Visiting churches during Lenten Season has been a customary tradition for many Filipinos, as vows and happiness. This is a time in a year that the Catholic faithful's give full time to meditate deeply and reconnect with God through prayers, remembering The Son of God Jesus Christ's redemption of our eternal sin through the Cross.
Having visited the Churches in the Ilocandia, Iloilo, and in Bohol, we aimed to pray in the Churches on the North-eastern side of Luzon this 2021.
We are not called by God to do extraordinary things.. but to do ordinary things with extraordinary love.
The churches we aim to visit will be first time for us pray, except on our way back, the last church to pray is in the in Angeles City.
Tambahay Food Court, San Jose, Nueva Ecija.
Tambahay in San Jose, Nueva, Ecija is a perfect stop-over place to rest and regain strength. We stop there too many times: on our way to the New Highest Point in Tinoc, and when we loop Ifugao~Mountain Province. A short stop there is very important to wind up and refresh before the very treacherous zigzag roads of Sta. Fe and Dalton Pass, going to either Banaue or Nueva Vizcaya.
There are lots of food stalls with so many dishes to choose from, clean CR's, wide parking spaces, and a gas refilling station to complete your one-stop rest.
Surprisingly, I also met my fraternal brother, Brod Andrew, SPO4 of PRO3, and provided us about some insights on what to expect ahead - because GCQ everywhere.
Our Lady of Atocha Parish, Alicia, Isabela.
The Municipality of Alicia was formerly known as Angadanan Viejo which means "Old Angadanan", and was originally part of Cagayan province, in Cagayan Valley.
A famous historical landmark in a 1st class municipality in the province of Isabela, the Our Lady of Atocha Church was completed and inaugurated in 1849. This beautiful church was officially declared by the Philippine Department of Tourism as one of the national religious tourist destination in the Philippines.
St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish, Centro Sur, Gattaran, Cagayan.
A cultural heritage not only for the Gattaraneos but also for the Cagayanos, St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish is truly a mark of history and a mark of the religiosity of the people.
Gattaran was established as an ecclesiastical town in May 20, 1623, with Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin and Martyr as Patron, whose feast day is celebrated every November 25.
The Welcome Arch of Aparri.
Reaching this infamous welcome arch in Aparri is indeed very difficult during the lockdown period and yet, we did it..!
The Municipality of Aparri, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Cagayan, with almost +70,000 people thriving in one of the largest tobacco-producing sections in the Philippines.
Aparri's attractions also include its sandy beaches and town fiesta, during the month of May, which celebrates the patron saint San Pedro Gonzales of Thelmo with nightly festivities at the auditorium, crowning of Miss Aparri beauty pageant and the "Comparza."
The end of the road in Aparri is a baywalk that is directly facing Puga and Camiguin Islands in the North. It was not that beautiful but it was very exciting being there during lockdown period.
The ideal place to stay near the beach is in Jocel Monay Beach Hotel - and there was no one there but us since the town is under strict lockdown due to pandemic..
The common living area on the 2nd floor gave me much back relief after the 649KM rides all the way from Angeles City.
St. Peter Thelmo Parish, San Antonio, Aparri, Cagayan.
In as much as we would like to stay longer in San Antonio, Aparri, we were only given consideration by the PNP to enter, stay overnight, then get out immediately in the morning.
The St. Peter Thelmo Parish was locked and no one is allowed to enter it during the time we visited it.
I only slip my hand beyond the fence just to make a nice shot of the grandiose church. After a short prayers thanking God that allowed us to have this trip, we started moving out of the town.
Saying Goodbye to Aparri.
This landmark is very important for Philippine Loopers, as this is one of many checkpoints that you need to pass when doing North Loop. Same as to many places we visited for a short time, saying goodbye to Aparri is a bit sad to my heart - but surely we will be back..!
St. Dominic Parish, Lal-Lo, Cagayan.
Lal-Lo Church is the last of three old churches built in the town during the Spanish era. Indeed, the feeling is so unique watching it even from outside.
Located along the Cagayan Valley Road, it was built in the early 1600's after the Diocese of Nueva Segovia was created in 1595.
St. Philomene Church, Alcala, Cagayan.
