Easter Vigil 2019 at Christ the King of the Universe Parish in Kingspoint, Novaliches

Holy Week is one of the most important event in the Catholic church. One of the most anticipated event at the Christ the King of the Universe parish within Kingspoint subdivision, Barangay Bagbag, Novaliches in Quezon City is the annual Easter vigil.

church historical marker

A small chapel was constructed early in 1980. While several minor renovations were made in the late 1980’s. Portion of the chapel was enlarged in the mid-1990’s because of increasing parishioner from nearby subdivision. The present church facade and structure was enlarged in 2001 and became a full pledge parish of the diocese of Novaliches in 2004.

holy week schedule of activities

The full holy week schedule was posted at several vantage points within the subdivision and FB page of the parish. Easter day celebrations in the mid- 1980’s and 1990’s were simple.

Christ the King of the Universe parish ( vigil rites)

Images inside churches remain draped in purple. The administration of sacraments is severely limited.

facade of the church

The shift from mourning to joy begins at night with the observance of the Easter Vigil, the third and final day of the Paschal Triduum that began on Maundy Thursday. There was also the procession of Santo Entierro during Good Friday.

Someone from the parish invited me to the vigil which led up to the reenactment of the Easter day “Salubong”.

registration area

Easter day salubong was participated by the community of Kingspoint Subdivision, San Pedro IX, Goodwill Homes 1, Grand Monaco Villas, Dupax compound, Oro compound, Alipio compound, Kasiyahan Village up to California Village in nearby Barangay San Bartolome.

The rite is customarily performed in the early hours of Easter before the first Mass, Which is normally held at around past 4:00 am, while some of the parishioners are already inside the church as early as 3:00am.

participants climb the makeshift platform

Unlike in Makati or some places, Easter Vigil and Salubong takes place around midnight. Easter day celebration within Christ the King of the Universe parish usually happen early dawn at around past 3:00 am.

Easter salubong ritual is meant to depict the apocryphal reunion of Christ and his Mother, the Virgin Mary, after the Resurrection. Statues of both are borne in two separate processions that converge at a designated area which is often an open space with a purpose-built scaffolding at the main entrance of the parish.

children in white dress and wings

The high point of the easter day rites is the angel dramatically removes the veil from the Virgin’s icon, signalling the abrupt end to her grieving and the period of mourning. The veil may simply be pulled off the statue, or tied to balloons or doves that are released into early dawn rites. With white balloons released at the church.

Ms. Jhuie Annika P. Delagala from California Village

Ms. Jhuie Annika Delagala is is hoisted at the makeshift entrance and was the one who took the viel from the blessed mary.

Dozens of children in white dress, with angel wings. While 4 children dress as angels threw in flower petals unto the processional carriages.

start of the easter salubong celebration

The celebrations started with an early morning mass by 5:00 am. The regular mass was celebrated by 6:00 am.

Christ the King of the Universe parish entrance

morning mass at past 10:00 am

Christ the King of the Universe parish within Kingspoint subdivision is getting elaborate and more parishioner are joining the annual Easter celebrations.

Address: King Christian Street, Kingspoint Subdivision, Barangay Bagbag, Novaliches, 1116 Quezon City, Philippines

 Contact : (02) 937 8941

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Visita Iglesia of 14 Churches and Chapels in Manila

Walkwithchan in special arrangement with Royal Postal Heritage tour, heritage groups conducted a FREE guided tour on Maundy Thursday (April 18) and dubbed the walking tour as Visita Iglesia of 14 Churches and Chapels in Manila.

Palacio del Gobernador and Plaza Roma with art works

We decided to open a FREE Visita Iglesia 2019 walking tour, since our group will visit Intramuros and sharing the beautiful spots in Manila with the ordinary public.

hoardes of people walking along Rizal avenue, Santa Cruz

Visita Iglesia 2019

tarpaulin map of intramuros

huge tarpaulin poster from intramuros administration – this serves as a guide for parking area, churches, chapels and interesting places within the walled city.

station of the cross along General Luna street

The FB event attracted 66 participants but only 30 people manage to find the group at the meeting place which is at Plaza Roma- King Charles IV statue and fountain. cellphone signal is weak.

