VISITA IGLESIA 2022 (NAKAKAPAGOD PERO MASAYA!)

This is the first Visita Iglesia na kami lang dalawa ni Cy ang magkasama. 

Syempre before we do something dapat may idea din tayo what it is about. The Visita Iglesia or pagbisita sa mga simbahan is a Holy Week practice where you will visit and pray in at least 7 separate churches. It can be done in one day, usually on Maundy Thursday or pwedeng buong week if magkakalayo ang mga simbahan.

I'm not religious, but it's good to immerse ourselves in history.

We decided to do our Visita Iglesia on Holy Tuesday or Martes Santo dahil for sure siksikan sa Thursday and Friday. And since madalas kami sa Batangas mag-ikot with my in-laws before, naisipan kong mag Laguna & Quezon naman. Isang simbahan lang pupuntahan namin in Batangas.

I made the itinerary. 

We left Tagaytay around 8 AM. Naambon pa nga nyan pero push pa din kahit naka motor kami! We had our breakfast at Gallego Pares Pares along Ligaya Drive pababa ng Tagaytay. 

Our first stop was at Parish and National Shrine of Saint Padre Pio in Sto Thomas, Batangas. This church was founded in 2003. First time ko makarating dito.

This must be the most crowded among the seven churches na binisita namin.

Before we left nagkape muna kami dahil unang simbahan palang to at nakakaramdam na ako ng antok. Madaming tindahan within the vicinity like mga kainan, souvenir at pasalubong shops. It felt like tapos na ang pandemic though people were still wearing face masks.

Our second stop was at Nagcarlan Church or San Bartolome Apostol Parish Church (built in 1583) in Nagcarlan, Laguna.

In 1752, this church was rebuilt using stone and bricks.

Unlike sa Padre Pio, wala masyadong ganap sa labas ng simbahan na to. I only saw more or less tatlong pasalubong stalls. May matanda din na nakaupo sa pinto ng simbahan asking for donations.

We then went to Liliw, Laguna to visit our 3rd Church: St John the Baptist Parish Church.

The first church was built in wood in 1620 then a stronger stone church was built from 1643 to 1646 kaya lang it was partially destroyed during the 1880 Luzon Earthquake.

It was reconstructed in 1885 and was partially burned naman on April 6, 1898. Ngayon kalmado na sya.

We were supposed to eat in Lucban pero inabot na kami ng lunch time kaya kumain na kami doon sa may Liliw Fastfood. Meron silang combo meals for only 150 pesos. Cy ordered chopsuey and chicken meal tapos ako naman pancit and chicken.

At dahil nasa Tsinelas Capital na kami I took the opportunity na bumili ng sapatos. Haha! Hindi na kami nag ikot-ikot dahil medyo pagod na ako. Doon lang kami nagpunta sa shop na tapat ng kinainan namin.

From Liliw dumiretso naman kami sa Saint Gregory The Great Parish Church in Majayjay, Laguna. It would only take us more or less 15 minutes kaya lang inabutan kami ng ulan sa daan kaya we had to stop sa isang waiting shed.

This church in Majayjay, Laguna was built in 1573. Gawa lang sya sa nipa and bamboo noon. When it burned down three years later, it was reconstructed, kaya lang nasunog ulit in 1606. It was rebuilt out of stone, but still suffered from fires in 1616, 1660, and 1711.

In 1711, Fr. Jose de Puertollano lead the rehabilitation and expansion of the church na natapos in 1734.

Our 5th stop was at Kamay ni Hesus Healing Church in Lucban, Quezon. Cy has been here countless times!

Kaya daw sya tinawag na "Healing Church" kasi devotees believe that healing prayers come true here in Kamay ni Hesus.

Hindi na kami umakyat dun sa hill na may more or less 300 steps na hagdan. Di keri.

We just went inside the church and of course prayed.

Kakain sana kami ng pancit habhab sa canteen inside Kamay ni Hesus kaya lang ung serving size nya good for 5-6 persons.

Madaming bilihan ng pancit habhab sa labas. Kakatuwa! 15 pesos lang ang isang order tapos 20 pesos ung inihaw na longganisang Lucban. Nakabili din kami ng spiced sukang tuba.

Sayang di ako nakakita ng kalabasang pilipit.

6th stop was at Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of our Guadalupe in Pagsanjan, Laguna.

This church was founded in 1687. It was heavily damaged by American and Filipino military bombers on March 15, 1945 during World War II, then a replica of the church was constructed over its ruins, but without the original dome.

Malapit lang to sa Aling Taleng's Halo-Halo kaya kung mapadpad kayo dito you can also include halo-halo merienda sa itinerary nyo.

Almost 5 PM na kaya dumiretso na kami agad sa 7th and last church in Pila, Laguna: National Shrine and Parish of San Antonio de Padua.

Pila Church or the the San Antonio de Padua Parish Church was founded in 1578 and was reconstructed using stone in 1599.

May ongoing mass during our visit pero we left agad after praying.

Nag takeout kami ng pares sa may Pares Retiro pagdating sa Tagaytay.

Thank you, Lord, for our safe journey.

Nakakapagod pero masaya ang experience! :)