ThOuGhTs, iDeAs, oPiNiOnS, cHaTtEr

Lenten Pilgrimage: Laguna

Once more, I joined the Lenten Pilgrimage arranged by Greenbelt Chapel. This time, we would be visiting seven (7) churches in Laguna. Assembly time is 5AM, bus departure is 5:30AM.

The theme of the pilgrimage is Lakbay Pananampalataya. Our pilgrimage chaplain is Msgr. Mario Rafael M. Castillo, P.C. E.V.


On our way to the first church, the first parish church where Msgr. Castillo was assigned, we prayed the Pilgrim's Prayer and the rosary.

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Pilgrim's Prayer

Heavenly Father,
we than You as we come together in Your name
to be with the community of pilgrims
to share Your reconciliation, peace and love
with others in this Lenten Pilgrimage.

Prepare our hearts and minds
that we may be worthy to receive
God's gifts and favors today.
Remind us always that this pilgrimage
is a spiritual journey with a purpose
and not merely a sightseeing trip.

Help us to practice the virtue of patience
for whatever discomforts and difficulties that may arise.
Grant us the spirit of obedience to be one with others
and to participate fervently in all the activities.

May our visit to various churches
foster personal spiritual growth
with a joyful hope to return in our respective parishes
inspired, enlightened and transformed.

May God protect us and keep us in His loving care.
May Jesus of Calvary and of Emmaus walk with us.
May the Spirit give us clarity of mind,
strength of heart and a sure foot as we all travel today.

All these we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

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The first church is Sts. Peter and Paul Parish Church at Siniloan, Laguna. This is where we had the Mass officiated by our Pilgrimage Chaplain. Even the Mayor of the City dropped by to attend the Mass.

Sts. Peter and Paul Parish Church

"The town of Siniloan was called Guiling Guiling from 1583 to 1604. The name was taken from an old folklore when some Spaniards docked on the shores of Laguna de Bay asked the natives the name of the place. The natives, who at that time were milling rice, thought that they were asked what they were doing, answered 'gumigiling'. The Spaniards repeated 'Guiling-Guiling' and so the name was born."

The second church is Our Lady's Nativity Parish Church at Pangil, Laguna.

Our Lady's Nativity Parish Church

"The first church of Our Lady's Nativity (Nuestra Senora de la Natividad) in Pangil was built by the early missionaries Fray Juan de Placencia and Fray Diego de Oropesa in Barangay Sulib in 1579. This church made of bamboo was destroyed by earthquake and storms.

"In 1611, a church made of stone and a convent were built under Fray Gonzalo del Robles. At the time it was built, the church was known as the biggest in the province of Laguna.

"In 1711, the church was remodeled to include a beautiful dome of stone, which became its centerpiece. This was done through the efforts of Fray Lukas Fernandez, who also remodeled and improved the convent.

"The convent of Pangil remains today a historic place for one memorable reason: It was host to Prince Carlos III of Spain in 1743. The prince stayed in the convent for three years and spent his time hunting in the forest and swimming in the river. In 1764, he was crowned King Carlos III. After the coronation, he sent to Pangil as a sign of his gratitude to the people, two images: the Child Jesus in the womb and Our Lady pregnant with the Child Jesus. They came together with replicas of his scepter and crown.

"The people of Pangil named the two images as the Santo Nino de la O and the Nuestra Senor de la O, after the Latin antiphons that start with 'O'."

When we arrived at the church, a wedding is about to start. They allowed us first to pray the 3rd and 4th Stations of the Cross.

The third church is the St. Peter of Alcantara Parish Church at Pakil, Laguna.

St. Peter of Alcantara Parish Church

"In 1588, Fray Pedro Bautista (now San Pedro Bautista, a Franciscan martyr) formed the first community of Pakil, originally called Paquil after the first Malay Datu Gat Paquil, who ruled the town in 1575. Its church was just a small chapel that belonged to church of Paete.

"The first parish church was made of bamboo and pawid (nipa). Its first parish priest was Fray Barajas himself, who also chose as patron saint San Pedro de Alcantara to symbolize the mission that he belonged to.

"Construction of the church and convent did not start until 1732 under the direction of Fr. Fernande de Horo.

"The church was completed in 1767 and earned the reputation of being the sturdiest church around the Lake of Laguna.

"In 1851, however, there was a big fire in the town and the convent and half of the church were burned. The image of the Nuestra Senora de los Dolores de Turumba, which was also housed in the church and for which the town was also popularly known, was miraculously spared.

"A year after the fire, the church and convent were beautifully restored under the direction of Fr. Juan de Llerena.

