Iloilo the City of Love: Fun in Church Hopping

February 18, 2017 at Unesco's World Heritage Church

What could be more exciting for a one devoted Catholic when you're in Iloilo? Aside from different attractions like beaches, Food, Festival, Mansions and Culture. There are Historical and Beautiful Churches that's good for a tour Pilgrimage.

It was Miag-ao Church and Garin Farm that we just want to visit as side trip from a Conference in Iloilo but little did we know there were lots of Historical churches that we could include in our itinerary as we travel to the famous stairway to Heaven Pilgrimage site in Garin Farm. Blessed enough that our friend ride a taxi and the driver offer a Pilgrimage tour. He said that Aside from Miag-ao and Garin farm there were Churches along the way that we can drop by and include in our itinerary just to concise our trip. So we come up with 6 Churches and the Garin Farm.

Fine weather and a not too crowded sites welcome us as we travel to our first destination. None other than One of the Unesco's World Heritage Church, the pride of Iloilo, Miag-ao Church. It was the same hype when I saw another Unesco's Heritage Church in Ilocos which is the Paoay Church. Amazing and Beautiful as it is in the Photos. We've seen great architecture design with intricate details on its facade. For a one practicing Catholic it was such a great experience to see this kind of preserved historic proof of our Faith that stands the test of time. I just don't have pictures of what's inside since there were lots of activities when we arrive.

Next stop would be another rising tourist attraction in Iloilo, The Garin Farm. It was an agricultural farm with a twist. as one enter the gate you will be welcome by a vine tunnel and also different farm animals, farm fruits and a Bahay kubo which will make you sing the real Bahay kubo song. Different plants were planted before you reach the Nipa hut but the sequence of plants were the same with what depicted in the song. starts with Singkamas at Talong, Sigarilyas at Mani, Sitaw, Bataw, Pataniiii. and so on, just sing the song and you'll figure out what are those. Upon reaching the canteen area, there you will be able to see your next adventure; The Pilgrimage site with what they so-called stairway to heaven. There are 2 options to get to heaven. Either you brace the scorching heat of the sun and walk to the top or get a cable car that cost 25 each up to the meditation tunnel. Once you get there, you will enter a cave or what they called meditation tunnel. It was dark, too dark as if you were blind but wait until you get out of the tunnel. Your eyes couldn't accept the light that comes from the sun and shinning light from what awaits you. It feels like in Heaven actually. There is a gate with St. Peter on its side and the Angels with trumpets welcomes you to heaven and of course the great Cross that serve as a shed to many people that couldn't open their eyes for it was strikingly bright. It's as if you can no longer bear the brightness. And that's the main purpose of the site. There is explanation at the end your journey that If you cannot bear the light then it is not your time yet to go to heaven and you have to go back to the real world to do good and be ready once your time has come. After that, another walk down to the mighty stairs but you can also choose to get the cable car to make it easier.

Figure out how many steps hahaha

View from the Canteen

too hard to open our eyes

Entering the gates of heaven

Beautiful 

Can you imagine the heat?

Good Point

for you

After a Tiring walk in Garin Farm we have decided to just make next destinations quick glimpse. And so, five churches were plotted with The Mansion as extra trip. We have visited the San Joaquin Church, Guimbal Church, Tigbauan Church, Molo Church/Cathedral and Jaro Church. 

Jaro Cathedral

Tigbauan Church

Guimbal Church

Molo Cathedral

San Joaquin Church

Iloilo has been known for Bulalo, Piyaya, Bisccocho, Being Malambing and Its Festival But Church Pilgrimage tour would be good to include to one's itinerary, for you will be able to see every town and how are they living their lives with these kind of beautiful sites to behold. For a one practicing Catholic, I've come to realize that every churches has stories to tell, people to represent but one faith to profess. I've never seen this kind of tour to be good since visiting churches might sound boring but not until I experience it. Indeed, true enough that the Lord has many surprises for us even in this kind of silent adventure. I am forever thankful for this experience and I hope to come back and bring my family as well in the City of Love.  

Legazpi, Albay: Home of Natural Perfect Cone Beauty

Daragang Magayon!

Daragang Magayon!

