WOW Batangas » Churches

Sharing My Novena Experiences

joel — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 02:12:08 +0000

Religion is undeniably a big part of the Batangueno Culture.

Hence the grandiose celebrations of feast days, the throngs of people that crowd parishes and the altars found inside each and every house.

Another proof is the sea of people who attend the Novena at the Redemptorist (where I frequent) every Wednesday.

The novena, according to Wikipedia.org, is a devotion consisting of a prayer repeated on nine successive days, asking to obtain special graces. The prayers may come from prayer books, or consist of the recitation of the Rosary (a ‘Rosary novena’), or of short prayers through the day. There are four recognized categories of novenae: those of mourning, preparation (for a Church feast, ending on the eve of the feast), petition, and indulgenced. A given novena can belong to more than one of these categories.

They may be performed in church, at home, or anywhere where prayer is appropriate, though some indulgenced novenas do require church attendance. Sometimes, a special candle is lit at the beginning of the novena which burns during the nine days of prayer.

True enough, most of the people I know that attend novenas are people who want to obtain special graces.

Passing the board exam, an offspring, wellness, and jobs are the panatas I would usually hear when the priest opens the proverbial liham.

See, in a novena, the devotees would send thanksgiving letters, letters of request and the such to uhmm.. I don’t know, maybe intensify the intent of their prayers.

On a sweeter note though, these letters, for me, bring life to this religious gathering. The letters give us, church goers, an idea that we all live through circumstances and despite its negativity on our lives, we would still resort to Him.

The stories of success, on the other hand, give us hope. Say, when one passed the board exams, one could totally imagine how grateful he is when the priest reads his letter.

The Nobenaryo

The praises found inside the nobenaryo is nothing less than inspirational. My favorite one is the “Mother of Christ” that has a line that goes:

“when the voyage is o’er
o stand on the shore
and show Him at last to me”

My conscience knows how affected I am when I first read that line. I mean, It struck me even greater than the best Sugarfree ditty ever written. Life changing, indeed.

Browsing the other pages of the book may not give us the whole essence of Christianity but it definitely mirrors the great fate we, Catholics, must hold in times of joy and despair.

Visita Iglesia (A Religious Expedition in Batangas)

Dyan Hernandez — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 13:15:15 +0000

Of all the many churches here in Batangas, have you visited the most prominent ones during Visita Iglesia? Or how do you decide on the itinerary of Visita Iglesia each year? This article will dissect this religious expedition we Catholics do on Holy Week, specifically on Maundy Thursday.

Contributed by: Alison Jane P. de Silva, De La Salle Lipa

“Ligtas pa rin ang bayan natin sa mga bagyo dahil madasalin ang mga Lipeño.” (“Our city remains safe from calamities because Lipeños have a habit of prayer.”)

I remember the celebrating priest saying that in a Wednesday afternoon mass at the Divino Amor Chapel as the country silently trudged through the disaster that typhoon “Pepeng” left. I remember this very vividly because that’s what my mother had then told us over and over again whenever Lipa City emerges safe from a calamity that hit one of the other cities or provinces in the country.

And I thought, ‘With the number of churches here in Lipa, not to mention even in the whole of Batangas, it’s no wonder people pray a lot. They’ll be missing the point of so many grand-looking churches.’

Just to name a few, there’s the Lipa City Cathedral, Mt. Carmel Church, Divino Amor Chapel and the Shrine of San Vicente Ferrer in Lipa alone, the Basilica of St. Martin de Tours and the Shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay in Taal and the Parish of Immaculate Concepcion in Bauan. This comes with all the other architectural and ecclesiastical beauties in Calatagan, Calaca, Balayan, Tanauan, San Jose, Nasugbu and Batangas City itself, still not naming all of them. Even the Marian Orchard in Balete, Batangas would provide religious solace with its stunning features and offers.

Granted, other places in the Philippines may also be brimming with churches, but the province of Batangas differed with them in a way that you can compare its array of churches to the churches of Rome: grand enough to attract tourists and enthusiasts, but solemn enough to beget respect for spirituality.

As an art/architecture junkie, I’d have no trouble saying that I’m in for a visita iglesia throughout Batangas so that I can sight-see. We all know how intricate the details on these churches can be, and how impressive their form and structure to the naked eye is. Photographs had proved this often enough. However, I have to say that this would be disrupting what this array of churches really has to offer, especially in this Holy Week.

