The Backpack Adventures

If you're a Catholic and you're living in Manila, probably the first thing you'd do is to head to the beaches this Holy Week. To most of us, especially the working class, the Holy Week is almost synonymous with summer vacation. However, to some, it's a chance to visit Christ and show devotion to Him through Visita Iglesia   (and that's what I plan to do this 2013!). 2013 Las Piñas, Pasay, Manila Visita Iglesia Adventure So join me and my family as we go around Manila and the neighboring cities of Las Piñas and Pasay to visit some of their historical churches. Since I live in the province of Cavite, I had to carefully plan the route that we'd take to maximize the number of churches that we could visit in a day. We originally planned to visit only the ones in Manila but I pointed out that since our route to Manila would pass by some old churches in nearby cities, we might as well visit them.   Las Piñas Church  - Las Pinas City From our home, the fir

Located in Malate, Manila, Malate Church is one of the remaining Spanish Era churches found in the capital of the Philippines. The church also houses the miraculous image of Nuestra Senora de los Remedios . Malate Church Also known as the Our Lady of Remedies Parish , Malate church was constructed under the supervision of the Augustinians sometime in 1588. It was destroyed in 1661 upon orders of Governor-general Sabiniano Manrique de Lara over fears that the Chinese pirates led by Li Ma Hong might be tempted to plunder the church and the community near it. Church facade An adobe image of the Our Lady of Remedies The church was later rebuilt in 1677 and was finished in 1679. The church was then occupied and used by the invading British forces as headquarters in 1762. Church interior NHI Marker 1 NHI Marker 2 Church altar The church was destroyed again, this time by The Great Earthquake of 1863 which destroyed most structures in Manila. The chur

Located inside Paco Park in the district of Paco in Manila, Paco Church is known as the small domed church in the middle of Paco Park. Paco Church is also known as Saint Pancratius Chapel . It was built together with the park walls sometime in the late 1700s it was completed in 1820. The church is inside this park church facade My wife in front of the church different angles of the dome shaped church ..another angle of the church Church schedule Close up of the church facade The church has a Romanesque architectural design that is coordinated with the designs of its surroundings. The small church is named after Pancratius, a young Christian martyr of Rome, who is considered to be the patron saint of children. His feast day is celebrated every 12th of May. Behind the church is the former resting place of Jose Rizal. The National Hero of the Philippines. Saint Pancratius Chapel holds mass every Sunday. The church is maintained and manag

Located along Roxas Boulevard just in front of the Rizal Monument in Luneta Park in the City of Manila, Kilometer 0 is the beginning of every traveler's adventure. Kilometer 0 Kilometer 0 details Also called a zero mile marker or control station, Kilometer 0 is usually a particular location (usually placed in the nation's capital city) where distances are traditionally measured. These markers also serve as a starting point when measuring a distance of a specific place. For example, Baguio City in the province of Benguet is located 243.4 kilometers northwest of kilometer 0 in Manila. Some people would even consider the marker as the heart of the Philippines. Kilometer 0 - Manila City The new Kilometer 0 marker of the Philippines The Old Kilometer 0 marker of the Philippines The Kilometer 0 of the Republic of the Philippines is found just across the street from the Rizal monument. The marker was once made from marble with a silver ball placed on top of it. It was rep

Located at Pasaje del Carmen Street, Quiapo in the City of Manila, the  San Sebastian Basilica is known as the only all-steel church or basilica in Asia and is claimed to be the only prefabricated steel church in the world. San Sebastian Basilica San Sebastian Basilica details San Sebastian Basilica  is also known as  Basilica Minore de San Sebastian . It is the seat of the Parish of San Sebastian and the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. San Sebastian Basilica - Manila San Sebastian Basilica facade   San Sebastian Basilica History Marker San Sebastian Basilica NHI Marker San Sebastian Basilica was designed by Spanish architect Genaro Palacios. It was constructed on September 11, 1890, and was completed in 1891. The basilica has a Gothic architectural design. It was designated as a National Historic Landmark by the Philippine government in 1973 and was also included in the Tentative List of possible designation as a World Heritage Site in 2006.