Holy Week '10

Four years ago, what we thought was just a short Holy Week jaunt became a tradition for us friends. For the past four years we do the Visita Iglesia. We choose one province and map out seven churches to visit. On our first year, we took the Rizal-Laguna route. The next year we went to Bulacan. Last year, although we didn't get to go with our friends, they went to Pampanga. This year, we planned to go to Ilocos but due to logistical constraints, we ended up doing the Manila churches instead.

My bff mapped out our route starting with San Sebastian, then Quiapo. We were suppose to go to Binondo next but we got lost along the way and ended up in Intramuros. We did San Agustin and Manila Cathedral next, both being in Intramuros anyway. The next church was then Binondo and then Malate. It was so late by the time we finished Malate church so we had dinner in the area. People were so tired (we had balikbayans with us and my 15-month old son) so we decided to do Sta. Maria Della Strada in Katipunan instead.

San Sebastian Church

Quiapo Church

San Agustin Church

Malate Church

I thought it would be easier to do Visita Iglesia here in Manila but it was more chaotic! There's traffic and more people! We didn't get to go inside Manila Cathedral because it was already overflowing up to the steps outside the church. But it was still fun and the churches were really beautiful! It was my first time to visit most of the churches.

Hopefully next year we can do a real road trip already.

(photos courtesy of jongclemente)