Las Piñas Bamboo Organ Church

The Bamboo Organ Church is probably one

of the famous tourist destination in Las Piñas.
I still remember those history text books
when I was in elementary. It has always been
a part of our lectures when it comes to those
notable historical places in the country. The
church is renowned as the house of the Las
Piñas Bamboo Organ, a pipe organ made
mostly with bamboo pipes. The church was
established on November 5, 1795 under
the Augustinian Recollects priests headed
by Fray Diego Cera de la Virgen del Carmen.
The church was merely made from adobe
(volcanic) stones in the Earthquake Baroque
architectural style similar to the Paoay
Church of Ilocos. Of course, visiting this church will not be completed without looking at their famous
Bamboo organ. It was completed in 1824 by Father Diego Cera, the builder of the town’s stone church
and its first resident Catholic parish priest. After age and numerous disasters had rendered the musical
instrument unplayable for a long time, in 1972, the national government and the local community joined
together to have the organ shipped to Germany for restoration. The organ came back 3 years after. Since
then, the annual International Bamboo Organ Festival, a music festival of classical music was started to
celebrate the music of the reborn instrument and its unique sound.

Drive 5.8 km
Nobu Hotel Manila
Aseana Ave, Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines

Head east on Aseana Ave toward Belle Ave - 110 m

Turn right onto Roxas Blvd/R-1 - 900 m
Turn left onto NAIA Rd/Paranaque - Sucat Rd/Route 63 - 350 m
Turn right onto Quirino Ave/R-2
Continue to follow R-2
Destination will be on the right - 4.4 km St. Joseph Parish (Bamboo Organ Church)

National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help (Baclaran Church)

Drive 1.6 km
Nobu Hotel Manila
Aseana Ave, Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines

The church enshrines the icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, and is one of the largest Marian churches
in the Philippines. Devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help is popular amongst Filipino Catholics, and
gave rise to the throngs of devotees who flood the church every Wednesday to attend Mass and pray the
Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help.[2] In Manila, Wednesdays are popularly called "Baclaran Day"
due to congested roads brought on by pilgrims to the shrine.
The original icon enshrined above the main altar came from
Germany, and passed through Ireland and Australia before
priests of the Redemptorist Order brought it to what was then the
United States territory of the Philippine Islands in 1906. It bears
the Papal arms in the back paneling.

Since the Feast of the Immaculate Conception 1958, the shrine

has been authorised by the Holy See to remain open 24 hours a
day throughout the entire year. The shrine itself was blessed by
Pope John Paul II during his first Apostolic Visit to Metro Manila in
1981. The shrine complex serves as the headquarters of the
Manila Vice Province of Congregation of the Most Holy
Redeemer, while the Cebu Province of the Redemptorists is
headquartered in Cebu. The shrine's current rector is the
Reverend Father Joseph Echano, C.Ss.R. The shrine celebrates
its annual feast day on 27 June, the liturgical feast day of the
icon.

Saint Andrew Cathedral – Quirino Ave., La Huerta

Drive 7.1 km

St. Andrew Cathedral, officially The Cathedral

Parish of St. Andrew and commonly referred
to as the Parañaque Cathedral, is one of the
oldest churches in the Philippines. It was
established on May 11, 1580 by the Spanish
Order of Saint Augustine. The church is the
seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of
Parañaque, the local church that comprises
the cities of Parañaque, Las Piñas and
Muntinlupa.

Spanish Period & the Order of Saint

Augustine
The story of the Parish of St. Andrew started
when Augustinian missionaries set foot on a
fishing village near the sea, more than four
hundred years ago.

The missionaries' purpose was to convert the natives to Roman Catholicism. This would also help
facilitate the conquest of islands for the King of Spain. The town was called "Palanyag", the contraction
for the word "Paglalayag" which means sailing. At that time, Palanyag consisted of several nipa huts
grouped as a residential settlement known as "barangays."

