Nuestra Senora de la Natividad Parish Church

NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LA NATIVIDAD PARISH CHURCH (Pangil, Laguna, Philippines)

Published on March 29, 2020August 19, 2022 by titastravels171 Comment

Nuestra Señora de la Natividad Parish Church, or Our Lady’s Nativity Parish Church, is a Roman Catholic church in Barangay¹ Natividad, in the town of Pangil², in the province³ of Laguna⁴, in the Calabarzon⁵ Region⁶ of the Philippines.

Facade, Nuestra Señora de la Natividad Parish Church, Pangil, Laguna

This is a unique church, and if you do not know the reasons, let Tita S tell you about it (see Facts 1-3) and then some.

Here are 8 facts about Nuestra Señora de la Natividad Parish Church:

1.It is the only church in the Philippines dedicated to a pregnant Virgin Mary. Yes, dearest Seniors, this is the only church in the country with an almost life-sized statue of a pregnant Mary, displayed at the side altar, to the right of the main altar. This is why I included this church in my early Visita Iglesia⁷. See my 2-part Laguna Visita Iglesia 2020 post next week.

2. The statue of the pregnant Virgin Mary is locally known as Nuestra Señora de la O. Now you might ask why. I did too, so I asked an elderly in that church, and I was told that, according to the Gospel of Luke, the Virgin Mary was a young woman who was engaged to be married to Joseph, and the Angel Gabriel came to see Mary in Nazareth, to tell her that she would give birth to a Son who would save people from their sins, and shall be called Jesus – the scene of the Annunciation.

“He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of David His father, and He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom, there will be no end.” Mary asked the angel how she could be pregnant, since she was a virgin. The angel told her that God had made her pregnant through a miracle. Gabriel said, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow You. Therefore, the Child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.” The angel departed and the Virgin Mary was in awe, thus, the title, Nuestra Señora de la O.

Altar, Nuestra Señora de la Natividad Parish Church, Pangil, Laguna – Photo Source: Judgefloro, own work, created 12 May 2019, http://www.commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:148Nuestra_Señora_de_la_Natividad_Parish_Church_20.jpg

Interior (looking towards the entrance), Nuestra Señora de la Natividad Parish Church, Pangil, Laguna Photo Source: Judgefloro, own work, created 12 May 2019, http://www.commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=nuestra+señora+de+la+natividad+parish+church&title=Special:Search&go=Go&ns0=1&ns6=1&ns12=1&ns14=1&ns100=1&ns106=1#/media/File:148.Nuestra_Señora_de_la_Natividad_Parish_Church_15.jpg

3. The statue of Nuestra Señora de la O (Our Lady of the O) and the statue of Santo Niño de la O (Holy Child of the O) were gifts of King Carlos III of Spain⁸. Again, you might think: why would the King of Spain give such gifts to a sleepy town in the Philippines, halfway round the world?

Statue of Nuestra Señora de la Natividad to the right of the altar, Nuestra Señora de la Natividad Parish Church, Pangil, Laguna

Nuestra Señora de la O (Our Lady of the O) and Santo Niño de la O (Holy Child of the O), Nuestra Señora de la Natividad Parish Church, Pangil, Laguna – Photo taken from the Facebook account: Nuestra Señora de la Natividad Parish – Pangil, Laguna.

Well, it is believed that in 1724, young Prince Carlos was banished from Spain and was exiled to the Philippines. He stayed with the Franciscan priests in the convent, near the church of Pangil², then considered the biggest convent in the province of Laguna⁴. He stayed for three years in the town of Pangil and enjoyed his stay there, hunting in the Sierra Madre mountain range that was known as a good hunting ground for wild animals and fowls, as well as staying in the creek that branched out from the Pangil River, now called the Bambang Hari, or King’s Canal.

By 1728, the King of Spain lifted the ban on the prince and ordered him to return to their kingdom. When Charles became king, he ordered his emissaries to send the statue of Nuestra Señora de la O (Our Lady of the O) and the statue of Santo Niño de la O (Holy Child of the O) as a sign of gratitude and appreciation to the Pangilenians for the hospitality and kindness that was accorded to him.

