ThOuGhTs, iDeAs, oPiNiOnS, cHaTtEr

Lenten Pilgrimage and Heritage Tour

The Greenbelt Chapel organized a Lenten Pilgrimage and Heritage Tour. We decided to join and jump-start one of the practices during Lenten Season--visiting seven churches and praying the Stations of the Cross.

Assembly at the Greenbelt Chapel in Makati City is 6AM, and departure time is 6:30AM. As expected, we left Makati around 6:50AM. (not bad, considering...) There was some drizzle that morning, which I consider some sort of "blessing" from above.

We are a big group as we were able to occupy two (2) big buses. Each bus is accompanied by a priest (our chaplain for the trip) and the organizers of the pilgrimage. Our priest is Fr. Cielo, while Fr. Long leads the other bus. One of the organizers mentioned the "rules". (hehehe! Me thinks it is easier to manage small children on tours than the oldies...) On the way, we prayed the rosary--the Joyful Mysteries.

San Pedro Bautista image at Lakeview Resort (05Mar2005)

We are to have our breakfast at the Lakeview Resort in Los Baños. We had sinangag, fried eggs, longganiza, bangus and banana for dessert.

In the middle of the resort is an image of San Pedro Bautista, a Franciscan missionary who was dragged in chains from Manila to Laguna and was stabbed with two spears on his sides.

Immaculate Concepcion Church (05Mar2005)

From the resort, we walked to our first stop, the Immaculate Concepcion Parish Church in Los Baños. It is here we prayed the first two Stations of the Cross: The Last Supper, and The Agony in Gethsemani.

The Immaculate Concepcion Church is a big stone church that "was built in 1671 but was destroyed by fire in 1727. Another church of stone was constructed by Fray Domingo Mateo, OFM in 1790. The belfry and sacristy were completed in 1851 but was destroyed by an earthquake in 1863. Fray Manuel Rodriguez and Fray Guillermo Martin rebuild the church shortly after the devastation."

Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery (05Mar2005)

We, then, made a side trip to the Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery. Here, "in 1851, Fr. Vicente Belloc, a Franciscan missionary who served as Nagcarlan parish priest for twenty years, led the construction of the Underground Cemetery. The only one of its kind in the country, this cemetery was used as burial place for Spanish friars and the town folks. It later served as a secret meeting place of Filipino revolutionaries. The Historic pact of Biak-na-Bato was first planned by Pedro Paterno and Gen. Severino Taino of the Maluningning command during their secret meeting in this cemetery in 1897."

San Bartolomew Parish Church (05Mar2005)

The second church we visited is the San Bartolomew Parish Church at Nagcarlan. Here we prayed the third and fourth Stations of the Cross: Jesus is condemned to death, and Jesus is scourged and crowned with thorns.

"This town was only a small barangay (village) when it was first colonized by Captain Juan de Salcedo (grandson of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi) and his men in 1571. The evangelization of the natives happened shortly after the arrival of the first group of Franciscans in 1589. Fr. Juan de Plasencia and Fr. Diego de Oropresa were its first missionaries. But due to lack of personnel, the town was abandoned for a while. In 1583, however, the town had its first permanent priest, Fr. Tomas de Miranda. It was in this town and in the same year that wheat was first cultivated. The first stone church was built in 1752 under its pastor, Fr. Cristobal Torres. It was destroyed by fire in 1781 but was immediately rebuilt. In 1845, the church was completely renovated under the supervision of Fr. Vicente Velloc."

Franciscan Novitiate House (05Mar2005)

We then proceeded to the Franciscan Novitiate House to celebrate the Holy Mass prior to a buffet lunch at the Batis ng Liliw Resort and Restaurant.

St. John the Baptist Parish Church (05Mar2005)

For our fifth and sixth Stations of the Cross (Jesus carries the cross, and Jesus falls), we visited the St. John the Baptist Parish Church at Liliw.

"This town was just a small barangay (village) and part of Nagcarlan when it was first reduced and evangelized by Frs. Juan de Plasencia and Diego de Oropresa. It had its permanent priest, Fr. Miguel de San Lucas, in 1605. The Church's titular saint si St. John the Baptist. Tradition says that a wooden statue of St. Bonaventure in this church was venerated by the faithful for it had wept and perspired with blood in 1664."

It is also in this area where the group bought souvenirs. Liliw is known for its footwear products and native delicacies.

Sta. Magdalena Church (05Mar2005)

Next stop is St. Magdalene Parish Church at Sta. Magdalena. It is here we prayed the seventh and eighth Stations of the Cross: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross, and Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem.

"The town of Magdalena was knows as Ambling, a barangay of Mahayhay, until it separated from the latter in 1821. Fray Antonio Morena was its first parish priest and initiated the construction of the church. It was finished in 1854."

It is also in this church where Emilio Jacinto, known as the Brains of the Katipunan for he wrote many documents including the Kartilya ng Katipunan, ran when he was hurt. His blood can still be seen on the baldozza near the stairs.

Church of St. James the Apostle (05Mar2005)

For our ninth and tenth Stations of the Cross (Jesus is stripped off His garments, and The forgiven thief), we visited the St. James the Apostle Parish Church at Paete. The church's design is baroque. Paete, on the other hand, is famous for its woodcarving products.