In line with the Papal instruction of May 1493, known as the Inter Caetera, which enjoined the Spanish
rulers to spread the gospel to the inhabitants that they would come to rule, it was tasked to the
Augustinians to spread Roman Catholism in the lands that they conquered. One town was Palanyag
(modern day Parañaque). The pioneer missionary in Parañaque was Rev. Fr. Juan de Orto, O.S.A.
Although based in Manila, he started to administer to the spiritual needs of the village folks in 1575.
In 1580 Rev. Fr. Diego de Espinal, O.S.A. was appointed superior in the convent of Parañaque. He
established a mission house, with its spiritual jurisdiction reaching up to Kawit, Cavite. He was assisted by
Fray Francisco Campos, O.S.A. The Conference of Chiefs of the Religious Order, held on May 11, 1580,
accepted Palanyag as an independent town, and it is in this date which the foundation day of the Parish
of St. Andrew the Apostle was officially known. In the same year also, St. Andrew the Apostle, being the
patron of fishermen was officially declared the patron and defender of the said church.

Rev. Fr. Elviro Jorde Perez, O.S.A. being the Augustinian historian in the 19th century, wrote that as early
as 1575, the Provincial Chapter subjected the populace of Palanyag to the patronage of St. Andrew, and
later on to the advocacy of the Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso (Our Lady of the Good Event), an image
of the blessed Virgin Mary enthroned in the said Parish on August 10, 1625.

Since there was no income for parish maintenance at that time, royal support, as ordered by the Spanish
king, Philip II, was given to each religious order who worked on the conversion of the natives. Parañaque,
in 1589, was given a periodic sustenance which consisted of 200 pesos and 200 bushels of rice for the
two religious assigned at St. Andrew. Later on, financial assistance was given to buy wine and oil to keep
the Blessed Sacrament lighted.

During the 16th and 17th century, the Parish of St. Andrew was made up of only a few homes, found
mostly along the Parañaque River and Manila Bay in the present barrios of Don Galo, La Huerta and San
Dionisio. Later, Tambo, Santo Niño and Baclaran developed. Barrios Don Galo, La Huerta and San
Dionisio built bisitas, or satellite chapels with facades built facing the St. Andrew Church. The San Nicolas
de Tolentino Chapel, the one located at Barrio La Huerta, still has the inscription 1776, the year the said
chapel was erected.

In 1662, when the Chinese pirate Koxinga threatened to invade Manila, Governor General Sabiniano
Manrique de Lara ordered the demolition of all stone churches and convents located outside Intramuros,
Manila. The stones were used to beef up the defenses of Manila as well as to prevent its use by the
enemy as defenses. More than a dozen churches and convents, which included the only one in
Parañaque were torn down. The original convent of St. Andrew was demolished.

Rev. Fr. Eusebio Polo, O.S.A. was the parish priest of St. Andrew in 1759, during the British invasion of
Manila. He was then succeeded by Rev. Fr. Manuel de Sto. Tomas Garcia, O.S.A. in 1762. Both priests
were deported to Goa, India, with 12 other fellow Augustinians.

After the four hundred year supremacy and ruling of the Augustinians came the missionaries from the
C.I.C.M. or Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. A lot of changes came during their reign,
including the foundation of the parish's school, St. Andrew's School, the several replacements of the
church's altar and the creation of a dome on which the crucifix that signifies the Lord Jesus Christ is
placed.

Shrine of The Five Wounds of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Las Pinas, Metro Manila
Drive 14 km

If you drive along Alabang-Zapote Road, just few kilometers away before reaching SM Southmall in Las
Piñas,you’ll pass by this unique-looking church. It hs a unique name too! It is known as the “Shrine of the
Five Wounds of Our Lord Jesus Christ Parish” and it is probably the most modern-looking church I have
seen so far. While mot part of Las Piñas were embracing the old and Spanish-inspired atmosphere,
the Shrine of the Five Wounds of Our Lord Jesus Christ Parish delivers a different and futuristic approach
Interestingly, the construction of the church started out as friendly challenge but the architect took it
seriously and now, the church was able to encapsulate what a “millennium church” is all about”. The
shape and the concept of the design was interestingly inspired from a marine organism known as
“nautilus”. You can check here why the architect chose this unique design for the building.