Left side of the Nuestra Señora de la Natividad Parish Church, Pangil, Laguna – Photo Source: Judgefloro, own work, created 12 May 2019, http://www.commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=nuestra+señora+de+la+natividad+parish+church&title=Special:Search&go=Go&ns0=1&ns6=1&ns12=1&ns14=1&ns100=1&ns106=1#/media/File:148.Nuestra_Señora_de_la_Natividad-Parish-Church_37.jpg

Left side of the Nuestra Señora de la Natividad Parish Church (looking up), Pangil, Laguna – Photo Source: Judgefloro, own work, created 12 May 2019, http://www.commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:148Nuestra_Señora_de_la_Natividad-Parish-Church_36.jpg

A replica of the statue of Santo Niño de la O (Holy Child of the O) , up close, outside the Nuestra Señora de la Natividad Parish Church, Pangil, Laguna – Photo Source: Judgefloro, own work, created 12 May 2019, http://www.commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=nuestra+señora+de+la+natividad+parish+church&title=Special:Search&go=Go&ns0=1&ns6=1&ns12=1&ns14=1&ns100=1&ns106=1#/media/File:148.Nuestra_Señora_de_la_Natividad-Parish-Church_40.jpg

The statue of King Carlos III of Spain at the parking area, left side of the Nuestra Señora de la Natividad Parish Church, Pangil, Laguna – Photo Source: Judgefloro, own work, created 12 May 2019, http://www.commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=nuestra+señora+de+la+natividad+parish+church&title=Special:Search&go=Go&ns0=1&ns6=1&ns12=1&ns14=1&ns100=1&ns106=1#/media/File:148.Nuestra_Señora_de_la_Natividad-Parish-Church_45.jpg

The statue of King Carlos III of Spain at the parking area, up close, located at the left side of the Nuestra Señora de la Natividad Parish Church, Pangil, Laguna

Plaque, statue of King Carlos III of Spain at the parking area, Nuestra Señora de la Natividad Parish Church, Pangil, Laguna

The townspeople are proud of this story. However, there is nothing in the historical records of the archives of the Franciscan Province in the Philippines, the Archdiocese of Manila, or the Ministerio del Ultramar in Madrid that could corroborate this folk history. This is puzzling …

4. I could only Google one other church outside the Philippines which features a pregnant Virgin Mary. It is the Church of Santiago, in A Coruña, in the Spanish region of Galicia. I could not get more information about this church so if you know more about this church, especially if you had the chance to visit it, please share it with Tita S.

5. The town of Pangil was founded as a hermitage⁹, or visita, by Franciscan friars Juan de Plasencia and Diego de Oropesa in 1579, administered by the nearby parish of Lumban¹⁰due to lack of priests. The first church was built out of cane.

6. In 1611, a stone Baroque-style¹¹church and convent was built under the direction of Father Gonzalo del Roble. Restoration of the church’s woodwork and improvement of the convent was done by Father Lucas Fernandez in 1711. The church was remodeled from 1749 to 1751 by Father Luis de Nambroca.

Interior (right side), Nuestra Señora de la Natividad Parish Church, Pangil, Laguna – Photo Source: Judgefloro, own work, created 12 May 2019, http://www.commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:148Nuestra_Señora_de_la_Natividad-Parish-Church_20.jpg

7. Based on the records of Father Felix Huerta, the church also has a stone chapel dedicated to Saint Mark the Evangelist¹² and Saint Anthony Abad¹³.

8. This parish church is currently administered by the Diocese of San Pablo¹⁴, archdiocese of Manila.

The information was obtained from the Wikipedia pages “Nuestra Señora de la Natividad Parish Church”¹⁵ and “Pangil”¹⁶, and simple Wikipedia page “Mary, mother of Jesus”¹⁷.