Amidst the weather, this natural beauty stands still. May it be covered with clouds or letting itself shines like the sun, No one can deny how magnificent it is to see Mt. Mayon in different Angels and conditions. 
Been to Lagaspi for about 3 days and Mt. Mayon never fails to let herself reveal how beautiful she is. Locals would often ask me, did the Mayon lets you see her already? If yes, then she probably likes you. As we're done attending the conference we immediately make most of our remaining time chase the Mother Volacano in different locations. It was just a 4 hours City tour and luckily, the weather seems to be good to us that the sun showed up even warnings of LPA and isolated rainfalls.
1st stop would be Ligñon Hill, It was like viewing Mayon in another mountain when it was just a hill actually. This place also offers view of Albay Gulf as well as the whole City, they also have zip line for some adrenaline rush, And if you are a History enthusiast you may check out their Japanese Tunnel for a short walk.

2nd stop would be the Famous Daraga Church. They said that Daraga church was built after the Mayon erupted and only the Cagsawa Bell tower was left visible. The Original Church where People go every sunday is the one that we always saw in postcards which is Bell Tower alone. Today, Daraga church standing for a long time and still facing the beautiful Mayon Volcano. On the side of the church there is a restaurant that offers view deck where you can take a picture of the Mayon.

Restaurant beside the Church

3rd stop would be none other than the Famous Landmark of Albay. Cagsawa Ruins. We commonly see a postcard of Mayon with a tower on its side but nothing compares seeing it through our naked eyes. For a regular tourist attraction this is the closest you can be at the Mayon not unless you take an ATV ride to it. The feeling was picture perfect just like postcards do, but the Mother Volcano seems to be shy that afternoon that she used to hide with thick clouds while we were at Cagsawa Ruins. Nevertheless We're still in awe to finally looking to it not only in Papers.

Awesome!

4th stop would be Legazpi Boulevard. They said this spot will never fail your expectations especially in the afternoon and Yes, This actually gives a good feeling after a tiring day. Seeing the Perfect Cone shape with waters in front and the landscape of sleeping Lion lies on it. It was a perfectly fine dawn with a cool breeze adds to a wonderful experience of being here.

Spot the sleeping Lion

5th and Last stop would be the Pasalubong center. Some of our friends will leave the City by 6pm so there's no other thing to do but get some of Bicol's products. Pasalubong center was just across the Bus terminal and that's what makes it more convenient.

Last day in Legaspi: Extending a day in Albay seems to be worth a while. Some of us needed to get back in Manila sunday evening, while some choose to stay for another day. What could be more interesting to do when you just had a day? We've come to push through with our plan which is to get an ATV ride up to the Black Lava wall of Mayon Trail. It is Your Brother Mayon ATV that we chose to get the ride. Before going through the trail there will be an orientation and quick tutorial on how to handle atv, do's and dont's. As we started the trail, it was just a fine road and green grass way, but as we go on river bed trail starts to dawn on us as well as different kind of slopes. What makes more challenging is the downpour of the rain, starts from drizzle up until heavy raindrops. Special thanks to our guides that's alert when one needs assistance. there were times that some of us stranded to river rocks, technical problem with Atv and even getting thru with the difficult trails. Everything in this experience was one for the books, we were driving to different trails from smooth to rough, from flat surface to down/uphill with the Mayon Volcano on our side or even front. The harder the trail the closer we get to the dearest Volcano. Upon arriving at foot of black lava front we had to trek up to the what they so-called helipad or the main black lava wall. for about 10-15 min we walk through trail with pine trees, Yes there are pine tress at the foot of the Mt. Mayon, then starts to climb the black rocks and finally when we reached the Helipad, that's also where our trail will end. some of adventure seekers when they have more time, they go to advance trail but that's more recommended for experienced atv riders and they go up until 1/4 of the Mayon. What we did was never ending picture taking to this beautiful landscape before going back to another long atv ride. Going back was a bit harder for our arms and legs were tired but still we are more confident to drive since we got familiarize with the trail. Going on an atv ride is highly recommended to take a closer and different view of the Mayon, there are shorter trail and less expensive, if in doubt. But I can say that one should go up to the black lava wall for different experience. Before I forgot, we go to a buffet lunch at 7 degrees restaurant to fulfill our hungry stomach after tiring activity.

I admit, I never want to go home yet. There's more to Albay aside from Mayon and most of us want to explore what is there in Camalig, Bacacay and other town but we don't have enough of time. Hence, we are thankful for one great weekend Legaspi have given us. Indeed, getting close to nature  makes your mind at peace for a while. While everyone of us striving hard to combat the stress from our jobs, we always look forward to this kind of refrain from a fast paced environment. It was refreshing and re-energizing weekend; we might felt tired from a long bus ride and adventure activities but our hearts and mind were at peace and have been to rest from a loud environment.

P.S. I'll make a good comeback for another challenge!

Next time would be level 3