Visita Iglesia in Nueva Ecija

As I went up north, I found out that there's still remaining heritage church within the rice-producing province of Nueva Ecija. So on one weekend, I rode Baliwag bus at Caloocan bound to San Jose City where I started my church visit.

1. Cathedral of St. Joseph the Worker
This cathedral located at San Jose City is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose in the Philippines, that has jurisdiction on parishes at the northern part of Nueva Ecija. The lofty façade has asymmetrical look where belfry is found only at one side. 

Diocese of San Jose de Nueva Ecija
Dioecesis Sancti Iosephi in Insulis Philippinis
Diyosesis ng San Jose, Nueva Ecija

2. San Sebastian the Martyr Parish 

The modern-looking church across the public plaza of Science City of Muñoz has an octagonal entrance with patron saint's niche above it. 

3. Saint Isidore the Worker Parish

The Roman Catholic church at Talavera is laced with bricks and located right across the municipal hall.

4. Cathedral of Saint Nicholas Of Tolentine

The main parish of Cabanatuan City, which is now heavily renovated is located at the city center, facing the plaza where General Antonio Luna was assasinated. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cabanatuan, that has jurisdiction on parishes at the southern part of Nueva Ecija.  

Diocese of Cabanatuan
Dioecesis Cabanatuanensis
Diyosesis ng Cabanatuan

5. Saint Bartholomew Parish

Few kilometers from the main highway lies the church of San Leonardo. The interesting story within this church is that the statue of Saint Bartholomew made the vicinity invisible to bombers during World War 2. Hence, this was the reason why the town suffered less damage on that time.

During Lenten Season, some churches cover the altar's Crucified Christ with purple cloth.

6. Saint Rose of Lima Parish

Located at the town center of Santa Rosa, it has a striking façade as well as gorgeous ceiling made of wood with geometric patterns. The altar is beautifully adorned with gold paint and wood arrangement.

7. National Shrine of Virgen La Divina Pastora

The heritage City of Gapan hosts the Parish Church of the Three Kings. This edifice, surrounded by colonial houses, is considered the oldest and biggest colonial church in Nueva Ecija. Established in 1595, the church exudes Baroque architecture and primarily made of limestone and bricks. Venerated here is the image of the La Virgen Divina Pastora, the object of the largest Marian pilgrimages in Central Luzon.

Side projection

Renovated main altar

Restored dome painting

La Virgen Divina Pastora

The Three Kings

The original Three Kings Statues used to be found in the side altar until each
 of them was taken care by different families. Only this picture hanged at the
churchyard was the reminder of the patrons.
(Source: http://andalltheangelsandsaints.blogspot.com/2010/06/14-three-kings-of-gapan-nueva-ecija.html)

Nueva Ecija Route (north to south): San Jose City-Science City of Muñoz-Talavera-Cabanatuan City-Santa Rosa-San Leonardo-Gapan City

Have a blessed visita iglesia everyone!

NEGROS ORIENTAL: Walking Tour at Dumaguete City

 

It was a fine Sunday morning when I arrived at the port from Siquijor. I walked by the bay passing the good old Silliman University, city’s largest university that occupies the northern part.

Silliman University seen from Dumaguete Bay

Silliman Gate Markers at Hibbard Avenue

Silliman Chapel

You can see the oldest building within it near the port: Silliman Hall or officially known as Silliman Anthropology Museum. It has an exhibit of artifacts and archaeological findings, some dating 2,000 years and an ethnographic collection from minority tribes in the Philippines. Silliman Hall is in itself a cultural relic of old America.

Next stop is the Rizal Boulevard named after our national hero, who came from exile in Dapitan, had a stopover here to operate the eye of former head of Negros Occidental.

A landmark at one part of the boulevard is the marker where Sisters of Saint Paul of Chartres landed at the bay to establish the first educational and medical institutions in the city.

Walking towards the cathedral is the Quezon Park celebrating its centennial, graced by Rizal monument.

Nearby is the city hall flanked by central schools, which has a colonial stone house motif.


