It’s holy week again and fortunately, unlike the previous 2 years of pandemic, people can now move to different places here in the Philippines. So, we decided to go to Baguio City, the summer capital of the country.

The Sta. Clara de Montefalco Parish was officially founded in Brgy. Caniogan in February 1994. However, the original church’s seating capacity of 150 proved insufficient for the thousands of parishioners. Consequently, a new church was constructed, now standing at a towering height of 57 meters on a sprawling 11,230 square meters of land. It is now acclaimed as the tallest church in the Philippines.

Commonly referred to as Binondo Church, the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of San Lorenzo Ruiz was founded by the Dominicans in 1596. Initially dedicated to Saint Gabriel the Archangel, who served as Binondo’s patron until the mid-19th century, it later became known as Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish, venerating the Blessed Virgin Mary as Binondo’s patroness from the early 1700s to the present day.

The Minor Basilica and Archdiocesan Shrine of Santo Niño, more commonly known as Tondo Church, was established by the Augustinians in 1572 and holds the distinction of being the first parish church in Luzon. It is also home to the second oldest image of the Santo Niño in the Philippines, next only to the Sto. Niño de Cebu. The image enshrined in the church originated from Acapulco, Mexico, and was handed to the Archbishop of Manila by a wealthy merchant before being entrusted to the parish priest of Tondo, where it has remained since the church’s founding.

The church was dedicated to St. Dominic Savio, the patron saint of choirboys, falsely accused people and juvenile delinquents. He was studying to be a priest under St. John Bosco when he died at the very young age of 14. He was canonized in 1954 which made him the youngest non-martyr to be a saint until 2017.

Located near Antonio Arnaiz Avenue, the San Ildefonso Church of Makati was recently appointed as one of the Jubilee 2025 pilgrim churches under the Archdiocese of Manila. Architecturally, San Ildefonso Church offers a thoughtful blend of the modern and the traditional. Clean lines and contemporary forms are softened by rich devotional elements, particularly its impressive stained-glass retables that catch the light and gently color the sanctuary throughout the day.

Located in the district of Paco, San Fernando de Dilao Parish is more widely known as Paco Church. The parish is dedicated to Saint Ferdinand III of Castile, a ruler remembered for uniting Castile and León in the 13th century and for governing with a strong sense of justice, piety, and charity. His canonization reflects the Church’s recognition of holiness expressed through public service and moral leadership, values echoed in the parish’s long endurance.

Throughout the years, the San Pedro Macati Church has undergone numerous renovations and design alterations, yet many of its original features, such as the reredos and the church bells, remain intact. Reflecting the Baroque style of architecture, the church structure comprises a single rectangular nave with an apse and sacristy, typical of churches from the Spanish Colonial Period. The altar, adorned with its original carved reredos featuring motifs of various flowers and fruits in the Baroque Rococo tradition, still graces the church.

The celebration of the reception of the Holy Relics from the bone and cross of St. Andrew at the Cathedral Parish of St. Andrew were attended by the priests from the Diocese of Parañaque.

The Philippines boasts a number of churches dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. This is primarily due to a significant decree made by Pope Pius XII on September 7, 1942, through the Apostolic Letter Impositi Nobis. Responding to the bishops’ request, the Pope officially declared the Virgin Mary, honored under the title of the Immaculate Conception, as the principal patroness of the Philippines. As a result, numerous churches across the country have been erected to pay homage to her. And one of them is the Immaculate Conception Church in Marikina, which we have chosen to visit this Sunday.