Sunday, March 31, 2013

NKorean propaganda mill serves up soft side of Kim


http://www.philstar.com/world/2013/03/30/925041/nkorean-propaganda-mill-serves-soft-side-kim(philstar.com) | 

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In this undated file photo released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and distributed in Tokyo by the Korea News Service on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, accompanied by military officers, inspects air drill at an undisclosed airbase in North Korea. For the outside world, North Korea's message is largely doom and gloom: bombastic threats of nuclear war, amateur-looking videos showing U.S. cities in flames, digitally altered photos of military drills. But a domestic audience gets a parallel and decidedly softer dose of propaganda - and one with potentially higher stakes for the country's young leader. (AP Photo/KCNA via KNS, File)
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The outside world focuses on the messages of doom and gloom from North Korea: bombastic threats of nuclear war, fantasy videos of U.S. cities in flames, digitally altered photos of leader Kim Jong Un guiding military drills. But back home, North Koreans get a decidedly softer dose of propaganda: Kim portrayed as a young, energetic leader, a people person and family man.
Mixed in with the images showing Kim aboard a speeding boat on a tour of front-line islands, or handing out commemorative rifles to smartly saluting soldiers, are those of Kim and his wife clapping at a dolphin show or linking arms with weeping North Korean children.
The pictures can look odd or obviously staged to outsiders. But they're carefully crafted propaganda meant to give North Koreans an image of a country governed by a leader who is as comfortable overseeing a powerful military as he is mingling with the people.
Analysts say the images also hint at something that often gets lost amid the threatening rhetoric: North Korea's supreme commander isn't an all-powerful, isolated monarch who can govern without considering his people's approval. Kim is still busy building his reputation at home.
"Even dictatorships respond to public opinion and public pressure," said John Delury, a North Korea analyst at Seoul's Yonsei University. "He's expected to pay attention to and make improvements in the common people's standard of living. They've put that promise out in their domestic propaganda."
It's a tall order. Living standards in Pyongyang, the capital, are relatively high, with new shops and restaurants catering to a growing middle class. But U.N. officials' reports detail harsh conditions elsewhere in North Korea: up to 200,000 people estimated to be languishing in political prison camps, and two-thirds of the country's 24 million people facing regular food shortages.
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When it comes to North Korean propaganda, much of the world focuses on the series of outlandish videos uploaded to the country's YouTube channel and government website, largely for foreign consumption. In one fantasy, missiles rain down on a burning American city while an instrumental version of "We Are the World" plays in the background. In another, President Barack Obama and U.S. troops burn.
But what most North Koreans see on state TV is a different propaganda message: Kim Jong Un bending down to receive flowers from children, Kim visiting families living in rustic homes on front-line islands, Kim mobbed by gushing female soldiers.
As with any propaganda or PR, the images are carefully staged. And many make foreign news headlines only when experts and photo editors discover that North Korea is digitally altering them. For instance, in a picture distributed recently by state media, troops and hovercraft land on a barren, snow-dappled beach. Experts say some of the multiple hovercraft have been copied and pasted into the image.
But North Korea's propaganda makers aren't concerned about the criticism abroad to their heavy-handed photo editing. "These efforts are aimed more at an unsophisticated domestic peasant audience than those of us who are more discerning," said Ralph Cossa, president of the Pacific Forum CSIS think tank in Hawaii.
The caring domestic persona being built for Kim by his image specialists is aided by his wife, Ri Sol Ju.
She is young and glamorous, a chic and smiling presence at his side in many of the country's propaganda images. The couple is often photographed at amusement parks, nurseries, factory tours and concerts.
"It's a more complex kind of image he has as a leader," Delury said. "The basis of his legitimacy domestically has to do with these other, non-military things."
The propaganda machine in North Korea also worked to build up a caring image for Kim's father, the late Kim Jong Il. He doggedly appeared at tours of factories, farms and military posts. But while Kim Jong Un puts his wife front and center and is a relaxed presence on camera, his father was stiff in photos and secretive about his family life.
North Korea takes pains to select and sometimes alter photos so its leaders appear in the best light possible, said Seo Jeong-nam, a North Korean propaganda expert at Keimyung University in South Korea.
For example, past propaganda specialists were careful not to pick photos that showed the large lump on the back of the neck of Kim's grandfather, North Korean President Kim Il Sung, Seo said. When Kim Jong Il was alive, North Korean photographers tried to make him look taller in photos than he actually was, often positioning him slightly in front of others, Seo said.
As for Kim Jong Un, Seo said North Korea's propaganda mill chooses photos that show off his strong resemblance to his grandfather, who still is depicted on state TV as the loving father of the nation, surrounded by children and adoring citizens.