Visita Iglesia is a common practice every Lenten Season. It is a chance for you to take your family or friends or special someone on a trip to these churches. Maybe you could do a round of the traditional “Stations of the Cross” or two, or you could just kneel in silence to think, reflect and pray about things you never had and will probably never have the time to linger on as the Holy Week ends and you find that you have no time for silent recollection for the rest of the year.

Our family practices this unfailingly every year. Even last year, as busy as we all are despite the supposed holidays, we managed to go out late at Maundy Thursday night to drop by at least three churches within the city. Late at night, we still had the time to go to the San Sebastian Cathedral and pray the rosary together, sitting side-by-side on a single pew as a family. Then, we dropped by Mt. Carmel Church to pray before the figure of Mary Mediatrix of All Grace. Another few minutes were spent as we joined an ongoing prayer session in the Shrine of San Vicente Ferrer, and finally we stopped at the Divino Amor Chapel to render our traditional Stations of the Cross. We weren’t able to see the splendor of these churches in daylight, but we were able to pray and reflect in the silence of that Thursday night.

On past years, we would have gone as far as Calatagan, but things have changed and we had schedules to maintain and time to keep. Even with this, we still try to keep the habit of visiting a church or two on one day of the Holy Week to grab the chance to express our beliefs as a whole and complete family.

So, saying that these wonderful churches of Batangas are simply eye candy will be diminishing their worth as religious spectacles. In the point of view of someone who has made visita iglesia a tradition every Lenten Season, I would say that the emergence of these beautiful churches did not result the Batangueño habit of prayer. Instead, it’s actually the other way around: maybe more churches have been built simply to accommodate the number of people coming in to express their devotion to Christ and the Church.

There are people who tend to see this Holy Week as a “swimming-and-outing” or even a “stay-at-home” season, but here’s my tip: be a tourist and do a visita iglesia this Holy Week.

It’s the perfect opportunity to grab your loved ones, go on a road trip, sight-see beautiful churches, and spend some quiet time thinking about your life, decisions, faith and beliefs.

Captured Religiosity: Image Gallery of San Sebastian Cathedral, Mt. Carmel Church

Dyan Hernandez — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 08:18:30 +0000

It has been said many times over that Lipa City is considered the “Rome of the Philippines” because of the numerous churches and religious attractions the city cradles. Two of Lipa’s most notable churches are the subjects of these photos contributed to us.

Today’s contributor, Alexis G. Paulino, hails from Balintawak, Lipa City. Let’s get to know him first and afterwards, indulge our eyes on his photos of San Sebastian Cathedral and Mt. Carmel Church.

My name is Alexis G. Paulino, my mother is from San Jose, Batangas while my father is from Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. I’m married with 3 sons (studying at De La Salle Lipa). My wife, Jennifer Ramos Paulino, is currently a 3rd year law student at the University of Batangas; she’s from San Juan, Batangas. Our family is presently staying in Balintawak, Lipa City.

I’m currently here abroad working for Saudi Aramco in Saudi Arabia as an Industrial Skills Trainer in the field of computers. I go home every year and photography has been my hobby since the time of film cameras. I enjoy walking around Lipa and other towns of Batangas during my vacation, capturing photos everywhere, and then posting these pictures in Flickr. We have photography groups here in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain which are mostly composed and organized by Filipinos.

Things to do in Batangas (Part 1)

Dyan Hernandez — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 02:38:47 +0000

When someone speaks of Batangas, a rush of conversation on its beach resorts will normally run for a quite a few minutes. What else can people, especially tourists, expect from our province? Many. And we’ve got a dose of things to do in Batangas.

1. Resort-hopping. Batangas, aside from kapeng barako, is known for the beach resorts that attract most tourists both local and foreign. Some of the most exciting resorts in Batangas that we’ve been to ranges from new ones to almost decades-old ones. Resort features also vary and the services ranges from the basic to high-end.

Some of the many resorts the team had visited this year are:

2. Celebrate Batangas festivals. The team had been to various festivals in the province and for sure, we’ll get to see more of these festive events:

And if you want to witness one grand celebration of all the festivals in Batangas, join the Ala Eh! Festival held every first week of December, having the culminating activities on December 8 – the founding anniversary of Batangas province.