Manila Cathedral Basilica during the Chrism mass

There were a lot of people at the Chrism mass. This is one of the important liturgies during the holy week. It took me almost 15 minutes to get out of the cathedral basilica. There is only one exit. I have to be at the main plaza by 6:30 am. I saw Philip Reyes then followed by Jose Juan Paraiso ( who did not get a sleep) members of Advocates for Heritage Preservation group and other participants.

The plaza seems abuzz with all sort of tarpaulins, balloons and the mood was very festive.  The Chrism mass is being shown via large screen to the people at the plaza.

Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of Immaculate Conception facade

The Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Beaterio St., Intramuros.

Manila Cathedral Basilica back portion

Saint Agustine Church and convent

Saint Augustine interiors

Saint Agustine Church, General Luna St., Intramuros

Father Willmann Chapel, Santa Potencia St., Intramuros.

Dendrobium anosmum aka sanggumay

The group took time in admiring the neatly manicured garden and large trees within the compound. As an orchid grower, I also took time to examine the Dendrobium anosmum (sanggumay) orchid flowering. This is of of the all time favorite native orchids.

Father Willmann chapel altar

statue

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM ) facade

Shrine of Jesus the Divine Teacher, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Muralla St., Intramuros.

Shrine of Jesus the Divine Teacher altar

The Catholic Chapel of the Mapua Institute of Technology, Muralla Street, Intramuros.

Mapua Institute of Technology -chapel altar

The security guards at the Mapua Institue of Technology were also helpful to the participants, Some of them needed to have a bathroom break.

Lyceum of the Philippines University entrance

chapel of the sacred heart of jesus

 chapel interior

The group were greeted by the security guards of the university while some participants took time filling up their water bottles at the fountain station.

Colegio de San Juan de Letran facade

 chapel

Colegio de San Juan de Letran is one of the oldest secondary school for boys and was established in 1620. The college is already busy preparing their 400th anniversary in 2020.

chapel interior

Colegio de San Juan de Letran’s central courtyard had a neatly manicured lawn with large trees, bromeliads, Dendrobium hybrid orchids, native orchids, frangipanis and ornamental plants.

There is also a fountain and several statues of their alumni and patron saint. There is also a mini koi pond and water plants planted at the fountain area.

The group had a busy time admiring this painting at the back portion of the chapel

Roman Ongpin statue- Ongpin corner Quintin Paredes street

This time, we have to walked from Intramuros cross the Jones bridge towards Binondo district.

main altar

Minor Basilica of San Lorenzo Ruiz, Plaza Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila, Binondo

some of the participants enjoyed hot rice porridge (lugaw) and filtered water courtesy of the barangay chairman of place.

filtered water

rice porridge

The group enjoyed the hearty mid-day meal and some took time buying some treats at nearby Eng Bee Tin bakery. There was also a water station in front of the bakery.

 beautiful flower arrangement at the side altar

main altar

Archdiocesan Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament, Plaza Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, Manila

Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, Quezon Boulevard, Quiapo, Manila

Some of the participants had to beg-off after this leg of the tour. It is getting hot as it is almost midday. Our group had to go under the bridge since the underpass is close and the footbridge is few meters away. Signal is also weak.

Bakerite

tasty bread

Bakerite is one of the iconic homegrown bakeries in Quiapo district. They are the ones who popularized the brand “Tasty”. The bread is good and the group took a short snack time inside this bakery.

Shrine of the Holy Face of Jesus, 1111 F. R. Hidalgo Street, Quiapo, Manila

Shrine of the Holy Face of Jesus chapel

The chapel is located at the 2nd floor of the shrine. This is also the final resting place of the founder and of the congregation members.

participants

 tomb

Minor Basilica of San Sebastian, Plaza del Carmen St., Quiapo

main altar

D.Genaro Palacios y Guerra ( main architect ) marker at the floor of the minor basilica

San Beda College- Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat, Mendiola Street,  San Miguel

historical marker

National Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus, Jose Laurel Sr. Street, San Miguel, Manila

passage way which connects the parish to the center

Saint Jude Catholic School and Parish welcome arch

Saint Jude Thaddeus national shrine main altar ( photo taken from the 2nd floor choir area)

old organ built in Germany in the 1950’s at 2nd floor of the shrine

some participants lighted candles and have their moment of prayer at the shrine

a mid -1930’s ancestral house along J.P. Laurel street

 Malacañang place gate 4 along Jose P. Laurel Sr.street

We took a longer route going to the next national shrine, since the presidential security group (PSG) only allowed one portion of Jose P. Laurel street ( security issues).We walked from Arlegui street towards Aguado street passing several old mansions like the ones owned by Laperal family ( Arlegui mansions) and several turn of the century houses along Aguado street. It is sad to see that the former Cocina de Tita Moning ancestral house is closed.