"Paete remained a visita of Lumban until October 20, 1600 when it was transferred to the jurisdiction of Pakil, where it remained until 1602. The first church was dedicated to San Lazaro. A church and convento of stone were built in 1646 but were in ruins before 1717, when a stronger stone church and convento were built under the direction of the Fr. Francisco de la Fuente. In 1840, the convento was renovated by Fr. Luis de Nambroca and the church repaired. The church was damaged by the earthquake of 1880 and rebuilt by Fr. Pedro Gallano in 1884. The church was damaged by the earthquake of 1937. The church has been undergoing restoration since the 1970s and was declared a National Historical Site in 1981."

Our Lady of Sorrows Church (05Mar2005)

Since it is getting late and by the time we reach our last stop, they may already be celebrating the anticipated Mass, Fr. Long suggested that we pray the eleventh to the fourteenth Stations of the Cross (Mary and the beloved disciple at the foot of the cross, The death of Jesus, Jesus is laid in the tomb, and The resurrection of Jesus) at Our Lady of Sorrows Church (or St. Peter Alcantara Parish Church) at Pakil.

"Pakil was visita of Paete until 1676 when Fr. Francisco de Barajas was assigned as permanent minister. Although permission was obtained in 1684 to reserve tribute collected over five years for the construction of the church, the foundations were not dug until 1732, during the incumbency of Fr. Fernando Haro. The complex was burnt in 1739. Work on the complex continued until 1767. An additional story was added to the bell tower in 1777. In 1840, Fr. Joaquin de Coria repaired the church. Because of a fire in 1851 which ravaged most of the town, Fr. Juan de Llanera repaired the church the following year. Fr. Juan de Dios de Villayos repaired the church roof and bell tower after it was damaged by an earthquake in 1881. The church was repaired in 1883 by Fr. Paulino Camba; damaged by the earthquake of 1937, it was repaired yet another time. During World War II, the church suffered damage and was repaired. The latest major repair was from 1980 to 1984, when a story of the bell tower was rebuilt.

"In 1788, the image of the Nuestra Señora de los Dolores or Virgen de Turumba was enshrined in the church. After the image survived the fire of 1851, devotion to the Virgin increased. The feast of the Virgen de Turumba is celebrated in September on the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. Devotees dance throught the streets of Pakil, stumbling, walking, gyrating as they go along in imitation of the sick and maimed. In preparation for the feast, seven novenas called lupi (nine days of prayer), each honor of the sorrows of the Virgin are celebrated in the church, making this the longest novena in the Philippines. Behind the church is Bukal ng Birhen (Virgin's spring) said to have medicinal waters."

Stairs at Our Lady of Sorrows Church (05Mar2005)

A view of our bus from a window of Our Lady of Sorrows Church (05Mar2005)

The sun's soft rays is slowly descending on the group as the end of the pilgrimage is nearing. It is this time of day that picturesque scenes are captured, as seen from the photos above that were taken at the Our Lady of Sorrows Church.

Funny thing is, we were not supposed to go to the second floor of the church, but since someone saw me at the foot of the stairs, a small group proceeded to go upstairs... hehehehe!

San Ildefonso Parish Church (05Mar2005)

The last church we visited is the San Ildefonso Parish Church in Tanay, Rizal.

"Formerly a visita of Pililla and located in the foothills of the Sierra Madre, Tanay became independent from Pililla in 1606. The town was transferred to a site called San Antonio in 1620 and then to the site it presently occupes in 1640; the transfer was probably catalyzed by the Chinese uprising of 1639, when many Chinese sought refuge in the Sierra Madre. In 1680, a church and convento were built of stone. But by 1773, both were in such a state of deterioration that Fr. Ildefonso Fetanes had the older structures demolished and new ones built. The present church and convento were built from 1773 to 1783. Both structures were repaired and improved in 1851 by Fr. Antonio Santiago."

It was expected that we would be arriving at the Greenbelt Chapel around 7:30PM. But because of the beauty provided by these churches, we can't help but also be tourists during the pilgrimage. Our Lenten Pilgrimage and Heritage Tour ended around 9PM.

Note: Lest you think I have this photographic memory that can memorize all these dates and events regarding these churches, the organizers have provided us a write-up about them at the start of the tour... hehehehe!

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Sidelights:

The Tau Cross. At the start of the pilgrimage, Fr. Cielo gave each one of us a Tau Cross, which, according to him is what St. Francis chose as a more ancient symbol of redemption. The last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, the tau, was transcribed as "T" in Greek. It represents the means by which Jesus Christ reversed the disobedience of the old Adam and became our Savior as the "New Adam".

Wrong bus. Since it was drizzling from time to time, a foreigner (who is part of the pilgrimage) shared his umbrella to one of our senior citizen ladies. Since he happens to ride the other bus, the lady joined him back to his bus after one of our stops. Then, she noticed that she doesn't know anybody in the bus. She immediately stepped down and went to our bus. What made the incident a lot funnier is because her friends in our bus kept on teasing her because she forgot them because of the guy... hehehehe!

posted by ~GFA~ @ 3/05/2005 12:40:00 PM