3. Food trip. Have a taste of Batangas delicacies and the dishes popularized by Batangueños. Visit the following and try their specialties:

4. Church visit. Having Lipa City as the Rome of the Philippines, you can have a religious tour not only in Lipa but in other parts of the province as well. These are the most-visited churches in Batangas:

These are just four of the things you can do in Batangas. I shall have a second part of this article on Monday so drop by our site again for more exciting activities you can do here in Batangas. Ciao!

Lipa City’s Famous Destinations: Traces of Triumphs and Survival

Dyan Hernandez — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 03:02:10 +0000

Many accounts of the iconic history and amusing development of Lipa City had been detailed throughout the years. Yet, not too many people knew about these a hundred percent.

Everytime I read about other people’s work, I try to imagine the things that ran in his/her mind as he/she strive to weave the facts, with an ample injection of emotional value. When I read this contributed article from Renz Marion Katigbak, I realized there are still a lot to learn about Lipa City.

If you’re good in memorizing dates and names in your History subject back when you were still in school, then maybe you would dig this article. Plus, if you want to be reminded of other notable sites in Lipa City, this could be a refresher for you, our dear readers.

Lipa City, a Religious Haven and a Heritage Destination
By: Renz Marion Katigbak

Despite Lipa’s state of progress and commercialization, the city still preserves its religious and cultural traditions.

A heavenly rapture

Lipa City is the renowned “Little Rome of the Philippines” and the seat of the Archdiocese. What’s more, it is a pilgrim’s paradise – home to a plentiful number of religious congregations and an abundance of beautiful Catholic chapels and churches. Notable churches are:

Metropolitan Cathedral of San Sebastian

This turn of the century consecrated edifice began its construction through the concerted efforts of Augustinians who administered the Parish of San Sebastian: in 1779, Fray Ignacio Pallares, later on continued by Fray Manuel Galiana in 1787, and its spacious transept completed in 1865 by Fray Manuel Diez Gonzalez.

The church was totally completed from 1865 to 1894 during the administration of Fray Benito Varas to whom Lipeños attribute their religiosity. He was also responsible for the erection of the Catholic Cemetery in Antipolo and, without any aid from the state, the bridge at Sabang and the road that served as a national highway to Manila and Laguna.

To protect the big and attractive church from earthquakes, it was made of hewn stone and tiled roof. Before, it had plain and simple altar ornaments without the extravagant carvings characteristic of the past. During the 19th century, intense competition among the towns of Batangas, Bauan, Lipa, Taal and Tanauan, for the selection of the seat of the new diocese in the Southern Tagalog Region, motivated the people to build extraordinary big churches. However on April 10, 1910, when the historic foundation of the new diocese took place, its first bishop, Most Rev. Joseph Petrelli, D.D, chose LIPA as the SEE because of its cool climate. For this reason, the San Sebastian church automatically became the Cathedral of the Diocese of LIPA.

The church suffered massive damages during the Second World War. Msgr. Alejandro Olalia had it repaired – the interior painting retouched and two-sided aisles were added. In the year 2000, to prevent the Cathedral’s complete deterioration, immense refurbishments and adornment were lead by then parish priest, Msgr. Alfredo Madlangbayan. The church also features an attracting grand baroque designed pipe organ which is the only one in Batangas Province and one of only 59 units in the Philippines.

Carmel of Our Lady Mary Mediatrix of All Grace

Remembering, those glorious moments in 1948, the Blessed Virgin appeared to Teresita Castillo, a former Carmelite postulant. Inexplicable phenomena of conversion, physical cures, and showers of rose petals bearing holy images (when these petals were examined by experts, they were found to be of Russian cultivation) had authenticated the heavenly apparition.

Yet, during the 1950s, the local Catholic Church declared the alleged apparition as a hoax and ordered the Carmelite nuns to destroy everything that was connected with it. In the 1990s, after 40 years of public silence, the late Archbishop Mariano Gaviola re-opened the case and ordered that the statue of Mary Mediatrix of All Grace be again exposed for public veneration.

