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Showing posts from March, 2017

Imprints of A Holy and Glorious Past - The Surviving Patrons of Old Intramuros

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The old La Naval de Manila Procession in Intramuros years before the Second World War A depiction of Intramuros Whenever we pass the area of the Manila City Hall going to Quiapo-Tondo-Sampaloc area, we always see an imposing wall on the opposite side of the iconic City Hall - the famed centuries old walled city of Intramuros. The area of Intramuros (Which literally mean "Within the Walls") during the Spanish period was considered as Manila and the arrabals surrounding the walled city from Quiapo, Santa Ana, Santa Cruz, Sampaloc, Bagumbayan (now the Luneta area), Tondo, Binondo, Paco, Pandacan and Ermita are known as "Extramuros". Since its foundation in 1571 with the conquest of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and its construction sometime later, Intramuros became one of the nerve centers of the Philippine Catholic Faith, next to Cebu, for it was chosen as the seat of Catholic Church in the country with the foundation of the Archdiocese of Manila from its parent ...

Venerable Madre Jeronima de la Asuncion - The Pioneer of Women's Religious Life in the Philippines

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Venerable Madre Jeronima de la Asuncion Foundress of the Real Monasterio de Santa Clara The First Monastery for Women in the Philippines In the busy area of Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City where a famed Jesuit University is located, there was a certain monastery that is flocked by pilgrims, most especially by students, who would bring trays of eggs and other offerings that will be given to the cloistered nuns who reside in that monastery - the famed Monasterio de Santa Clara. The famed Monasterio was actually the first Monastery for Women Religious in the Philippines founded by a strong willed holy woman - Venerable Madre Jeronima de la Asuncion of the Franciscan Poor Clare Sisters who gained much fame for her sanctity and strong will that several women followed her footsteps and established the now famous Monastery. Her Early Life Jerónima was born Jeronima Garcia dela Fuente in Toledo, Spain to Pedro García e Yánez and Catalina de la Fuente, pious natives of Toledo who ...

Our Lady of Hope of Pontmain of Quezon City - Quezon City's Shining Ray of Hope

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Our Lady of Hope of Pontmain of Bagong Pag-asa, Quezon City In the northern area of Quezon City where commerce is thriving with shopping centers, a rail transit, modern subdivisions and commercial buildings can be spotted, one could hardly image that there were two shrines dedicated to the Mother of God that can be found in that area of Norh Avenue, a chapel dedicated to the Virgin of Truth located in a Catholic Radio station, Radyo Veritas headquarters in front of SM North EDSA and a parish  located at the back of the aforementioned shopping center dedicated to one of the least known Marian apparition that took place in France sometime in 1871 The Parish dedicated to the Virgin of Hope of Pontamain is the only Parish in the country dedicated to this Marian title based from the apparitions in a quiet village of Pontmain, France who only appeared to innocent children and at the same time, halted an attack to France that resulted to the end of the infamous Franco-Prussian War. ...

Santo Niño de Muntinlupa - the King of Muntinlupa City

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Santo Niño de Muntinlupa In the highly urbanized city of Muntinlupa, located in the south of Metro Manila, where it is known for its infamous prison and a dwelling place of the elite in Alabang Hills, one might immediately dismiss that its not much of a religious hotspot for pilgrims due to these circumstances. However, as a matter of fact, for every Muntinlupeño, Fridays are the most important for it was on this day that they will go on a weekly Panata to two renowned Shrines in the area - the nearby Shrine of the Señor Santo Sepulcro of Landayan in San Pedro, Laguna and the Visita of the Santo Niño de Muntinlupa in Baranggay Santo Niño in Poblacion, Muntinlupa City. The miraculous image of the Santo Niño de Muntinlupa is one of the most cherished and the most popular in the Southern part of Muntinlupa City for many miracles were reported through the help of this peculiar image of the Child Jesus that they consider him as the King of the City. The image Close up of the S...

Sto. Niño de Pasion de Makati - Makati's Sorrowing Prince and Protector

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Sto. Niño de Pasion de Makati Within the tall skyscrapers, commercial establishments, billboards, modern residences and edifices that nestled the City of Makati, one can hardly see an imprint of the past in this city which is hidden behind the face of Modern Makati. Yet, if one is looking for a glimpse of Makati's Past and Centuries old tradition, it is the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in Poblacion, Makati City, the home of the Ancient patrons of Makati City - Sts. Peter and Paul the Apostles and the two unique images in the country that can be found in Makati City: the Nustra Señora de la Rosa de Makati. the Queen and Patroness of Makati City and the Santo Niño de Pasion, the Prince and Protector of the city. The sorrowing Child Jesus venerated in Makati might be strange to some who have heard or seen it for the first time, yet for the people of Poblacion, Makati City and devotees from other places in the country who knew the Sorrowing Child of the city, the Santo Niñ...