You can also check out their Facebook account: Nuestra Señora de la Natividad Parish – Pangil, Laguna.

I just got this announcement from its Facebook account. This is an option for you this coming Holy Week via live stream.

So, have I convinced you visit this church? Why not include it in your next Laguna⁴ Visita Iglesia⁷?

You know what, dearest Seniors? Tita S was blessed to have done an early 2020 Visita Iglesia⁷ with her college buddies on March 8, a day before the Presidential proclamation of a public health emergency for the entire country due to COVID-19. See her posts so you can, somehow, virtually join her, and imagine that you also did the Visita Iglesia because it might be impossible to visit seven churches during this pandemic for Holy Week 2020: LAGUNA VISITA IGLESIA 2020: PART 1 (OF 2) and LAGUNA VISITA IGLESIA 2020: PART 2 (OF 2)

This is not a sponsored post. I just want my readers to know more about the Philippines.

Did you find this post informative? I would like to hear from you regarding your visit to Pangil’s Our Lady’s Nativity Parish Church.

See other interesting places through other posts in this category and other categories of SCapades, Pinoy Delights, and Smart Traveler – Now You Know, Short and Simple, and Say, Say, Say. Happy reading, and I hope that you will appreciate what I shared and some of the featured destinations will be part of your future travel plans!

Remember to share this post with your friends, follow me by clicking on the bottom right corner of your device, and do not forget to like this post. Thank you.

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The following terms are defined for interested readers, especially those with “Senior-Moments”, not familiar with Filipino, Catholic and architectural terms, and those too busy or lazy to Google such terms:

¹A barangay in the Philippines is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines, headed by a barangay captain, aided by a Sangguniang Barangay (Barangay Council). It is the native Filipino term for a village. It was formerly called a barrio. In a metropolitan area, a barangay is an inner city neighborhood, a suburb, or a suburban neighborhood. The word barangay originated from the term “balangay”, a kind of boat used by a group of Austronesian people who migrated to the Philippines. A number of barangays grouped together is called a district. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Barangay.”¹⁸

²Pangil is a fourth class municipality¹⁹ strategically located at the southern tip of Sierra Madre mountain range, in the province³ of Laguna⁴, in the Philippines. Its topography is generally flat, in between rolling and steep hills. It is subdivided into 8 barangays¹. It was founded by Gat Pangil, who united 4 ancient settlements to establish a Tagalog²⁰ kingdom in the area. This town is one of the oldest settlements in Laguna, rich in Hispanic, American and Japanese history. It gained recognition as a town through the Franciscan friars in 1579. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Pangil”²¹

³A province is the primary administrative and political division in the Philippines. It is the second-level administrative sub-division of a region⁶. There are 81 provinces (called “lalawigan”) in the Philippines. Each province is governed by an elected legislature called the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, and by an elected governor. Remember, a province in the Philippines is divided into cities and municipalities¹⁹ (or towns), which in turn, are divided into barangays¹, formerly called barrios. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Provinces of the Philippines.”²²See a related post: Foreign Seniors Ask: WHAT ARE PROVINCES IN THE PHILIPPINES?

⁴Laguna is a province³ in the Calabarzon⁵ Region⁶ of the Philippines, located southeast of Metro Manila, north of Batangas, west of Quezon, south of the province of Rizal, and east of Cavite. This is the 7^th richest province in the country, and the third largest province in the region. It hugs the southern shores of Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the country. It is composed of 24 municipalities¹⁹ and 6 cities. The provincial capital is the town of Santa Cruz since 1858, after Bay (1581-1688) and Pagsanjan (1688-1858). It is historically one of the first provinces in the Philippines to have been visited by Christian missionaries. Its main natural resources are its agriculture and fisheries, owing to its position near Laguna de Bay and the surrounding lowlands. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Laguna (province)”²³

⁵Calabarzon, or Region IV-A, or Southern Tagalog Mainland, is a Philippine region⁶ located in the island group of Luzon, with Calamba as its regional center. CALABARZON is an acronym for this region’s five provinces³: CAvite, LAguna⁴, BAtangas, Rizal, QueZON. It is the most populated region in the country and the country’s second most densely populated after Metro Manila. This region is located south of the National Capital Region (NCR), bordered by the provinces of Aurora, Bulacan and Metro Manila in the north, Manila Bay in the west, Tayabas Bay, and Sibuyan Sea in the south, and Lamon Bay, and the Bicol Region in the east. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Calabarzon”²⁴and https://lga.gov.ph/region/region-iv-a.