In 1991, rose petals from the sky began to fall again in the grounds of the Carmelite convent and it was said that the statue of Our Lady came to life. With all these, on September 12, 2005, present Archbishop Ramon Arguelles restored the devotion to Our Lady and declared the date as a yearly National Pilgrimage.

Thousands of faithful all over the country are participating in this momentous event. September 12 is a special holiday privilege given only to Lipa. Last November 12, 2009, Archbishop Arguelles totally lifted the ban and formed a new commission to reinvestigate the apparition and the miracles in Lipa.

Other well-known churches are the following: the Monastery of Saint Benedict, the Archdiocesan Shrine of San Vicente Ferrer, and the Redemptorist Chapel of Divino Amor (home to Our Lady of Perpetual Help). A couple of different religious congregations are also living and doing their missionary works in Lipa: the Missionary Catechists of the Sacred Heart (founded by Bishop Alfredo Versoza and Madre Laura Mendoza, a holy Lipeña), the Missionary Catechists of St. Therese (founded by the servant of God Alfredo Aranda Obviar, a Lipeño priest, first bishop of Lucena, he is now being petitioned for sainthood), the Brothers of the Christian Schools (well known as the LaSalle brothers), the Oblates of St. Joseph (OSJ), the Clarissas Capuchinas Sacramentarias (Capuchin Sisters), the Capuchin Friars, the Missionary Sisters of Catechism, Benedictine Sisters, Carmelite nuns, and the Redemptorist Fathers.

An amiable and a tragic history

Lipa is a place very proud of its history of prosperity and magnificence. The city’s beautiful past is an enchantingly captivating saga one might ever hear.

Approaching the end of the 19th century, Lipa became known as the world’s center of coffee trade. Just because of the said industry, it happened to be the richest town in the country with an annual income of P4,000,000.00. This occurrence brought wealth to Lipeños and later on they built stone mansions and lived in aristocratic hispanized lifestyles. Lipa’s social atmosphere then was an importation from Spain. Women were said to be wearing “zapatillas” – footwear encrusted with real shimmering diamonds.

It was this splendored affluence which elated the Queen Maria Cristina of Spain (acting regent for the young King Alfonso XIII) to pass a royal decree converting the tiny municipality into “Villa de Lipa” in October 21, 1888. The city was given the privilege using a “coat of arms”. However, these fabulous days abruptly ended when the Lipa coffee industry collapsed due to the “bagombong” pest.

The complete demise of the lucrative town came during the Second World War. Lipa crumbled down and was considered as one of the most devastated cities, in the Southeast, that were affected by the rage of war. The splendid homes of landowners, furnished with the best from Europe were reduced to ashes. Still, faint traces of the extravagance can be gazed in the few old stone houses that survived. Famous among them are:

The Luz-Katigbak Ancestral House (Casa de Segunda)

A National Historical Institute declared Heritage House, Casa de Segunda was named after Segunda Solis Catigbac, the grand matriarch of the prominent and prolific Katigbak clan of Lipa. She had been linked to Dr. Jose Rizal as his young lady of interest. The ancestral house is one of the surviving stone mansions of the glorious Lipa. Built in the 1880’s, the dramatic arrangements of space, use of masonry and sense of grandeur and solidity are practical response to environment and charming record of history.

Partly damaged by the Second World War in 1942, the house was remodeled in 1956 by Segunda Katigbak’s daughter, Paz Luz Dimayuga. The grandchildren of Paz, who were born and raised here, restored the house in 1996 to its original form and grandeur, its fountain, fishponds, and orchards. In that same year also, it was opened to the public and today it is a repository, a hint to the fine and rich lifestyle of the Lipeños during its bygone era.

The Luz-Bautista Ancestral Home

Built by the patriarch of the Luz Family, Jose Luz, the stone mansion was completed in 1881 after ten years of construction. It is of Babylonian architecture with furnishings from Europe, curtains from Paris, mirrors from Austria, pieces of furniture from Vienna, chandeliers, plates from Germany and fine porcelain from China.

This is one of the very few “Bahay na Bato” (stone house) spared from devastation when Lipa was razed to the ground by World War II. Though it is not open to the public, it still stands as a reminder, a testimony to Lipa’s grandeur and one of city’s cultural treasures.

