Retreat Hill of the Risen Jesus Christ

Travel Destination: Monasterio de Tarlac, San Jose, Tarlac
Travel Dates: February 23, 2014

Travel Buddies: Karen, Tito Lav, Tita Fe, Tita Lisa, Tita Zeny, Audrey, Adrian and cousin

A visit to the Monasterio de Tarlac of the Servants of the Risen Christ (SRC) Monastic Community, founded by Fr. Ronald Thomas Cortez in 1998. Monasterio de Tarlac is where the Relic of the Holy Cross can be found. It is rightly placed atop a mountain at San Jose in Tarlac, surrounded by lush greenery, in great contrast to the deathly Calvary which is believed to be where Jesus was crucified. And on this site in the monastery, pilgrims flock to venerate the “one true cross” and to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It was a surreal feeling to be attending a 2 hour long mass and yet feel so focused.  For once in your life you will feel so blessed and really talking to God. Could it be the presence of the "one true cross" in the not so big chapel of the Monasterio.  You will notice that the priests of the Servant of the Risen Christ Monastic community unlike other priesthood orders (in my opinion) are really serving.  They are the ones fixing the chairs, members of the choir, clearing the table, etc.  Things that you would see the sacristans doing.  The words of the officiating priests would really be touching your hearts be it because of the relation to your family, personal, work, love life or even your relationship with people and God.

More Photos Here

Some background about the Monasterio

The relic authenticated by a papal seal is believed to be part of the cross discovered by Saint Helena in Jerusalem, the mother Emperor Constantine the Great. It was believed that Saint Helena excavated three crosses in Jerusalem, which were believed to be the crosses used during the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. She brought a woman who was about to die and asked her to touch the first two crosses but nothing happened. When the third cross was touched, the dying woman was healed.

On January 30, 2007, the sacred relic of the Holy Cross was enshrined in a beautiful chapel on the Mountain of Resurrection in San Jose, Tarlac. The enshrinement was officiated by Archbishop Fernando Filoni who was the Papal Nuncio to the Philippines back then. The relic is enshrined beneath the chapel’s altar, held by a golden arquetta adorned with religious symbols. Pilgrims are allowed to touch the relic after the masses celebrated at 10:30 a.m. every day and at 3:00 pm on Sundays.

How to Get There

To get to the monastery, guests can take the NLEX (North Luzon Expressway) from Manila to SCTEX (Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway) and exiting at Hacienda Luisita. Taking MacArthur Highway, proceed to Tarlac City and turn left after Sogo Hotel and before SM. Follow the road leading to Brgy. Tibag junction, going to Monasterio de Tarlac at Eco-Tourism Park, San Jose, Tarlac. Guests coming from the north should head to Tarlac City where they will take a right turn going to Uniwide Mall. Following the service road and turning right to Carangian Bridge, guests will see markers leading to the monastery.

Source: Islands of the Philippines

Visit to Our lady of Manaoag... Twice the Blessing

                                             

We've always planned this, go to Manaoag for some church visit. We always prayed to have a brand new car to bring there and have it blessed. The time is now. Pacho is finally going out of town - we are going to Manaoag, Pangasinan.

                                           

Travel Destination: Manaoag, Pangasinan
Travel Dates: February 8, 2014
Travel Buddies: Karen, Ma Lian, Kuya Ato and Leny

Travel Destination: Manaoag, Pangasinan
Travel Dates: February 16, 2014
Travel Buddies: Karen, Mommy Kaye, Julie and Anton

The church was still what I remembered from my visit 6 years ago. We were able to attend mass for both dates and we were fortunate to take part in the blessing after mass. We lit some candles, prayed and of course had Pacho blessed twice.  After all, it is never enough when it comes to receiving the grace of God.  We have been very blessed and it is just right to devote some time for Him.

More Pictures

Visita Iglesia Con Culinaria

Travel Destination: Pampanga

Travel Dates:  February 1, 2014

Travel Buddies: Karen and Leny

With so much blessing we have been receiving for the past years, Karen and I talked about doing this.  We promised that once we get our new (much awaited) brand new car we will be going around visit churches and thank the Lord for all the blessings he have entrusted to our care.

Meet Pacho... Our land travel buddy!

We of course started with the nicest - Pampanga Chruches.

