Visita Iglesia in Bataan

Diocese of Balanga
Dioecesis Balangensis
Diyosesis ng Balanga

First time I set my foot in the province Bataan was when I had Holy Week vacation in my college friend's house in Balanga City. I witnessed their tradition of self-flagellation, a practice of slashing one's back with a whip, resulting to backbleeding. Since then, I wanted to visit other historic churches by hopping from one town to another.

First stop is the beautiful town of Hermosa with flagship church Saint Peter of Verona Parish Church. The renovated church is spacious and a huge altar housing the patron saint.

If Pangasinan has Manaoag, then Bataan has Orani. Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish Church hosts the miraculous image called by pilgrims as Virgen Milagrosa. Dominicans brought this Marian image to the shores of Bataan and countless miracles prospered the little visita (small settlement during colonial times) to a full pueblo (town).

Famous for their capiz shells and araro cookies, the town of Samal has a heritage structure Parish Church of St. Catherine of Siena. The pinkish facade is complemented by a long old convent. It is hidden at the back of municipal hall. 

Saint Dominic Parish Church of Abucay town is an old edifice located along the national highway. Historical marker depicted that it was the site of first printing press by Tomas Pinpin and of a bloody war against Dutch Invaders of late 17th century.

In the heart of Balanga City stands the seat of Roman Catholic Diocese of Balanga that covers the ecclesiastical province of Bataan, the Diocesan Shrine and Cathedral Parish of St. Joseph. The former white facade was replaced with red bricks and dramatically faces the plaza adjacent to city hall.

Crossing the river from Balanga City will lead you to town of Pilar, where the historic Mount Samat is located. Our Lady of the Pillar Parish Church is situated a few meter away from the municipal hall.

The Saint Michael The Archangel Parish Church in the southeastern town of Orion has a clean facade and ornate altars. Their intact main and side altars are the best I've ever seen in Bataan.

Eastern Coast: Hermosa-Orani-Samal-Abucay-Balanga City-Pilar-Orion

Lastly, I added the heritage church at Bataan's western coast:

Our Lady of the Pillar Parish

Situated at the northwestern corner of Bataan, Morong church was administered by Recollects in 1607. The coral-stone church is a witness to revolution against Spaniards and resistance of Filipino-American soldiers during World War II. Located across the municipal hall, one can see the original façade of fortress-like built.

Have a blessed trip everyone! (n_n)

Visita Iglesia in Pangasinan

Coat of arms Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan
Archidioecesis Lingayensis-Dagupanensis (Latin)
Arkidiosis na Lingayen-Dagupan (Pangasinense)
Arkidiocesis ti Lingayen-Dagupan (Ilocano)

The Ecclesiastical Province of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan

The Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan has jurisdiction in the province of Pangasinan, includes the Suffragan Sees of Alaminos (western Pangasinan), Cabanatuan (southern Nueva Ecija), San Fernando de La Union, San Jose (northern Nueva Ecija) and Urdaneta (eastern Pangasinan).

August of year 2009 was the first time I visited the shrine in Manaoag, to seek guidance for my upcoming board exam. I promised that I'll go back when I passed it. Now that I had chance, I went on a solo trip to Manaoag at dawn then visited also the historic churches of central Pangasinan.

First stop is the home of the famous and most visited Marian Image in the province, Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag. Pilgrims going mostly to Baguio pass here first to pay respects, give thanks, and pour wishes to her as she was believed to be miraculous. Long queues can be seen just to touch the ivory image from the back of the basilica.

Jeepney commuting from Manaoag to Dagupan City led me to the St. John The Evangelist Metropolitan Cathedral. As the seat of Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, the edifice is modern and the interior is spacious that can accomodate a large number of parishioners.

At the back of cathedral, you can see the old Dagupan church, Archdiocesan Shrine of Saint John the Evangelist. Fronting the public market, it used to be the main church and recent renovations were made to restore it from earthquake and flood damage.

Adjacent town of Calasiao has their National Cultural Treasure church, Sts. Peter and Paul Parish. It was incripted and given that distinction due to its ornate retablo mayor (main altar) and massive facade of bricks and cement that stood the test of time.

Still at the town of Calasiao is the Señor Divino Tesoro Shrine. Situated at the back of municipal hall, the miraculous Christ's image survived numerous calamities and devotees flock to this place. Hence, the second most visited shrine after Manaoag.

At the heart of the the town of Binmaley sits the old church of Our Lady of the Purification Parish. The belltower has an outgrowth of vegetation and it is located adjacent to municipal hall.

The Epiphany of Our Lord Co-Cathedral in the capital town of Lingayen was heavily renovated after the main building was bombed during the Second World War. The distinct octagonal belltower survived, making it the original part of the edifice.

The town of Bugallon used to be called Salasa. Nowadays, Salasa only refers to the barangay of the town. Still, this barangay retains the brick church of  Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine. The reason the town center transferred from Salasa to present Bugallon poblacion is that the former was frequently flooded by nearby Agno river.

Along the highway, the town of Aguilar has St. Joseph The Patriarch Church with convolute on its pediment and vegetation outgrowth at its belltower. 

The largest town in Pangasinan, Mangatarem has a large church named Saint Raymond of Peñafort Parish Church. During my visit, it was under renovation. I noticed that the church floors are made of marble with black/white patterns like the ones in old Bulakan church.

Though not part of my church visit after Mangatarem, I included here the mighty cathedral of Alaminos City, as it was the seat of diocese governing the western towns of Pangasinan. Cathedral of St Joseph stands proud facing the city hall.

Lastly, included here is the Saint James the Great Parish Church, a Spanish colonial church located at the northwestern tip of the province, the rustic town of Bolinao. It was  canonically erected in the year 1609 by the Augustinian Friars.

Central Pangasinan: Manaoag-Dagupan City-Calasiao-Binmaley-Lingayen-Bugallon (Salasa)-Aguilar-Mangatarem

Continuation of my Central Route here: Visita Iglesia in Pangasinan Part 2

Have a blessed trip everyone! (n_n)