⁶A region is an administrative division based on geographical, cultural and ethnological characteristics. Each region is further subdivided in provinces³, composed of cities and municipalities¹⁹(or towns), which in turn, are divided into barangays¹, formerly called barrios, according to Wikipedia page “Regions of the Philippines”.²⁵See a related post: Foreign Seniors Ask: WHAT ARE THE REGIONS OF THE PHILIPPINES?

⁷Visita Iglesia, or Seven Churches Visitation, is the Roman Catholic Lenten practice to visit seven (and even 14) churches during Holy Week, traditionally on the evening of Maundy Thursday, to pray before the Blessed Sacrament in each church. There are no set prayers given by the Catholic Church for this activity, except to pray for the intentions of the Pope and recite the Lord’s Prayer, Hail Mary and Glory Be. Some may opt to pray the Stations of the Cross²⁶. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Seven Churches Visitation”.²⁷See a related post: Foreign Seniors Ask: WHAT IS VISITA IGLESIA?

⁸King Carlos III of Spain (1716 – 1788) was King of Spain from 1759 till 1788, a proponent of enlightened absolutism. He was the fifth son of Philip V of Spain and the eldest son of Philip’s second wife, Elisabeth Farnese. He succeeded to the Spanish throne on August 10, 1759, upon the death of his half-brother, Ferdinand VI, who left no heirs. As King of Spain, Charles III made far-reaching reforms in promoting science and university research, facilitating trade and commerce, and modernizing agriculture. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Charles III of Spain”.²⁸

⁹A hermitage, or visita, is a place of worship in a newly established town, without a designated priest-in-charge, attached to a parish church (with a parish priest) of an adjacent town. It may become a parish church, with enough parishioners and a designated parish priest.

¹⁰Lumban is a third class municipality¹⁹ in the province³ of Laguna⁴, in the Calabarzon⁵ Region⁶ of the Philippines. It is named after the Lumbang tree (Aleurites moluccanus). It is one of Laguna’s oldest towns, founded on September 22, 1578, and formerly included the towns of Santa Cruz, Pagsanjan and Cavinti. It is bounded on the north by the municipality of Kalayaan, on the northwest by Laguna de Bay, on the southwest by Pagsanjan, on the southeast by Cavinti, and on the northeast by the province of Quezon. It is known as the Embroidery Capital of the Philippines and the Home of Lake Caliraya, a man-made lake. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Lumban, Laguna”²⁹ and http://calabarzon.dilg.gov.ph/132-old-lgus/old-laguna-lgus/586-lumban.

¹¹Baroque architecture is characterized by: domes, often painted with a sky filled with angels and sculpted sunbeams, suggesting a vision of heaven; a quadratura³⁰; grand stairways, winding upwards in stages, giving changing views from different levels; cartouche³¹ in elaborate forms and sculpted frames which break up the surfaces and add three-dimensional effects to the walls; mirrors to give the impression of depth and greater space, particularly when combined with windows; incomplete architectural elements like frontons with sections missing, causing sections to merge and disorient the eye; chiaroscuro, the use of strong contrasts of darkness and light for dramatic effect; overhead sculpture, on or just below the ceiling, made of wood (often gilded), plaster or stucco³², marble or faux finishing, giving the impression of floating in the air; Solomonic columns³³ which give an illusion of motion; and, elliptical or oval spaces to eliminate right angles. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Baroque architecture”.³⁴