The Cutud crucifixion


Precy Valencia is nailed to a wooden cross in Paombong, Bulacan.  ERNIE PEÑAREDONDO
SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines — Every Good Friday for the past 27 years, house painter Ruben Enaje has offered himself to be crucified as an act of penitential thanksgiving.
Enaje, who played Jesus Christ in the annual Via Crucis (Way of the Cross), was crucified at around 2 p.m. on a very hot Good Friday in Barangay Cutud here, witnessed by about 50,000 locals and tourists, as well as national and international media.
Fifteen other penitents were also nailed to crosses, four of them in nearby Barangay Sta. Lucia and five others in Barangay San Juan.
Thousands of penitents, called “magdarame” or flagellants, roamed the streets on Good Friday, carrying wooden crosses and whipping their backs with bamboo lashes called “burilyos.”
In Tarlac City, a certain Romeo de Leon was reportedly found dead in his room after performing self-flagellation, a traditional penitential practice among Filipinos during the Holy Week.
The Tarlac police said initial reports indicated it was the first time De Leon performed the penitential act for his ailing mother.
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The victim was reported to have started self-flagellation on Maundy Thursday. He was found unconscious and later died.
The crucifixions were held in three makeshift “Calvary” sites in Barangays San Pedro Cutud, Sta. Lucia and San Juan, all in Pampanga.
There were also crucifixions in the nearby province of Bulacan, where flagellants also joined in the annual ritual.Seven people, including a woman, participated in the crucifixion while hundreds roamed the streets of Paombong town on Good Friday, beating themselves with bamboo sticks under the hot afternoon sun.
Four were crucified at Barangay Kapitangan in Paombong along with a lone female, Precy Valencia, a self-proclaimed faith healer, while three others completed their continuing vow of reenacting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ at Santisima Trinidad Church in Barangay Barihan in the provincial capital Malolos City.
Marnie Castro, co-chairman of the “Maleldo” (Holy Week) committee in Pampanga, said more than 2,000 flagellants participated in the Via Crucis that started at about 9 a.m. on Friday.
Penitents, most of them covering their faces with black cloths or masks to hide their identities, walked several kilometers through village streets beating their backs with “burilyos.”
San Fernando police chief Superintendent Ricardo David reported that aside from some minor incidents of theft, the event was orderly and peaceful.
Pampanga’s Via Crucis has been practiced every year since 1955. As for Enaje, he intends to be here again next Holy Week and for as long as he can, as his way of thanking God for saving his life after he fell from a scaffolding many years ago. – With Dino Balabo, Ding Cervantes

NKorea says it's in state of war with SKorea


http://www.philstar.com/world/2013/03/30/925035/nkorea-says-its-state-war-skorea(philstar.com) | 

