QUEZON CITY, (PIA) — The historic Walled City of Intramuros in Manila opens its nine churches and chapels to visit this Holy Week.
Walk through centuries of faith and heritage as you visit the Walled City’s churches and chapels, bridging the old and the new, each offering a quiet space for prayer, reflection, and spiritual renewal.
The Mother of all Churches, the iconic Manila Cathedral or the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.
The Manila Cathedral-Basilica is the Premier Church of the Philippines because of all the Churches in the archipelago, it was the one chosen to become the Cathedral in 1581 when the Philippines was separated from the Archdiocese of Mexico and became a new diocese with its episcopal seat in Manila.
The San Agustin Church or the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation and Cincture, nationally recognized Cultural Treasure and Historical Landmark.
Since 1993, the San Agustin Church has been inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List as one of the four Baroque Churches of the Philippines.
Another place to visit in Intramuros is the Father George Willman, SJ Chapel.
Father George Willman, SJ was the founder of the Knights of Columbus, which was established its presence in the Philippines in early 1905.
The Chapel of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) or the Shrine of Jesus, Divine Teacher is also open for Visita Iglesia.
Established in 1990 through the efforts of Bishop Teodoro Bacani, Jr., the chapel provides a spiritual home for Catholics in the state university.
Another place is the Santa Rita Chapel or the Chapel of the Mapua University and a few walks away is the Sacred Heart of Jesus Chapel or the Chapel of the Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) where visitors can visit this Holy Week for a prayerful ambiance.
Next stop is the Letran Chapel located along Muralla Street. Early in history, the Letran Chapel was granted many of the privileges enjoyed by the major basilica. Saint John the Baptist, for whom the basilica is named, is the patron saint of Letran.
Also a Visita Iglesia destination inside Intramuros is the St. Matthew’s Chapel or the Chapel of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), which is located along Solana St.
Inside Fort Santiago, the Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine stands. Built in 1981 by the Intramuros Administration, the chapel is located within Reducto de San Francisco Javier in Fort Santiago.
Meanwhile, Intramuros Administration-managed sites are also open this Holy Week.
For updates, visit the Intramuros Administration Facebook page. (JEG/PIA-NCR)