¹²Mark the Evangelist (5 – 68 AD) is the traditionally ascribed author of the Gospel of Mark. He is said to have founded the Church of Alexandria, one of the most important episcopal sees of early Christianity. His feast day is celebrated on April 25, and his symbol is the winged lion. His major shrine is St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, Italy. In art, he is most often depicted writing or holding his gospel/book/scroll and a palm, accompanied by a winged lion. Why a lion? The lion might be associated with Jesus’ Resurrection because lions were believed to sleep with open eyes, thus a comparison with Christ in His tomb, and Christ as king. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Mark the Evangelist”.³⁵

¹³St. Anthony Abad was a Christian monk from Egypt, known as the Father of All Monks. He is called by various names: Anthony the Great, Anthony of Egypt, Anthony the Abbot, Anthony of the Desert, Anthony the Anchorite, and Anthony of Thebes. His feast day is celebrated on January 17. He was among the first monks to go into the wilderness, around AD 270, known to have endured supernatural temptation during his sojourn in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. He is considered the patron saint against infectious diseases, particularly skin diseases. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Anthony the Great”.³⁶

¹⁴The Diocese of San Pablo is a Roman Catholic diocese which is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Manila. This diocese covers the entire province of Laguna⁴. Its patron saint, or titular head, is Saint Paul the Hermit. It is located along Marcos Paulino Avenue in San Pablo City, Laguna, with contact number (049) 562-1039. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Roman Catholic Diocese of San Pablo”.³⁷

¹⁵“Nuestra Señora de la Natividad Parish Church,” accessed January 22, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuestra_Se%C3%B1ora_de_la_Natividad_Parish_Church

¹⁶“Pangil,” accessed January 15, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangil

¹⁷“Mary, mother of Jesus,” accessed January 22, 2019, https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary,_mother_of_Jesus

¹⁸“Barangay,” accessed January 15, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barangay

¹⁹A municipality is a small, single urban administrative division, or local government unit (LGU), in the Philippines which has corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by law. It is a unit under a province³, subdivided into barangays¹, and is locally called “bayan”. In the Philippines, a municipality is headed by a mayor, a vice mayor, and members of the Sangguniang Bayan (legislative branch). It can enact local policies and laws, enforce them, and govern its jurisdictions. It can enter into contracts and other transactions through its elected and appointed officials and can tax as well. It enforces all local and national laws. There are almost 1,500 municipalities in the Philippines. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Municipalities of the Philippines.”³⁸See a related post: Foreign Seniors Ask: HOW MANY CITIES ARE THERE IN THE PHILIPPINES?

²⁰Tagalog refers to the second largest ethnolinguistic group in the Philippines, after the Visayan people, numbering around 30 million, with most of them inhabiting Metro Manila, the Calabarzon⁵ region⁶ in southern Luzon, the islands of Marinduque and Mindoro in Mimoropa, as well as a plurality in the provinces of Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and Zambales in Central Luzon. The information was obtained from Wikipedia page “Tagalog (people).”³⁹

²¹“Pangil,” accessed January 15, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangil

²²“Provinces of the Philippines,” accessed January 15, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_the_Philippines

²³“Laguna (province),” accessed January 15, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laguna_(province)

²⁴“Calabarzon,” accessed January 15, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calabarzon

²⁵“Regions of the Philippines,” accessed January 15, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regions_of_the_Philippines

²⁶The Stations of the Cross or the Way of the Cross, Ways of Sorrow, or Via Crucis, refers to the series of fourteen images depicting Jesus Christ on the day of His crucifixion and accompanying prayers, considered to be patterned after the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem which is believed to be the actual path Jesus walked to Mount Calvary for His crucifixion. The devotion of Roman Catholics to do the Way of the Cross during Holy Week is like a spiritual pilgrimage through the contemplation of the Passion of Christ (the final period of the life of Jesus from His entrance in Jerusalem till His crucifixion). The 14 stations are: (1) Pilate condemns Jesus to die; (2) Jesus accepts His cross; (3) Jesus falls for the first time; (4) Jesus meets His mother, Mary; (5) Simon helps carry the cross; (6) Veronica wipes the face of Jesus; (7) Jesus falls for the second time; (8) Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem; (9) Jesus falls for the third time; (10) Jesus is stripped of His clothes; (11) Jesus is nailed to the cross; (12) Jesus dies on the cross; (13) Jesus is taken down from the cross; and, (14) Jesus is placed in the tomb. All these are according to the Wikipedia page “Stations of the Cross”.⁴⁰

