Tag Archives: St. Mary Magdalene Church

RIZAL DAYTOUR

9 Comments

My friends and I went on a daytour photography of Rizal Province, opting to pick just a few towns. We started from different points, with me taking the Laguna route, therefore starting in Pililla.

The travel from my Tagaytay home to Pililla took more than two hours and so breakfast was the first order of the day. My brother and I stopped at a roadside restaurant called Kawayan Farm and ordered breakfast. Their home-made corned beef made me happy, but the lumpiang ubod (from bamboo shoots) was hefty and glorious.

Image

Kawayan Farm Restaurant is found near the mountain road ascending Mabitac, Laguna

Image

ImageImage

BAHAY NA BATO

Next stop was the Bahay na Bato in Pililla. The gate was closed and so I knocked and the caretaker gladly showed us the property which is actually available as a private function venue.

Image

Image

ImageImageImage

 

ST. MARY MAGDALENE CHURCH, PILILLA

Right beside the Bahay na Bato is the church of St. Mary Magdalene.

Image

Image

SAN ILDEFONSO CHURCH, TANAY
Next stop was the church in Tanay.  From Pinoy Churches: “The 14 Stations of the Cross inside our church has an anomaly that can hardly be missed, The first twelve bear marks and features revealing the Malayan or native characteristics incorporated such as the somewhat squat appearance of the figures, including Jesus, the use of “Tambuli” made from carabao horn and of the “tabak” or native bolo instead of the usual Roman sword, while the last two bears features that are unmistakably Caucasian. Although the construction of the Stations of the Cross were not recorded in the books of the church, it is widely believed that the first twelve were done by a native artist of Tanay. Another anomaly is usually noticed in the 7 th station by visitors where Caiaphas, the High Priest wears a sunglass. All told, it is considered to be one of the most beautiful Stations of the Cross in all of Asia.

The Church was declared a National Cultural Heritage on July 31, 2001 by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts along with 25 other churches all over the Philippines.”

Image

 

MASUNGI ROCK

From Tanay, I went to the town hall to seek help on how to get to Masungi Rock. To my dismay, the town hall was closed. I didn’t realize that government offices were closed on weekends. Finally found someone who was gracious enough to guide me and my brother to the rocks. Readers will be dismayed to know that the access is thru private property (my new-found friend knew the owners) but will be happy to know that access to portions of the rocks will be made available starting May 16 2014.

Image

Image

I had to climb 600 steps (that is what we were told) but realized that there are 4 bonus steps on top for a better view of this magnificent formation. We negotiated our way thru cave-like crevices in what seemed to be a forested hill. It was an exhilarating experience, and I was thankful I brought with me two bottles of water to get me thru the climb.

Image

ImageImage

The view at the top is a fitting reward for the effort. Friends who have been to Tanay tell me they have never been to the Masungi Rocks, and so viewing it from the top was a wonderful feeling.

ImageImage

PAROLA
Next stop was the PAROLA, probably the most photographed Tanay landmark. The boats around the lighthouse are so picture pretty we couldn’t stop clicking away.

ImageImage

BARAS CHURCH
Next subject was the church in Baras, known as St Joseph, Husband of Mary Church.

ImageImage

What is particularly interesting is that the trusses at the ceiling which seem to be temporary are actually decades old, adding character and interesting trivia.

Image

 

BALAW BALAW IN ANGONO

We capped our daytour with an early dinner at Balaw Balaw, a most interesting restaurant in Angono. I made the group interested by telling them that this restaurant, which I have visited more than 30x has been visited by presidents and princesses, diplomats, and ordinary folks like us. The menu is interesting as it includes rather exotic dishes even as regular pancit, adobo, and halo halo can be had.

.Image

Image

The restaurant was started by an artist who has since passed away, and so his artistic bent is still manifest in how the restaurant looks like.

Image

Our group ordered the house specialty SINIGANG NA KANDULI SA MISO plus BALAW BALAW. And a huge serving of MINALUTO, actually many different dishes on what looks like a paella pan.

Image

Image

Image

We were all in our homes at around 8pm, ready to retire for the night after a beautiful day and a sumptuous dinner.

You, too, can do this daytour. Take the East Road via Antipolo and hit Pililla and Tanay early in the morning, and work your way back to Manila via Ortigas, hitting first the towns of Morong, Baras, Cardona, until you get to Angono. Address and contact details of Balaw Balaw is on the photo right above this.

