raditionally, Visita Iglesia is done on Holy Thursday. If you’re not going out of town, it’s your chance to enjoy trafficless Manila for a quick tour of the city.
Last year, we were able to visit 8 churches. I leisurely enjoyed street photography around the churches, and then we had lunch in Chinatown, went to Fort Santiago for a quick pit stop and had merienda at the Mall of Asia.
We started in Quiapo, so we parked near the Quinta market near the Chinese ham stores and enjoyed the walk through the street vendors and chanced upon a reading of the passion of Christ.
Here’s the route we took.
Plaza Miranda, Quiapo, Manila
Tel: 733-4945; 735-0336; 736-8254
Fax: 735-8614
Rector/Parish Priest: Msgr. Jose Clemente F. Ignacio
Quiapo Church is officially known as the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene. It is the shrine of the Nazareno image of Christ carrying the Cross.
From Quezon Boulevard turn right to Escaldo, then right to A. Bautista, left to Arlegui St, right to Casal St, left to Gen. Solano St, drive about 500 meters and you’ll see San Miguel Church (or National Shrine of Saint Michael and the Archangels) on your right.
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1000 J.P. Laurel St. cor. Gen Solano St.
San Miguel, Manila
Tel: 735-1611; 734-1271
Telefax: 736-1105
Rector/Parish Priest: Msgr. Severino G. Anatalio
San Miguel Church is officially called the National Shrine of Saint Michael and the Archangels. It’s also called the Malacañang Church because of its proximity to the palace.
Drive toward Jose Laurel St, turn right to Ycaza, turn left to Uli-Uli St and drive 60 meters to see St Jude Church on your left.
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1420 J.P. Laurel Sr. St.
San Miguel, Manila
Email: axela1222@yahoo.com.ph
Tel: 735-6408
Telefax: 735-6411
Parish Priest: Fr. Roland Aquino, SVD
Officially known as the National Shrine of St Jude, St Jude Church was originally erected to be one of the three churches for the Catholic Chinese. It was first known the Espiritu Santo Chinese Parish.
From Uli-Uli St, turn right to Ycaza, left to Jose Laurel St, right to Arlegui St, right to Nepomuceno St, left to Pasaje Del Carmen and see the San Sebastian Basilica on your right.
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Plaza del Carmen, Quiapo, 1001 Manila
Tel: 734-8931 to 34 loc. 120; 734-8908
Fax: 735-8614; 736-1185
Rector/Parish Priest: Fr. Rommel L. Rubia, OAR
The Basilica Minore de San Sebastian and the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
is the only all steel church in the country. I felt like I was inside a European church in this gothic revival.
From Pasaje Del Carmen, drive toward Nepomuceno St and turn right, go straight to Casal St, cross Ayala Bridge, turn right to Natividad Lopez St, right to Padre Burgos Ave then left, cross Jones Bridge, drive straight to Quintin Paredes Rd, keep left and head to Norberto Ty St and turn right. Binondo Church will be on your right.
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Plaza Lorenzo Ruiz, Binondo, Manila
E-mail: slrmb@gmail.com
Tel: 242-4850 Telefax: 242-4041
Rector/Parish Priest: Msgr. Geronimo F. Reyes
The famous Binondo Church is also known as Minor Basilica of St Lorenzo Ruiz and the OUr Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish. It was also founded to serve the Chinese converts in the community during the time of Spanish colonization.
From Norberto Ty St, drive toward Yuchengco St, turn left to Ongpin, right to Ronquillo St, cross MacArthur Bridge, right to Padre Burgos, right again to Gen. Luna St and drive about 600 meters to see San Agustin Church on your left.
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Real St., Intramuros, Manila
Tel: 527-4052; 527-4060 (Museum)
527-4061 (Convent)
Fax: 527-4058; 338-2091
Parish Priest: Fr. Asis Bajao, OSA
The San Agustin Church is also known as the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Correa and the Immaculate Conception Parish. The church is a UNESCO world heritage building. It was built in 1571 and it is the only church in Intramuros that survived World War II.
From Gen. Luna St, drive straight toward Sta. Potencia St and then turn right to Palacio St, left to Maria Orosa Ave, right to Kalaw, left to Bocobo, right to UN Ave, left to Del Pilar St and drive about 1.3 kilometers and you’ll find Malate Church on your left.
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2000 M.H. Del Pilar St. Malate, Manila
E-mail: contact@malatecatholicchurch.org
Tel: (632) 400-5876 to 77 and (632) 523-2593
Fax: (632) 524-6866
Parish Priest: Fr. John Leydon, MSSC
The Malate Church, or more formally, the Malate Catholic Church is dedicated to its Patroness Our Lady of Remedies or Nuestra Señora de Remedios.
From Del Pilar St, drive toward San Andres St and turn right to Quirino Ave, left to Roxas Blvd, keep right and then turn left to Sen. Gil J Puyat Ave, turn right to A. Luna St, right to Lukban and then drive about 100 meters and the MOA Church will be on your left.
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Pope John Paul II Youth Center
Central Business Park, Reclamation Area
Pasay City, P.O. Box 273
E-mail: sjwtl@shrineofjesus.org
Telefax: 556-6175/76
Rector: Msgr. Roberto C. Canlas
The MOA Church or the Archdiocesan Shrine of Jesus, The Way, The Truth and The Life is the result of the dream of the late Pope John Paul II expressed at the World Youth Day in 1995. He wanted a center for young people. It was the project of the late Jaime J. Cardinal Sin, DD.
It’s the newest of all these churches—a fitting end to your Manila Visita Iglesia.
What are your plans for Holy Week? Share them in the Comments Section.