²⁷^“Seven Churches Visitation,” accessed January 15, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Churches_Visitation

²⁸“Charles III of Spain,” accessed January 22, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_III_of_Spain

²⁹“Lumban, Laguna,” accessed January 15, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumban,_Laguna

³⁰A quadratura is a Baroque¹¹ architectural feature which uses paintings in trompe-l’oeil⁴¹ of angels and saints in the dome and on the ceiling, combined with stucco³² frames or decoration. This style draws the eyes upward giving the illusion of three dimensions, and of looking through the ceiling to the heavens. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Baroque architecture”.³⁴

³¹A cartouche, or cartouch, is an oval or oblong design with a slightly convex surface, typically edges with ornamental scrollwork, used to hold a painted or low-relief design. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Cartouche”.⁴²

³²Stucco refers to the cement-based plaster used for coating wall surfaces or molding into architectural decorations. It hardens into a highly durable material that requires little maintenance and can be used to obtain different textures and finishes.⁴³

³³A Solomonic column, also called Barley-sugar column, is a helical column, characterized by a spiraling twisting shaft like a corkscrew. It may be crowned with any design. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Solomonic column”.⁴⁴

³⁴“Baroque architecture”, accessed January 15, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baroque_architecture

³⁵“Mark the Evangelist,” accessed January 15, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_the_Evangelist

³⁶“Anthony the Great,” accessed January 15, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_the_Great

³⁷“Roman Catholic Diocese of San Pablo,” accessed February 20, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_San_Pablo

³⁸“Municipalities of the Philippines,” accessed January 15, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipalities_of_the_Philippines

³⁹“Tagalog people,” accessed January 15, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagalog_people

⁴⁰^”Stations of the Cross,” accessed January 15, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stations_of_the_Cross

⁴¹Trompe-l’oeil is an art technique that uses realistic imagery to create the optical illusion that the depicted objects exist in three dimensions. The term is French for “deceive the eye”. The information was obtained from the Wikipedia page “Trompe-l’oeil”.⁴⁵

⁴²“Cartouche”, accessed January 15, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartouche

⁴³https://www.thebalancesmb.com/choose-right-stucco-mix-844655

⁴⁴“Solomonic column”, accessed January 15, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomonic_column

⁴⁵“Trompe-l’oeil”, accessed January 15, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trompe-l’oeil

LAGUNA VISITA IGLESIA 2020: PART 1 (OF 2)

Published on March 2, 2020August 18, 2022 by titastravels178 Comments

My college buddies wanted to welcome, and bond with, two foreign-based buddies, through a Laguna Day tour. I suggested to have a combination of an early Laguna Visita Iglesia and a cultural-food trip, and we were able to do so on March 8, 2020, amidst the start of the spread of COVID-19, and a day before President Duterte declared a State of Public Health Emergency.

For foreign readers, know more about Visita Iglesia in a related post: Foreign Seniors Ask: WHAT IS VISITA IGLESIA?

I searched for a simple Visita Iglesia Prayer Guide and sent it beforehand, via Viber, to the group so we could easily access the prayers via our cellphones. Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/notes/100-katolikong-pinoy/prayer-guide-for-visita-iglesia-for-personal-use/10150162372814645/

I am based in Lumban, Laguna, so I met them in a branch of McDonalds, in Sta Cruz, Laguna slightly before 9AM. They were able to stretch a bit after a long trip of almost 3 hours from Metro Manila, braving the traffic and on-going road constructions. I told them not to have a heavy breakfast before leaving Metro Manila and just buy coffee in the said fast food establishment.