Photo Gallery

Holy Rosary Parish Church, Angeles City

The Holy Rosary Church is a living monument. It is not only to the engineering and architectural skills of a certain Don Antonio de la Camara from Manila, a great admirer and exponent of the Byzantine art, but also the unselfish and untiring cooperation of the townspeople of Angeles during the church's construction for almost twenty years. The splendid spirit of cooperation was shown by all; the Parish Priest Fr. Ramon Sarrionandia OSA; the landed families under the leadership of Don Mariano V. Henson and above all small farmers and tenants, without whose patient labours the edifice would not have become a reality. It was not finally completed until Feb. 12, 1896 wherein the twin bells were rung for the first time.

Source: Pampanga Churches

Carmelite, Sto. Rosario, Angeles City

Visit Carmelite for some prayer and reflection.  It is a refuge for anyone.  Here you can offer some candles and wish.  Personally, I have seen and felt the wonderful gift from Carmelite a number of times.  Carmelite is one of the must go when you do your visita Iglesias.

Sta Monica Parish Church, Minalin

The 1721 Santa Monica Parish Church, commonly known as the Minalin Church is a Baroque (heritage) Church, located in 2019 Minalin, Pampanga (San Nicolas). It is a Spanish-era church declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (Philippines) (under the National Cultural Heritage Actwith the designations of Republic Act No. 10066, R.A. 4896 as amended by P.D. 374 and R.A. 8492), on August 27, 2011 (one of only 26 churches in the country bestowed that honor).

Source:WikiPedia

St. James Parish Church, Betis, Guagua

The Betis Church or the Parish Church of St. James the Apostle is a Baroque church located in Guagua, Pampanga (Betis Area). The church,established in 1607, was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines and the NCCA (under R.A. 4896 as amended by P.D. 374 and R.A. 8492), on November 5, 2001 (one of only 26 churches in the country bestowed that honor).

The main attraction of the Church is the original ceiling mural done by the famous painter Simon Flores (1839-1904). Not to be missed are the original his painting of the Holy Family, the artesian well (dug in the 1800s) in the patio - the first well in the country to be so situated, and the rare betis tree nearby donated by Prof. Randy David, a sociologist and native of the town. A two-minute walk from the church is the restored David House, ancestral home of Randy David, which they christened Bale Pinauid or Bahay Pawid.

Source: WikiPedia

Saint Catherine Pastoral Church, Poblacion, Porac

Porac's oldest Catholic Church, it's bell tower graces the Brgy. Poblacion of Porac, pampanga.

San Guillermo Parish Church, Bacolor 

Named after San Guillermo, the patron saint of Bacolor, Pampanga, the Philippines, where the church is erected. The church was originally constructed by the Augustinian Friars in 1576 – also the town's founding – with Fr. Diego De Ochoa, OSA, as the town's first parish priest.having been installed as such two years after.

In 1880, the church was destroyed by an earthquake only to be rebuilt by Fr. Eugenio Alvarez in 1886. On September 3, 1995, lahar flow from the slopes of Mt. Pinatubo which erupted into world notice on June 15, 1991, buried the church at half its 12-m height prompting its more than 50,000 town residents to evacuate to safer grounds in resettlement areas.

Source: WikiPedia

St. Augustine Parish Church, Lubao

After the strong resistance of Lubenians against the invading Spaniards in the 16th century, the power of the Christian cross converted many Lubenians to Christianity.

The St. Augustine's church in Lubao was initially built in 1572 in barrio Santa Catalina. Due to annual floods in the area, it was moved to the present site thirty years later.

An Augustinian priest and architect, Fr. Antonio Herrera constructed this parish church in 1614-1630 out of locally made bricks and sand mixed in egg albumen provided by the people of Lubao.

The church was occupied by the Philippine revolutionary forces in 1898. In 1899, it was used also as a hospital by American soldiers and in 1942, it was damaged by Japanese shelling.

Under the direction of Fr. Melencio Garcia and other priests, it was repaired in 1949-1952.

Source: Pampanga Churches

San Fernando Cathedral, San Fernando

In 1755 the first structure of wood and thatch was built on this site by the Augustinian friars under the patronage of San Fernando III, King of Castile. Fray Sebastian Moreno, O.S.A. was its first cura parroco. On October 17, 1757, townsfolk petitioned the governor-general for exemptions from tribute to enable them to build the church and convent.

Source: WikiPedia

We also had the chance to take a pit stop in one of the known Kapampangan Restaurant in a pond setting (Marangle, Kapampangan term for Fish Pond) - Apag Marangle in Olongapo-Gapan Road Sta. Barbara, Bacolor, Pampanga.  It was more or less a whole day trip to visit all these old, rustic churches -it is all worth it.