This Catholic church is the first major project of the firm. Located along the main artery of Las Pinas City,
it was commissioned in 1998, during the time when the principal architect was still at university. It started
as a friendly challenge, veiled as a joke, to Joseph Javier, which eventually became a very ambitious,
serious and massive undertaking, hoisting the community that it is located in into a long term comittment
of building the “millennium church”.

The concept for this design is the nautilus, a

marine organism with claims to the perfect
natural proportions, the golden mean.
Requirements from the proponents were
dynamism, power and permanence, all divine
properties they wish to impart to the structure.
Javier chose the nautilus because it “seems” to
grow from the earth and engulf, or embrace the
spectator, although in frozen motion, implying
dynamism and movement. The sheer size of
the structure proposes to posture itself as a
counter point landmark and monument to the
Las Pinas Bamboo Organ Church in the old
quarter of the city. This attempts to evoke the
vision of permanence as it gives a link from the
past to the future, continuing on a legacy of
culture bestowed to the city. Finally, power is
symbolized in the triad of colossal shells,
representing the divine trinity of father, son and
spirit, core dogmas of the Catholic church. Pop
colors are intentional to attract the young,
sending them the message that their God is not
of the obsolete past, but of the present and
future.
Amenities include a 2,500 seat main chapel, eucharistic chapel, minor chapel, 500 vault columbarium,
350 seat auditorium and a 25 car basement parking. Materials are EIFS, high performance architectural
glass, Italian marble, steel and aluminum. The structural framing is a composite of steel and reinforced
concrete.

Last November 2008, Arch. Javier resigned and dis-engaged the firm from the project adn turned-over
the work to the construction committee. The project interiors has since then been taken over by Javier’s
former professor at the UP, Arch. Lisa V. Santos. It had its successful inaugural and dedication last 12
June 2010. On 2012, it was elevated as a shrine by the Diocese of Parañaque.

Mary Help of Christians National

Shrine
Don Bosco, Better Living Subdivision,
Parañaque, 1711 Metro Manila
Drive 9.7 km
Shrine of Therese of the Child Jesus
20 Newport Blvd, 183, Pasay, 1309 Metro Manila
Drive 5.2 km

Located adjacent the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal III in the City of Pasay, the Shrine of St.
Therese of the Child Jesus has one of the most eye catching architectural design among the churches in
Manila.

Also called Shrine of St.

Therese and Columbarium,
this unique looking church
actually started as a
makeshift chapel
constructed in 1947 by a
chaplain assigned in the
Philippine Air Force.
Originally, the church is
dedicated to St. Michael
the Archangel. It was
expanded and
reconstructed several
times in order to serve the
spiritual needs of the
increasing number of
Philippine Air Force
personnel.

Our Lady of Sorrows

2130 F.B. Harrison St, Pasay,
Metro Manila
Drive 4.2 km

If you would notice, most of the

churches that I feature in my Visita
Iglesia articles are century-old churches. To date, I have featured only two modern day churches -
Nature's Church and St. Therese of the Child Jesus. I blogged those churches because of their unique
structural designs. (You can click on the links to check them out.) That is not the case for this church. Our
Lady of Sorrows Parish Church has but a humble typical modern day structural design. It doesn't have a
majestic looking facade, a towering bell tower, and an ornately designed retabolo. So what makes the
church stand out? For the history buffs, the answer to that question is but an FYI trivia. For 8/10 Filipinos
however, this church never existed. (not up until now that they have read this article.) For your
information, Our Lady of Sorrows Parish Church played a very important role in the history of the
Philippines. This church is the venue where two important historical figures were unified through the
sanctity of marriage. (Still don't know who they are? Ok here are some more hints.) These two would then
have 5 children. one of whom would become a senator like his deceased father and later on would
become the President of the Philippines like his deceased mother.With these hints you'd probably
guessed it right. The historical figures that I'm talking about are none other than Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino
Jr. and Corazon "Cory" Aquino. An their son who was once a senator and then the 15th President of the
Philippines is none other than Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.