Let Tita S tell you about this early Visita Iglesia cum historical-cultural-food trip:

Since we were in Sta. Cruz, I first brought them to the tallest Rizal statue in the world, located in the Laguna Sports Complex, Barangay Bubukal. See my post about this statue in Laguna, Philippines: TWO TALLEST RIZAL MONUMENTS IN THE WORLD

We then proceeded towards the town of Pangil, about half an hour away. Why? I wanted to start with the farthest town in the fourth district of Laguna that I wanted them to visit.

Passing through the town of Lumban, we stopped by a bakery specializing in hot malunggay pandesal, bought newly home-made kesong puti, and ate in the van, enroute to our first church-stop.

Here are the seven Laguna churches we visited for our early 2020 Visita Iglesia (name of church – town):

Nuestra Señora de la Natividad Parish Church – Pangil
Peter of Alcantara Parish Church – Pakil
James the Apostle Parish Church – Paete
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Church – Pagsanjan
Mary Magdalene Parish Church – Magdalena
John the Baptist Parish Church – Liliw
San Antonio de Padua Parish Church – Pila

All these seven churches are unique and special, and Tita S will tell you why, as she chronologically recalls the day.

On our way to our first church, we picked up a local kakanin of Pangil, Suman Binamban. I will write about it after this pandemic. Basically, it is a square, steamed, native rice cake made of sticky rice, sugar, with strips of, or chopped, buko, cooked in coconut milk, and individually wrapped in coconut leaves. We enjoyed it even before we arrived in Pangil. See, I told you this was a food trip too! Hot pandesal with kesong puti and suman, even before our first church-stop. Burp!

Anyway, we finally arrived at Nuestra Señora de la Natividad Parish Church of the town of Pangil, recited our Visita Iglesia prayer for the first church, reflected, prayed for personal concerns and included protection and a cure for COVID-19.

Interior, facing the altar, Nuestra Señora de la Natividad Parish Church, Pangil, Laguna Source: Judgefloro, own work, created 12 May 2019, http://www.commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:148.Nuestra_Señora_de_la_Natividad_Parish_Church_20.jpg

Interior, looking at the entrance, Nuestra Señora de la Natividad Parish Church, Pangil, Laguna – Source: Judgefloro, own work, created 12 May 2019, http://www.commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=nuestra+señora+de+la+natividad+parish+church&title=Special:Search&go=Go&nsO=1&ns6=1&ns12=1&ns14=1&ns100=1&ns106=1#/media/File:148.Nuestra_Señora_de_la_Natividad-Parish-Church_15.jpg

The statues of Nuestra Señora de la O (Our Lady of the O) and Santo Niño de la O (Holy Child of the O) were gifts of King Carlos III of Spain to Nuestra Señora de la Natividad Parish Church, Pangil, Laguna – Source: Facebook account: Nuestra Señora de la Natividad Parish – Pangil, Laguna

The statue of Nuestra Señora de la O (Our Lady of the O) to the right of the altar, Nuestra Señora de la Natividad Parish Church, Pangil, Laguna

If you want to virtually visit this church, a la Visita Iglesia, through this post by looking at the pictures above, here is the prayer for the first church:

VISITA IGLESIA PRAYER – FIRST CHURCH

(Kneel) In the Name… L: Let us praise the Lord, A: and give him thanks!

LET US PRAY:

L: Holy Spirit, you who reveal Jesus to us, help us to discover him in his Eucharistic presence;

Beneath the veil of the Host, show us the powerful and generous Christ of the Gospels;

Let us see the Good Shepherd who knows each one of us, watches over us and calls us by name;

Allow us to listen to the incomparable Master who presents His doctrine and wishes to enlighten us in all things.

A: Let us touch the Savior whose contact heals, and transforms bodies and souls;

Let us recognize this friend, happy to live with us and share our human existence;

Allow us to recognize the victim of Calvary who spares nothing of the gift of Himself to obtain for us pardon and holiness.