Perhaps my personal favorite as the most beautiful church in all of the churches that we have visited in this Visita Iglesia 2021, the Saint Philomene Church is regarded as the biggest Spanish colonial church under the Tuguegarao Archdiocese, built in the 1900's.
The massive size of the brick-faced church won’t be left unnoticed when you pass by Alcala town proper. The size of the church is even more emphasized when you get inside and see how spacious and wide the interior is, and at 30 meters in width, Saint Philomene Church is one of the widest (if not the widest) church in the entire province.
St. Peter's Cathedral, Tuguerao, Cagayan.
The Saint Peter Metropolitan Cathedral, also known as the Tuguegarao Cathedral, is an 18th-century Baroque church located along Rizal Street, Barangay Centro 10, Tuguegarao, Cagayan, and it's very beautiful even from outside.
The church was also in lockdown and no one was permitted to enter even to it's huge ground. We prayed from outside and immediately leave because Tuguegarao during that time was under ECQ - no stores nor any businesses was open, the streets were guarded by police men.
Our Lady of La Sallete Parish, Roxas, Isabela.
Located in the inner road of Magsaysay Street, in Roxas, Isabela, the Our Lady of La Sallete Parish was very quiet and calm there.
We recited our prayers from outside under the shade of the tree, then immediately went on our way down the map.
St. Louis Beltran Parish, Solano, Nueva Vizcaya.
The Municipality of Solano is a 1st class municipality in the province of Nueva Vizcaya, with a population of more than 65,000 people.
The church was very silent and we only asked permission from the PNP guarding the area to recite our prayers and take some quick shots.
Back to Tambahay after Dalton Pass.
Dalton Pass is indeed very exciting to ride. It has one of the most amazing bends down to San Jose City, in Nueva Ecija. Being back to Tambahay again was a great relief, knowing we only have +100KM rides in about 2 hours.
Cathedral of Saint Joseph The Worker, San Jose, Nueva Ecija.
The Diocese of San Jose, Nueva Ecija, the Cathedral of Saint Joseph The Worker, was created on Feb. 16, 1984 by Pope John Paul II and canonically erected on July 14, 1984.
Finally we had a chance to see the beautiful interior of a church after 9x churches that we visited, all the way from San Antonio, Aparri.
The Lenten Season procession was prepared by the faithful there - although the PNP whom we spoke to, said to us that, there is no procession to be conducted outside of the church ground. Each carrousel was beautiful decorated with fresh flowers that's astonishing.
I was very surprised that this church has the same name and almost the same appeal and design from outside - it's the Saint Joseph the Worker Cathedral in Tagbilaran, Bohol.. amazing..!
Jesus the Eternal Word Parish, Angeles City, Pampanga.
Arriving in Clark South SCTEX is a great feeling knowing the hundreds of kilometers we covered to accomplish something so unbelievable under GCQ/ECQ areas.
The Jesus the Eternal Word Parish here in Friendship Angeles City is one of the church that we always recite our prayers every after lockdown rides. This is also the church that I pass by from the Office, to pray for the grace of God in each day. Father Ching, the Parish Priest, is a very kind person and well-loved.
Visita Iglesia 2021: The Completion
Our Visita Iglesia 2021 was very safe and successful. Covering a total of 1,156km from Angles City to Aparri, and back. A total of 10x churches, no swimming, no fun stuffs, no close interactions with the locals.. only prayers and inner happiness.
Our Lady of Atocha Parish, Alicia, Isabela
St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish, Centro Sur, Gattaran, Cagayan
St. Peter Thelmo Parish, San Antonio, Aparri, Cagayan
St. Dominic Parish, Lal-Lo, Cagayan
St. Philomene Church, Alcala, Cagayan
St. Peter's Cathedral, Tuguerao, Cagayan
Our Lady of La Sallete Parish, Roxas, Isabela
St. Louis Beltran Parish, Solano, Nueva Vizcaya
Cathedral of Saint Joseph The Worker, San Jose, Nueva Ecija
Jesus the Eternal Word Parish, Angeles City, Pampanga
After 5x churches in Cagayan, 2x churches in Isabela, a church in Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, and Pampanga, our Lenten Season vows were completed.. to God be all the Glory and Honor..!
Whenever God calls us to a task, He will equip us and enable us to complete that task.
2021 April 1~2, Aparri, Cagayan.
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