Shrine of Jesus, The Way, The Truth and The Life

Seaside Boulevard North, Pasay, Metro Manila
Drive 2 km

MOA Church Archdiocesan Shrine

of Jesus, The Way, The Truth and
The Life Pope John Paul II Youth
Center, Reclamation Area, Pasay
City, Metro Manila Central Business
Park (beside SM Mall of Asia)
History: The Archdiocesan Shrine of
Jesus, the Way the Truth & the Life
and Pope John Paul II Youth Center
is a fulfillment of the dream of late
Pope John Paul II to have a center
for the young people as he
expressed during the World Youth
Day celebration in 1995. The Shrine
and the Youth Center is a fitting
monument to the unprecedented
attendance to the Holy Father’s
Eucharistic Celebration at the
Luneta Park, wherein more than six
million people from all walks of life,
from different corners of the world gathered, to join the said celebration. In the Pope’s message to the
young people in attendance, he highlighted that Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life. The Shrine of
Jesus is a project of the Archbishop of Manila, the late Jaime L. Cardinal Sin, DD whose love for the
Youth is of the same fervor and intensity as the Holy Father. The land and the church was donated and
built by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sy Sr., of the Shoe Mart Group of Companies. It was consecrated and
dedicated on July 9, 1999 by the late Eminence Jaime L. Cardinal Sin, DD; with His Excellency,
Archbishop Antonio Franco, DD, the Apostolic Nuncio; His Eminence, Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal, DD
Archbishop of Cebu, the Archbishops and Bishops of the Philippines in the presence of a very large
number of the faithful specially the youth as witness to this momentous event. On the same day, the first
Shrine rector was installed in the person of Rev. Msgr. Roberto C. Canlas. October 26 marks the Fiesta
celebration of the Shrine.

San Isidro Church

Taft Ave, Pasay, Metro Manila
Drive 5 km

In 1951, San Isidro Parish Church was in a

temporary Church building at Dominga
Street. Services were continuously held as
construction began with full-construction
realized under the administration of Msgr.
Emmanuel Magtanong Cruz.

The altar, consecrated in September 15,

1966, has a background of the crucifixion at
the backside of the Church building but is
seen when one is inside the Church. The
background behind the altar inside the
Church was improved by Fr. Lari Abaco.

San Isidro Parish Church was rendered

most welcoming by its exterior part
repainted in August 2006. The wall of the backside of the Church was painted on the same period.

The Church has a “Historical Marker” placed at the Multi-Purpose Building with both blessed in
September 24, 2006. The blessing was on the occasion of the 55th Founding Anniversary of the Parish
coinciding with the 2nd year observance of the Parish Week.

Santuario De San Ezekiel Moreno

C5-Extension, Las Pinas
Drive 10.4 km
The Santuario

The Villar Foundation has been working

closely with various religious organizations and
institutions in order to provide focus on the
Foundation’s outreach efforts. This year, the
Villar Foundation — the Corporate Social
Responsibility arm of Vista Land — will embark
on the building of Roman Catholic churches
across the Philippines, specifically in select
Vista Land home developments. The
construction of places of worship goes hand-
in-hand with the other projects of the Villar
Foundation that support religious
organizations.

Located in Barangay Pulanglupa along the Old Town Las Piñas Historical Corridor, the church is inspired
by the architectural elements of the Spanish colonial period. This 700-seater church will be a column-free
edifice with a grand adoration chapel, designed by the world-class firm of Architect Claude Edwin
Andrews and masterplanned by DQA Design and Planning, Inc.

Our Lady of Remedies (Malate Church)

Mabini, Malate, Manila, Metro Manila
Drive 6 km

Malate Church (formally known as Our

Lady of Remedies Parish Church or
"Malate Catholic Church") is a church in
Manila, Philippines. It is a Baroque-style
church fronted by Plaza Rajah
Sulayman and, ultimately, Manila Bay.
The church is dedicated to Nuestra
Señora de los Remedios ("Our Lady of
Remedies"), the patroness of childbirth.
A revered statue of the Virgin Mary in
her role as Our Lady of Remedies was
brought from Spain in 1624 and stands
at the altar.

Malate used to be known as Maalat due

to the saline waters of the bay; and as Laguio or Lagunoi, the name of the street which separated it from
Ermita. it is located by Manila Bay, very close to the sea. One main street crosses it at the center; it is
wide and beautiful and leads up to Cavite. The numerous trees make this road a pleasant walk. It lies just
three kilometers from the center of Manila.