Give us a profound attachment to Jesus in the Eucharist; that his ardent desire to remain among us be met by our readiness to welcome Him.

L: Holy Virgin, you who knew how to look at Jesus and penetrate the most profound depth of his person:

Teach us to look at Him, to look at him at length and quietly, in the tabernacle where he is present.

Teach us to listen in silence to the words which he speaks to us and establish an intimate dialogue with him.

A: Let us see the marvels which he desires to work in the depths of our souls.

Teach us to appreciate his closeness to us and the immeasurable friendship he shows us.

Help us to respond to his love with all the fire of our being, and like you, to immerse ourselves in a loving gaze on him.

L: Lord Jesus, as we contemplate on the miracle of your precious Body and Blood, help us to revere this sacred mystery more in our daily life. May we reflect and ponder on your great love for us that made you offer yourself as a Holy and Living Sacrifice for all. Teach us to love you in every Altar at every Mass. May we recognize your sacred presence in Holy Communion. Most of all, help us to live in the spirit of the wondrous sacrament of love and sacrifice for all.

You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

A: AMEN.

(sit)

Reader: From the Gospel of John. (14, 1-7)

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

Reflection…

(kneel) Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you truly are the Way, which leads us to the Father. You are the Truth, where we find all knowledge and wisdom we need to face every day’s struggles. You are the Life, for without you we are nothing. We praise you this night and thank you for the gift of your Eucharistic Presence.

You never leave us alone. You shared with us this sacred meal for us to partake, and share with others, for our salvation. Transform us to your image, and help us to live continually according to your law. May we continuously show our love for the holy Eucharist, which is our way, truth and life in our daily struggles until we come to see you in eternal glory. Amen.

(We shall spend this time for our personal prayer.)

All: Soul of Christ, sanctify me; Body of Christ, save me; Blood of Christ, inebriate me;

Water from the side of Christ, wash me; Passion of Christ, strengthen me;

O good Jesus, hear me; within Thy wounds, hide me;

Permit me not to be separated from Thee; from the malignant enemy, defend me

In the hour of my death, call me, and bid me come unto Thee

That with thy Saints I may praise Thee, forever and ever, Amen.

Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be… In the name of the Father …

Here are the highlights about the first church we visited:

Nuestra Señora de la Natividad Parish Church, or Our Lady’s Nativity Parish Church, is the only church in the Philippines dedicated to a pregnant Virgin Mary, located in Pangil, Laguna.
The statue of Nuestra Señora de la O (Our Lady of the O) and the statue of Santo Niño de la O (Holy Child of the O) were gifts of King Carlos III of Spain.

Read more about this church in my post: NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LA NATIVIDAD PARISH CHURCH, PANGIL, LAGUNA

Our second church was St. Peter of Alcantara Parish Church in the nearby town of Pakil, about 20 minutes away from Pangil. We recited the Visita Iglesia prayer for the second church, reflected, prayed for personal concerns and again included protection and a cure for COVID-19.

Saint Peter of Alcantara Parish Church, Pakil, Laguna, Home of Our Lady of Turumba By Richard Eusebio, own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, created 30 November 2011, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Peter_of_Alcantara_Parish_Church#/media/File:The_Pakil_Church_or_the_San_Pablo_de_Alcantara_Church_in_Pakil,_Laguna.jpg

Photo of St. Peter of Alcantara is the profile picture of the Facebook account: Saint Peter of Alcantara Parish; photo of the original image of the oil painting of Our Lady of Sorrows of Turumba was taken by Randy Caponpon, DM, https://en. wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Turumba#/media/File:TurumbaIcon.jpg

Photos in the collage were obtained from http://www.facebook.com/pg/SaBirhen/photos/?tab=album&album_id=504921503470929

If you want to virtually visit this church, ala Visita Iglesia, through this post by looking at the pictures, here is the prayer for the second church:

VISITA IGLESIA PRAYER – SECOND CHURCH