(DISCLAIMER: I am a blogger and have no relationship with the places and restaurants I review, making sure I always pay for all my food and transpo, as well as accommodations when staying overnight/s to be able to give an objective review of places).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St Mary Magdalene Church in Kawit, Cavite

15 Comments

I have passed this road many times, and knew there was this church. But it seemed strange that from the main road, it is the back of the church that is visible. That is why I have always ignored it. ImageImage

Until one day when I stopped. Since then, I have recommended to friends that they visit this church when they are in the area.

From WIKIPEDIA: St. Mary Magdalene Church in Kawit, Cavite (Parokya ni Santa Maria Magdalena) is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. It was initially said to be built of wood as early as 1638 through the help of six Filipino families from the towns of Maragondon and Silang Cavite. The town Kawit which was formerly known as Cavite Viejo during Spanish occupation was frequent by Spanish marines and slowly turned into a “Red Light District” and to help solve the bad reputation of the place Manila Archbishop Miguel Garcia Serrano (1618–1629) ordered to place St. Mary Magdalene as patroness of the town. Some people and researchers say that it is possible that she may not be the original patron saint of the town since most of the old parishes in Cavite was consecrated to the Virgin Mary. The Church is known for healing and helping resolve personal problems

The interiors are one of the best in the country

The interiors are one of the best in the country

 

(From wikipedia) The antique and miraculous life-size image of Mary Magdalene in Kawit, Cavite has a “mark” in the middle of her forehead, it resembles a mole and no living local in Kawit knows why the statue has such a mark. Speculations suggests that this is the symbolic mark of Jesus’s finger tips during the resurrection when he had appeared to Magdalene and said Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not). Some suggests that this mark is to clearly identify her identity from the Virgin Mary. The statue is traditionally danced in the streets of Kawit as a procession in the month of May and on the eve of her feast day which is July 22, this is called “Karakol” or “Caracol” which is Spanish word meaning “snail”. The statue is a detailed wooden sculpture with carved hair, draped clothing and a pair of silver shoes, she holds a crucifix on her left hand and a jar or perfume on the right hand. The color of her detailed wardrobe is a mixture of pink, orange, gold and a hint of light green beneath the orange draping. Although this detailed carved clothing is not usually seen because by tradition the image is clothed with a gown usually red in color with gold embroideries and orange, yellow or golden cape. The image also has a wig on top of the carved hair, the wig is long and reaches until the hem of the gown, three yellow strips of ribbon (or sash) is pinned horizontally at the gown to secure the wig from being displaced, and at the bottom a pocket that secures the tip of her wig. Only the face and hands are repainted from time to time the rest of the image’s original paint is untouched.

The details are unbelievable

The details are unbelievable

 

The years have tinted the church’s facade with a characteristic patina, prevalent in the brick walls, making the plastered cornices and pilasters that divide the facade stand out to the eye. The facade is otherwise devoid of any flamboyant decorative elements. The first level is marked off by pilasters into vertical bays. The arched main portal dominates the center of the facade, topped by the seal of the church’s patroness represented by two capital letter M’s. Rectangular windows line the second level. The pediment features a central niche which enshrines the statue of Saint Mary Magdalene. A tall bell tower is attached to the left side of the facade and its lower levels are square. These levels have windows on every side. The top level is tapered and octagonal. All of the bell tower’s windows have arched windows marked by ‘ventanilla’ latticework below the sills. The belfry is capped by a metal dome which is in turn topped with a weathervane. (from wikipedia)

The Church is a favorite location for filming, the music video “Tell The World of His Love” produced for the World Youth Day in 1995 was filmed in the interiors of the church which starred many big stars of the Philippines such as Sharon Cuneta. Recently in 2011 a historical movie entitled “El Presidente” the life of Emilio Aguinaldo was filmed there with Philippine superstar Nora Aunor. (from wikipedia)

 

old red bricks at the side entrance

old red bricks at the side entrance

red bricks and moss-covered adobe

red bricks and moss-covered adobe

St Mary Magdalene belltower (640x427)

I suggest you visit, too.

On public transportation, jeepneys and mini buses ply this route from Baclaran or Zapote. The church is just past the famous Kawit landmark – – the Aguinaldo Shrine. In fact it is within walking distance.