Office of the President ( Presidential Complain Center) along Jose P. Laurel street

The group decided to have a short stop over at Casa Roces– Fine dining restaurant owned by the Roces family ( a separate blog entry) Some of the participants wanted to eat and we have a short photo opportunity. We spend about an hour or so at the restaurant before visiting the next church. It is almost 2:00 pm,when we finished our hearty meal.

San Miguel church main facade

interior

baptismal front

elaborate tombstone by one of the benefactors of the church

group photo at the entrance of the church

National Shrine of St. Michael and the Archangels, Gen. Solano Street, San Miguel

interior and altar

St. Anthony of Padua Shrine, Manrique Street corner J. Figueras street, Sampaloc

facade

Our Lady of Loreto metal sculpture at the side of the church (by Eduardo Castrillo)

Our Lady of Loreto church and Saint Anthony Shrine were dubbed as twin churches of Sampaloc. These two churches were badly destroyed during the closing days of February 1945.

historical marker

interior and main altar

Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Loreto Parish, Sampaloc, Manila

This is like a homecoming event for me, We lived few blocks away from these two churches for almost 15 years.  Most of the participants had to finished their Visita Iglesia trip at this point. Only 10 were left and we decided to hitch ride together going to Immaculate Conception church.

Immaculate Conception church interior

side altar bedeck with flowers and candles

Immaculate Conception Parish, Katamanan Street, Tondo, Manila

Espiritu Santo church side entrance

Espiritu Santo interior

decree

It was declared an Archdiocesan Shrine by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle on June 8, 2014, the Solemnity of the Pentecost.

The church an interesting neo-gothic architecture with a lot of modern elements and this had a parochial school located within its compound. This used to be a public cemetery until early 1900.  The church was fully completed and solemnly blessed on May 14, 1932.

Archdiocesan Shrine of Espiritu Santo, Rizal Avenue, Santa Cruz, Manila

San Roque de Manila interior

San Roque of Manila church along Avenida Rizal, Santa Cruz, Manila.

We hope to have a repeat tour of these churches next year.  The group would like to extend our heartfelt ” THANKS” to the intramuros administration, schools, government buildings, universities and shrines which opened their doors to all the pilgrims, local and foreign tourists.

8 Historical Facts and Numbers on Freedom Trail March

Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB) in partnership with the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, Bataan government, Tarlac government, Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air force started a grueling 3-day march.

The “Obelisk” at the Capas National Shrine

The march started  midnight of March 1 (Friday) started the kick off ceremonies in commemoration of the 77th year of the Death March and concluded at Capas Memorial Shrine in Tarlac on March 3 (Sunday) past 8:30 pm.

Philippine Army and Navy marching along Bamban, Tarlac highway

Mr. Tomas Cloa, Jr. (PVB) Vice president said the original Death March lasted for four days after Bataan fell to the Japanese invaders on April 9, 1942.

8 Historical Facts and Numbers about the Freedom Trail March

Death March Memorial Shrine in Capas, Tarlac province

1.)  Freedom Trail March, it retraces the 140 kilometers of actual route of the Death March from the ( zero) O- kilometer Death March marker in Mariveles, Bataan to Capas in Tarlac.

Bamban bridge, Tarlac

2.) Death March is considered as one of the darkest days in the country’s history. There were 60,000 to 80,000 Filipino and American prisoners of war from Bagac and Mariveles towns in Bataan to Camp O’Donnell in Capas, Tarlac.

3.) About 2,000 living World War II veterans are still alive.

4.) United States Navy Seal 21 members of the United States Navy Seal participated for the first time.

5.) Epic Charity Challenge from the United States headed by its director Dr. Lance Cummings of California together with 17 members aimed to raise $100,000 this year to be given to athletes needing prosthetic and metal shoes.

Cristo Rey High School students

6.) 77 Students from Cristo Rey High School which symbolizes the 77 years of Death March were at the lightning of torch. The school was known as O’Donnel’s Rettlement High School. The place is popularly called NAVY.

