is the first Filipino saint (he was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1987.

8-sided bell tower of Binondo Church

After Binondo Church, we walk a few feet away from the main church to the chapel of Lorenzo Ruiz Academy which is also known as Blessed Lorenzo Ruiz Crusaders Academy or Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish. So another 2 in 1 church for us.

Binondo Church is located at:

Plaza Lorenzo Ruiz, Binondo, Manila, 1006, Metro Manila

7. Santa Maria della Strada Parish Church which is a church dedicated to the Madonna Della Strada (Italian for Our Lady of the Wayside, or Our Lady of the Good Road). Saint Ignatius founded the Society of Jesus, who's patroness is the Madonna Della Strada. When we get here it is a sign that we have completed our Visita Iglesia and are all ready to head home.

Santa Maria della Strada Parish Church is located at:

Pansol Ave, Diliman, Quezon City, 1800 Metro Manila

See you again next year Totoro!!!!