Other structures, like the Museo de Lipa and Museo ng Katipunan of Bulakalan, possess old relics and memorabilia of history.

A diverse haven

Aside from being a religious and heritage destination, Lipa is blessed with breathtaking places to see. It is home to different lush eco-tourism delights such as: the Farm at San Benito, Mt. Malarayat, a good place for a hiking adventure, Bluroze Farms Parks and Wildlife, and the Anihan Botanical Garden. Relaxation and leisure can be obtained with the resorts, spas, parks, and malls that sprung in the city.

Educational institutions and commercial areas are almost everywhere. Indeed, it is a good place to live, to invest, to work, to study, and to raise a family. Triumphs and turmoil might have landed Lipa but the continuous struggle and resiliency had formed it to be the city that we recognize today.

United by Faith: Archdiocese of Lipa Marks Centennial Celebration

Dyan Hernandez — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 02:10:22 +0000

It was indeed a once in a lifetime union of religious brothers and sisters, headed by the leaders of the Archdiocese of Lipa. This is the centennial year of the Archdiocese, celebrated with the theme: “Renewing a People Toward Transformation like the Holy Family and Consecration to the Holy Trinity.”

Before the concelebrated mass at the San Sebastian Cathedral, a short program for the Centennial Tree Planting was held at Plaza Independencia. The event was attended by around 20 bishops, government officials, and people from the seven vicareate of the Archdiocese of Lipa. After the blessing of the centennial plants was the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding done by Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto, DENR Secretary Horacio Morales, and Federico Lopez, President, First Gas Power Corporation.

The concelebrated mass marked the beginning of the year-long celebration of the Archdiocese of Lipa 100th anniversary. The mass was officiated by former Archbishop of Lipa, Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales and Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal was the homilist. The church leaders of the entire Archdiocese of Lipa gathered the people from all walks of life, people from different sectors, united by something greater than any other attraction or promotion – the people were joined together by faith.

It was announced in the mass that the Vatican approved of 21 pilgrimage churches for the Archdiocese of Lipa (details lifted from www.archlipa.org):

Vicariate I
Parish of the Immaculate Conception
(Balayan, Batangas),
Parish of St. John the Baptist
(Lian, Batangas),
Parish of St. Francis Xavier
(Naugbu, Batangas),
Parish of St. Raphael
(Calaca, Batangas)

Vicariate II
Shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay
(Labac, Taal, Batangas),
Minor Basilica of St. Martin of Tours
(Taal, Batangas)
Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face
(Sta. Teresita, Batangas)
Binukalan Church
(Alitagtag, Batangas)

Vicariate III
Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
(Batangas City),
Shrine of the Most Holy Trinity
(Pallocan West, Batangas City)

Vicariate IV
Archdiocesan Shrine of
St. Joseph the Patriarch
(San Jose, Batangas)
Parish of St. John Nepomucene
(San Juan, Batangas)

Vicariate V
Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Sebastian
(Lipa City),
Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Vincent Ferrer
(Banaybanay, Lipa City),
Divino Amor Chapel – Redemptorist
(Lipa City),
Monastery of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel of
Mary Mediatrix of All Grace
(Lipa City),
Monastery of the Minim Nuns of St. Francis of Paola
(Lumbang, Lipa City),
Monastery of St. Benedict
(Pinagtongulan, Lipa City),
Monastery of Clarisas Capuchinas Sacramentarias
(Lipa City)
Missionary Catechists of the Sacred Heart (MCSH)
(Sabang, Lipa City)

Vicariate VI
Parish of St. Padre Pio
(San Pedro, Sto. Tomas, Batangas),
Parish of St. John the Evangelist
(Tanauan City)
Parish of Nuestra Señora Dela Soledad
(Darasa, Tanauan City)

Vicariate VII
Parish of the Immaculate Conception
(Bauan, Batangas)
Parish of the Holy Family
(Bolo, Bauan, Batangas)

Here are some of the events’ photos. Click the thumbnail for larger view.