"The church was canonically proclaimed a Diocesan Shrine of Nuestra Senora de los Dolores de Turumba on October 19, 2006 by Bishop Leo M. Drona, SDB."

When we arrived, there is already another group of pilgrims at the church; thus, took photos while waiting for them to finish. That's when I found that I misplaced the case of may Canon Speedlite. It was the other group who found it. Good thing, was able to get it back (the finder was already in their bus).

The fourth church is St. James the Apostle Parish Church at Paete, Laguna.

St. James the Apostle Parish Church

"Paete derived its name from 'paet', a Tagalog word for chisel, the principal tool used in woodcarving. As early as 15th century, the town of Paete already had a high starndard of living, including carving, long before the Spanish conquest came.

"Paete church boasts of the great artistry of the natives of Paete where all religious images were carved and painted by them. Among its treasures are the large murals (wall paintings) near the main entrance. Two of the murals dated 1850, namely, San Cristobal and Langit, Lupa, Impyerno, were executed by Jose Luciano Dans who is known for mixing pulverized volcanic ash with pigment and fashioned his brushes out of cat's hair. The third one is unsighed but believed to have been done by the same artist during the 1780s.

"St. James the Apostle Church was declared a National Historical Landmark in 1974."

Our lunch is at Exotic Restaurant at Kalayaan.


The fifth church is San Sebastian Parish Church at Lumban, Laguna.

San Sebastian Parish Church

"Lumban was for a time the center of all missionary activities in Laguna during the Spanish regime. This could be traced in the advent of Christianity in the town of Lumban where the friars came to Christianize the place.

"As it was the practice during the early Spanish regime, the construction of the church was done through hard labor. Each family head was required to render servies without pay during the years of construction. In 1600, the church was completed after long years of hard labor and tragedy. It was the first Franciscan building made of stone outside Manila and was credited to Fr. Pedro Bautista, an excellent musician and the first instructor in Tagalog who was able to form the first choir and musical groups of the church.

"Since Lumban was the first mission assignment of the Franciscans, they made Saint Francis of Assisi the patron saint of the town. But during the 18th century, the town adopted Saint Sebastian Martyr as its patron saint, from which the parish was named after."

The sixth church is St. John the Baptist Parish Church at Longos, Kalayaan, Laguna.

St. John the Baptist Parish Church

"From three small settlements of San Antinio, Abacao and Babaye established in 1587 by order of San Pedro Bautista (Franciscan Minister Provincial and later Martyr of the Faith in Japan) and previously subject to the pueblo of Paete, the pueblo of Longos was formed in 1669 with Fray Lucas Sarro, OFM, as its first resident minister.

"The Church edifice is under the patronage of St. John the Baptist, the Precursor of the Redeemer. Constructed with adobe blocks, the durability of the structure withstood the effects of tropical climate and violent upheavals of the epochs. Its belfry is massive and of great height. A large structure housing the former parish rectory previously occupied the open space.

"Today, only the church building and its adjacent belfry and sacristy still stand and in actual use.

"Among the relics that make the Longos community proud include the solid and durable facade and belfry of the church, a large bas-relief of the Baptism of Christ in the Baptisty, a smaller bas-relief of the adolescent John the Baptist on the interior wall, an ornate high altar made of adobe blocks with carved stone ornaments, old images of Patron St. John the Baptist and Nuestra Senora de la Paz, secondary patroness of the parish."

The seventh church is the parish of our pilgrimage chaplain, the Shrine and Parish of San Antonio de Padua at Pila, Laguna.

Shrine and Parish of San Antonio de Padua

"The church of San Antonio de Padua of Pila was the first church to be dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua in the Philippines (1578) and most probably, in Asia as well.

"The parish of Pila became the first Antonine parish in the country when it was established in 1581, the 350th anniversary of the glorious death of the saint. The town itself was officially called 'San Antonio de Padua de Pila' or simply 'San Antonio de Pila'

"The parish seal depicts the saint holding a lily, the symbol of purity, in his right hand and carrying the Child Jesus on his left arm. Known as 'the miracle worker' even during his lifetime, St. Anthony is the most venerated Franciscan saint next to the founder of the order himself, St. Francis de Assisi. Thus, the choice of St. Anthony as the patron saint of Pila reflected the pivotal role given by the Franciscans to the parish and town.

"Even before the coming of the Spaniards, Pila was already noted for its spiritual ambience. The center of the town was known as Pagalangan, which means 'The Place of Reverence'.

"The National Historical Institute declared the historic town center of Pila, including old houses and school, as a National Historical Landmark on May 17, 2000."

posted by ~GFA~ @ 3/10/2012 06:32:00 PM