Maj. Gen. Delfin Negrillo Lorenzana, AFP (Ret.) 

Secretary of Defense Delfin Negrillo Lorenzana led the torch lighting ceremony at the shrine.

boodle meal

boodle meal dishes which included steam white rice, fried pork liempo, roasted chicken, salted duck eggs, slice tomatoes, slice mangoes, pork chicharon, steamed egg plant, steamed okra, steamed kangkong with bagoong and vinegar .

7.) Boodle Fights– After a long day march, everyone enjoyed a hearty boodle fight meal.

Mr. Roberto de Ocampo

8.) Philippine Veterans Bank is owned by Philippine war veterans and prime mover in commemorating the event. Mr. Roberto De Ocampo ( former Finance secretary during President Fidel Ramos term 1992 to 1998 ) is the chairperson of the banking institution.

Philippine Living History members

Mr. Robert Hudson, vice-president of Filipino-American Memorial, said the Death March markers are well-maintained, now with the assistance of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

souvenir items for sale

souvenir items for sale, These included black and white color shirts ( Php 400 each), marble obelisk kilometer marker- Php 150 and refrigerator magnets.

A big salute to all the soldiers and to the organizers of this annual freedom run .

Highlights of the 39th Marian Procession in Intramuros

There are  more than 140 beautifully and elaborately-adorned carriages bearing the images of the Blessed Virgin Mary with her different titles from different parts of the country were part of the 39th Grand Marian Procession.

Our Lady of Fatima

There were between 70,000 to 80,000 people which visited the grand procession. Most are devotees from different parts of the archipelago.

Sacta Maria Stella Matutina of Familia Zapanta and Quiocho, Taytay , Rizal province

This also coincide with celebration of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception last sunday December 2, 2018.

foreign tourists at Plaza de España

There are also several foreign tourists and devotees who also took time to visit the processional carriages before the actual procession had started.

Nuestra Señora delos Dolores de Turumba of Pakil, Laguna devotees

participants with colorful traje de mestiza

Virgin of the Poor

The grand marian procession also coincide with the Catholic church observance of the first sunday of advent.

Our Lady of the Barangay

Ina Poon Bato carriage with vegetable, fruits, tillandsia and cut flowers

Tillandsia usenoides

pineapples, string beans, banana blossom and baskets are part of the elaborate floral and agricultural produce arrangement

Our Lady of Hope

Nuestra Señora Delas Flores– the image was owned by Mrs. Imelda Ongsiako Cojuangco

lyre band

Mary of Help Christians with devotees from Boac, Marinduque dress in Roman Moriones

The grand procession was very festive and was organized by the Confradia de la Inmaculada Conception Foundation in cooperation with the Intramuros Administration, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and different Marian congregations.

cadets were also drafted and served as escort to the processional image of Our Lady of Fatima

participants with colorful floral costumes

The three-kilometer procession route are beehives of all sorts of activities. There are people singing, colorful local costumes and devotees distributing devotional pamphlets.

Our Lady of Holy Rosary of Pacita, Laguna

Most of the processional carriages and the images were arranged as early as lunchtime within Paseo de Magallanes near Bureau of Immigration, Intendencia de Manila and Soriano avenue within Intramuros.

The solemn parade started at around past 4:00 pm in the afternoon from Plaza Roma in front of the Manila Cathedral and will slowly wind its way through the streets of the Walled City.

beautifully embroidered vestment

The well venerated images include among others the Our Lady of the Visitation of Piat from Cagayan Valley; Our Lady of Guibang in Gamu, Isabela; Our Lady of the Holy Spirit in Guimaras, Iloilo; Nuestra Señora de Salvacion; Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion; Our Lady of Lourdes; Our Lady of Fatima; Our Lady of Buen Suceso; Our Lady of Pillar; Our Lady of the Abandoned; Our Lady of Victories; Our Lady of La Salette from Silang, Cavite; Our Lady of Namacpacan from Luna, La Union; Our Lady of Manaoag from Pangasinan.

