Holy Week's - Visita Iglesia

Holy Thursday, before Easter is celebrated with last Mass, a reenactment of the Washing of the Feet of the Apostles; this Mass is followed by the procession of the Blessed Sacrament before it is taken to the Altar of Repose.The Visita Iglesia (Church Visit), Old traditional rituals in the Philippines where the faithful visit at least 7 churches on Maundy Thursday and say their prayers or do the Station of the Cross.

Its been years since we started our Visita Iglesia or Church Visit. I remember when im still young, my mother together with our friends/neighbors do this tradition yearly. And until now, my friends (marchi, judith, marlon, monch & ardy)and I continue to remember the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

To begin with, we visit the Sto. Niño Church in Pandacan, which is near our place

Sto. Niño Church

St. Jude in Malacañang

San Sebastian Church

Saint Benedict Church

Quiapo Church

Manila Cathedral Church (outside)

San Agustin Church

Easter morning is marked with joyous celebration, the first being the dawn the "Salubong". This commemorates the encounter between Jesus Christ and His Mother, Blessed Virgin Mary. To start the procession, people are separated into two groups. The first group consists of men who will follow the image of Jesus Christ, while the other group consists of women who follow the image of Mary. At the end of the procession, the two groups will meet in the church, where a number of little girls who participate during the dawn ritual as angels.

Statue of Virgin Mary during the procession

This is followed by the joyous Easter Mass.