Across the Quezon Park are the two famous landmarks of the city:

The Saint Catherine of Alexandria Parish known as Dumaguete Cathedral is the flagship Catholic church within the city. Regarded as the oldest stone church in Negros, it was originally built in 1754 with coral stones like in Siquijor churches. The reconstruction started in 1585 up to 1936. Nowadays, many modern renovations have been incorporated in the interior and exterior of the church.

The most famous landmark is the Campanario de Dumaguete or simply the bell tower located a few meters away from the cathedral. It was initially built in 1811 as a lookout to forewarn locals of any incoming danger brought about by Muslim pirates. This is the oldest bell tower in the Visayas. Hence, its name was derived from Cebuano word dumagit meaning "to snatch".

Famished after the day’s walk, I took at hot cup of milk at a painitan (breakfast stall) within the public market and bought some budbod kabog (rolled millet rice cakes), a famous delicacy from Tanjay City.

Before leaving Dumaguete, my trip won’t be complete without tasting their famous desserts: sans rival and silvana served at Sans Rival Bistro. The café is already packed with patrons lining up to take home these sweet treats.

I took a quick lunch from the main branch of Jo’s Chicken Inato, a famous chicken barbecue chain that originated here in Dumaguete.

'Til next time Dumaguete! (n_n)

NEXT: NEGROS ORIENTAL: Foodtrip and Pasalubong

Visita Iglesia in Negros Occidental

Cities of Sugarlandia share some heritage and contemporary churches. When you get to this province, visiting them is a must.

1. Cathedral of Saint Sebastian the Martyr


The original church of Bacolod City was erected in 1825 made of wood. Then it was reconstructed made of coral stones from Guimaras and hardwood from Palawan. Once the biggest church in the province in 1882, two towers were added housing the church bells but were never returned after reconstruction of towers. Altar was changed from the opulent Spanish-style retablo to a simple one, with huge image of the patron at the center. It is the main cathedral of Diocese of Bacolod, a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Jaro in Iloilo City.

2. San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish

The old church of Talisay City lies within the poblacion where it is surrounded by surviving ancestral houses. You can still see the original checkered stone floor and main altar made of wood.

3. Saint Didacus of Alcala Pro-Cathedral

Present pro-cathedral of Silay City was built in 1925 through the generosity of Silaynons and designed by Italian architect Lucio Bernasconi. Hence, the dome and façade is reminiscent of an Italian church. The two towers house a bell and a mechanical clock.

4. Our Lady of Victory Parish

The main church of Victorias City located across city hall, the patron lends its name to city as victorious.

5. St. Joseph the Worker Chapel

Commonly known as the Angry Christ Church, in Victorias City, Philippines, is a Roman Catholic chapel located inside the Victorias Milling Company residential complex, in Victorias, Negros Occidental, Philippines. It considered the first example of modern sacral architecture in the Philippines dedicated to St. Joseph the Worker.

The church was designed by the Czech architect Antonín Raymond, himself already recognized as the founder of modern architecture in Japan. The church was declared Important Cultural Property of the Philippines in December 2015.

It was built between 1948-50 by the Ossorio family thus it is sometimes called the Ossorio Chapel. Modern altar painting of so-called "Angry Christ" was painted in vivid colors by Alfonso Ossorio, Filipino-American abstract expressionist artist.. Mosaics are by the Belgian Adelaide de Bethune. The materials and talents were provided by the local artists Arcadio Anore and Benjamin Valenciano. 

Arcadio Anore executed Bethune's designs for the brass plates in the pulpit and baptistery while Benjamin Valenciano did the wooden image sculptures inside the church including the images for the Stations of the Cross. Their works were recognized by the Philippine religious arts for introducing a "Filipinized" version of religious themes depicting Mary, Joseph and the characters in the Fourteen Stations of the Cross to have brown skin in traditional Filipino attire.

Negros Occidental Cities Route: 

Bacolod City-Talisay City-Silay City-Victorias City

Have a blessed Visita Iglesia everyone!