Technorati Tags: archdiocese of lipa, archdiocese of lipa centennial celebration, archbishop of lipa, archbishop gaudencio rosales, archbishop ramon arguelles, archbishop ricardo cardinal vidal, vicareates of archdiocese of lipa, pilgrimage churches of the archdiocese of lipa

Holy Week Traditions in Batangas (Acts of Sacrifice and Repentance)

Dyan Hernandez — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 06:51:06 +0000

Holy Week is a season of sacrifices and repentance. For some, it is their time to have that well-deserved rest from workloads and other stressful endeavors. Holy Week, Mahal na Araw, or Semana Santa, however you want to call it, is still a much celebrated season for Filipino Catholics.

Palm Sunday

Catholics bring palaspas (or palm leaves) to church for the Palm Sunday mass. The priest would bless these palm leaves and the churchgoers will bring them back to their house and place them either on their windows or above the front door, believing this would drive bad spirits away. Years back, my dad would make our own palaspas until vendors came up with beautiful designs out of strands of palm leaves. It’s instant palaspas right in every church’s facade.

Pabasa

From articles I have read, Pabasa (reading or chanting of Pasyon) starts on Holy Monday and would last for about two days. Pasyon is a narrative of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection. But here in Batangas, there are some who does this Pabasa as early as a month before the Holy Week. I’ve never experienced chanting the Pasyon (or even reading it). My mom reads it every night, silently though.

Bisita Iglesia

Batangas is one of the frequented destinations for Bisita Iglesia because of the province’s numerous churches. In the tradition, it is done on Maundy Thursday. Among the famous churches for Bisita Iglesia are San Sebastian Cathedral in Lipa City, Basilica of St. Martin de Tours in Taal, Mt. Carmel Church also in Lipa City. Click here for more churches. This Holy Week activity is one that I’m very fond of doing. It’s not a usual thing to pray in nine churches for one day. Aside from that, I get to explore religious spots in the province that I have never been to. Doing this church visit is also a great chance for family members to strengthen our bond as we pray together.

The Washing of the Feet is also done on Maundy Thursday, in the last mass before Easter Sunday. This is a reenactment of Christ’s washing of His Apostles’ feet.

The Good Friday

On Good Friday, people gather together for the commemoration of Christ’s Seven Last Words (or Siete Palabras). Here in our place, a huge street procession is done around five o’clock in the afternoon. The family of my dad’s close pal owns an image of Saint Veronica which is included in the procession. My dad and his friend are always the ones in charge of arranging the karosa and pulling it during the procession. My mom and I have joined the two for the past three years, making it our own little sacrifice for the Lenten season.

A Happy Easter

After a quiet Black Saturday, Catholics are preparing for the celebration of Christ’s resurrection. At the dawn of the Easter Sunday, large statues of Jesus and the Virgin Mary will be out on the street for the procession called Salubong (or ‘meeting’). Here in Batangas, a tradition called dagit highlights the Salubong. Dagit a Tagalog term meaning to catch or to hook something. A child would hook the black veil off the head of the Virgin Mary which signifies that her mourning is over for her Son has already risen.

It’s a happy Sunday for everyone as Catholic faithfuls join together for the Easter mass. When I was little, our family used to have our own Easter egg hunt. Today, this is a famous mall activity for kids.

This is how Holy Week is like here in Batangas or all over the Philippines. There are still other Holy Week traditions in some parts of the country that I have not mentioned. These Holy week activities are done by people as their ‘panata’, as their sacrifices. How we glorify God does not begin nor end in Holy week. It’s a lifetime selfless act we should keep within us.

Technorati Tags: holy week in the philippines, holy week in batangas, holy week traditions philippines, holy week activities in the philippines, what to do in holy week, semana santa, mahal na araw, bisita iglesia in batangas, filipino holy week, how to spend holy week in the philippines, holy week pabasa, pasyon, salubong, dagit, what is palaspas, batangas churches

Holy Week Destinations in Batangas

Dyan Hernandez — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 01:58:20 +0000

It’s only a few days before the start of the Holy Week. There are a number or religious attractions here in Batangas where you could spend some time in observing the Lenten Season.

Visita Iglesia is one of the yearly Holy Week activities we do with our families and friends. Not only that, some people opt for silent retreat in which Batangas could also contribute as it also cradles retreat centers in some parts of the province. Station of the Cross is another famous Holy Week activity for Filipinos.

No matter how or where you spend the Holy Week, what truly matters is that you know what this season is for. Here’s some collated articles for Holy Week destinations here in Batangas.