La Virgen Dolorosa de Murcia

Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario del Manaoag with camarero and devotees

Virgen La Divina Pastora from Gapan, Nueva Ecija province

Our Lady of Divine Shepherdess or La Virgen La Divina Pastora from Gapan, Nueva Ecija; Nuestra Senora de Aranzazu; Our Lady of Soledad of Porta Vaga, patroness of Cavite; Our Lady of Peñafrancia, patroness of Bicol; Nuestra Señora de Dolores de Turumba from Pakil, Laguna; 0ur Lady of La Naval; Our Lady of Guadalupe; Our Lady of the Rosary from Rosario, Cavite; Virgen Milagrosa del Santissimo Rosario from Orani, Bataan.

39th Marian Procession poster at Casa Manila

devotees and pilgrims from Catanduanes, Bicol region

Several other highly revered Marian images accompanied by a contingent of Marian devotees from each town or province.

devotees in light blue barot’s saya

Last year, a replica of the image of Mary, Help of Christians was included in the procession symbolic of the original image which was destroyed during the Battle of Marawi.

Plaza Roma

Some of the participants and provincial delegates were already at the main plaza before 12:00 noon.

Nuestra Señora del Santissimo Rosario

Among popular souvenirs are devotional pamphlets, estampitas, salt, handkerchiefs, cloth among others are popular souvenirs of the event.

sacristans holding candles and rosaries

consorts with candles from Cavite

There are big plans for next year’s 40th Annual Marian Procession with more images and bigger crowd expected to participate.

A Solemn Visit to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in N.S. Amoranto

It was sunny afternoon last week, when we visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes located along N.S. Amoranto ( formerly known as Retiro street) corner Kanlaon street.

National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes

We would often pass along their stretch of street on our way to Muñoz in Quezon City. Sometimes the church and shrine was our reference point when we are going to the Suki Market and Dapitan Arcade.

History and Heritage

The Lourdes Church and Convent was first established by the Franciscan Capuchin friar in 1891.

The devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes slowly but surely spread throughout the Philippines that the Capuchins were forced to build a bigger and more beautiful church which was dedicated on February 3, 1910.

The church used to be along General Luna street within Intramuros in the 19th century until it was destroyed during World War II in 1945.

As posted by the website of the Diocese of Cubao, there was an initiative to establish a parish within Retiro St. in Quezon City in 1941, spearheaded by the Capuchins to the Archbishop of Manila. A decree was issued on March 28, 1942 to establish Sta. Teresita del Niño Jesus Parish; however the church construction was delayed because of World War II. The image of Our Lady of Lourdes was kept at nearby San Agustin church and convent and were miraculously saved.

Our Lady of Lourdes statute located at the left side of the main entrance

The statue of Our Lady of Lourdes then moved from one place to another during the last chapters of the war and was enshrined for quite sometime at the Sta. Teresita Chapel in Mayon Street. Finally, on February 10, 1951, the image was brought back to Sta. Teresita Parish on Retiro St, and later the parish was renamed Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. Fast forward to 1997, in celebration of the Parish’s forty-fifth anniversary, the Our Lady of Lourdes was declared a National Shrine.

timeline of the parish and devotion

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes is located at Kanlaon Street corner N.S. Amoranto Ave. (formerly Retiro St.) Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon City. It celebrates its feast day every February 11. There are everyday masses and special devotions are also held in the Paris.

main entrance

The church’s present architecture is a modern revival of  neo-romanesque.

church interior

church altar with stained glass windows and painted ceiling

baldoza tile

old baldoza tiles were also part of the mid-century ambiance

main founders of the church , their names were etch in marble for posterity and gratitude

When the first construction of the church and convent was planned in a lot acquired through the donations made by the families represented by Don Salvador Araneta and Doña Natividad Zaragoza Tuason. On August 14, 1941, Fr. Florencio de Lezaun, superior of the Capuchins in the Philippines addressed a letter to the then Archbishop of Manila, Msgr. Michael O’Doherty, asking his consent to build a religious house with a church attached to it, in a 10,500 square meter lot acquired by the Order in Retiro Street. The compound also housed the school and office.

CBCP plaque of dedication

various saints at the side entrance of the shrine

a spiral staircase leading to the church organ

church organ

Dendrobium aphyllum locally called fairy/ dainty/ lesser sanggumay were naturalized on Christmas palm within the pocket garden located within the shrine premises.

Note: All photos are from the author

Sources and References:

Website: Diocese of Cubao

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines

Except from Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine leaflet and poster

Excerpt from Shrines, Incarnating Christ Today. St. Paul Philippines, 2004.