Basilica of St. Martin de Tours, Taal
San Sebastian Cathedral, Lipa City
Marian Orchard, Balete
Church of St. James the Apostle, Ibaan
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Lipa City
Simbahan ng Santissima Trinidad
Redemptorist Church, Lipa City
Church of St. Raphael Archangel, Calaca
Basilica of the Immaculate Concepcion, Batangas City
Our Lady of Caysasay, Taal
Capuchin Retreat Center

Have a blessed Holy Week everyone.

Technorati Tags: holy week destinations in batangas, religious attractions in batangas, churches in batangas, retreat centers in batangas, holy week in batangas, where to spend holy week in batangas, visita iglesia in batangas

Viva Sto Niño Fluvial Procession – Basilica Church , Batangas City

BSU Lipa — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 02:48:56 +0000

Batanguenos are truly religious in nature. This was once more proven in the Sto. Niño fluvial procession which was part of Batangas City’s fiesta celebration, Jan. 7.

Devotees from different places in Batangas came with their Sto. Niños to join the procession which started at Basilica Church then went to St. Bridget College for a short but meaningful program.

St. Bridget College (SBC) students waved their flags of yellow and blue as they welcomed the Sto Niño. SBC mini band and majorettes also added merriment to the event.

Mayor Eduardo B. Dimacuha, Sr. Mary Lydia Ebora RGS and Fr. Cecilio Arce with SBC Faculty lead the installation of the Sto Nino. Floral offering and prayer to Sto Niño were done by SBC Faculty.

Sr. May Lydia Ebora RGS welcomed devotees to St. Bridget College with her short but touching message.

Meanwhile, a subli dance number was performed by selected SBC students. This was followed by the Luwa courtesy of a little girl from Brgy. Cuta which gave goose bumps to the audience.

Dangal ng Lungsod Batangan Choral made the affair even more solemn with their heart warming and soul lifting song of praise. Next was the Dalit executed by SBC Faculty and students.

The Sto Niño departed at 2:50 pm and headed for the fluvial procession which went on this route :

• Garcia Subdivision
• Calumpang
• Barangay Wawa

Batangenyos shout “ Viva Sto. Niño!” to declare their strong faith and endless love to Sto. Niño who is for them their provider and protector. Happy Fiesta Batangas City!

Technorati Tags: batangas City Fluvial parade, batangas City fiesta celebration 2010, Batangas, WOWbatangas, Sto. Nino, Calumpang River, mayor Eddie Dimacuha

Spiritual Food for 2nd Sunday of Advent (Dec. 5, 2009)

Fr. Jojo Mendoza — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 02:49:31 +0000

Christmas is just around the corner. We must prepare. “Prepare the way of the Lord,” as the gospel admonishes us. This is the best way to have a meaningful Christmas. Materialism and consumerism are misleading us to thinking that the celebration of Jesus’ birth is all about buying and giving gifts from the store. This mentality makes those who have no money to buy gift items look and feel miserable. It makes Christmas look like it is only for those who can buy. But this is wrong.

To have a meaningful Christmas we must change ourselves. Our hearts will serve as the royal road for Jesus. And so we must pave the way for his arrival. Our hearts need straightening. This means that, as the avenue where Jesus will pass through, this road must be under construction and reconstruction. This is certainly not an easy task to do. It’s much easier and fun to buy gifts and stroll around the mall. But what good would that be if you have hatred in your heart, if you live in envy or pride, if your family is in constant chaos, if you can’t sleep soundly at night because you have wronged other people? There are things money can’t buy. There is more to Christmas than just a beautifully wrapped gift.

Let me quote Fr. Nil Guillemette, SJ: “Our task is to open in our hearts a royal highway for the Lord…We must make straight the devious and deformed paths of our hearts; we must watch over the rectitude of our intentions and dealings; we must persevere on the straight road of our responsibilities, without stopping or turning back. We have to fill the valleys of our hearts if they are empty of generosity and zeal, bring low mountains and hills of our pride, smooth out the asperities of our characters and put an end to our divisions. This is the manner to prepare for the coming of the Lord in our lives.”

Technorati Tags: Fr. Jojo Mendoza, Sunday Homily, Mass, Sermons, Gospel, Batangas

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