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North Korean army officers punch the air as they chant slogans during a rally at Kim Il Sung Square in downtown Pyongyang, North Korea, Friday, March 29, 2013. Tens of thousands of North Koreans turned out for the mass rally at the main square in Pyongyang in support of their leader Kim Jong Un's call to arms. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin)
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea issued its latest belligerent threat Saturday, saying it has entered "a state of war" with South Korea a day after its young leader threatened the United States because two American B-2 bombers flew a training mission in South Korea.
Analysts say a full-scale conflict is extremely unlikely and North Korea's threats are instead aimed at drawing Washington into talks that could result in aid and boosting leader Kim Jong Un's image at home. But the harsh rhetoric from North Korea and rising animosity from the rivals that have followed U.N. sanctions over Pyongyang's Feb. 12 nuclear test have raised worries of a misjudgment leading to a clash.
In a joint statement by the government, political parties and organizations, North Korea said Saturday that it will deal with all matters involving South Korea according to "wartime regulations." It also warned it will retaliate against any provocations by the United States and South Korea without "any prior notice."
The divided Korean Peninsula is already in a technical state of war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a cease-fire, not a peace treaty. But Pyongyang said it was scrapping the war armistice earlier this month.
South Korea's Unification Ministry released a statement saying the latest threat wasn't new and was just a follow-up to Kim's earlier order to put troops on a high alert in response to annual U.S-South Korean military drills. Pyongyang sees those drills as rehearsals for an invasion; the allies call them routine and defensive.
In an indication North Korea is not immediately considering starting a war, officials in Seoul said South Korean workers continued Saturday to cross the border to their jobs at a joint factory park in North Korea that's funded by South Koreans
World ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
On Friday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned his forces were ready "to settle accounts with the U.S." after two nuclear-capable U.S. B-2 bombers dropped dummy munitions on a South Korean island range as part of joint drills and returned to its base in Missouri.
North Korean state media later released a photo of Kim and his senior generals huddled in front of a map showing routes for envisioned strikes against cities on both American coasts. The map bore the title "U.S. Mainland Strike Plan."
At the main square in Pyongyang, tens of thousands of North Koreans turned out for a 90-minute mass rally in support of Kim's call to arms. Small North Korean warships, including patrol boats, conducted maritime drills off both coasts of North Korea near the border with South Korea earlier this week, South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said in a briefing Friday. He didn't provide details.
The spokesman said that South Korea's military was mindful of the possibility that North Korean drills could lead to an actual provocation. He said that the South Korean and U.S. militaries are watching closely for any signs of missile launch preparations in North Korea. He didn't elaborate.
Experts believe North Korea is years away from developing nuclear-tipped missiles that could strike the United States. Many say they've also seen no evidence that Pyongyang has long-range missiles that can hit the U.S. mainland.
Still, there are fears of a localized conflict, such as a naval skirmish in disputed Yellow Sea waters. Such naval clashes have happened three times since 1999. There's also danger that such a clash could escalate. Seoul has vowed to hit back hard the next time it is attacked.
"The first strike of the revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK will blow up the U.S. bases for aggression in its mainland and in the Pacific operational theatres including Hawaii and Guam," the North said Saturday in the statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's official name.
Pyongyang uses the U.S. nuclear arsenal as a justification for its own push for nuclear weapons. It says that U.S. nuclear firepower is a threat to its existence.

FLASH BACK: Survivors ng bus vs trailer truck collision sa Benguet, na-trauma sa insidente


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BAGUIO CITY - Na-trauma ngayon ang ilan sa 33 survivors sa pagbangga ng isang tourist bus sa 18-wheeler na trailer truck sa Marcos Highway, Badiwan, Tuba, Benguet alas-10:30 kagabi na ikinamatay ng pitong katao.
Sa panayam ng Bombo Radyo Baguio sa Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC), nasa mabuting kalagayan na ang 33 na sugatan sa insidente pero nakakaranas ang mga ito ng trauma at hindi sila makapagsalita ng maayos.
Sa ngayon ay nakahimlay naman sa Baguio Memorial Chapel (BMC) ang bangkay ng mga biktima, kung saan kinilala ito ng mga otoridad na sina Jenny Lantoria, teacher ng Marinduque State College; certain Maricel; certain Tito Boyet na tour guide; at ang mga estudyante na sina Princess Pastor Fide, Dianne Laurio, Marvin Malatino at ang driver ng bus na si Leopoldo Nana.
Patuloy naman ang imbestigasyon ng Tuba PNP sa tunay na sanhi ng aksidente, kung ito ay dahil sa sinasabing overspeeding o kung nawalan talaga ito ng preno para rin makapagsampa sila ng kaukulang kaso.
Matatandaang galing sa lungsod ng Baguio ang tourist bus (AFB-769) at pabalik na ang mga ito sa Metro Manila nang mawalan ng preno sa pababang kalsada at mabangga nito ang paakyat na trailer truck (WPG-581).
Samantala, patuloy naman na nagpapagaling sa ospital ang mga sugatan na sina:
1. Anralyn Molinas, 19, estudyante ng Marinduque State College
2. Marie Anne Regino, 20, estudyante ng Marinduque State College
3. Clarisse Penarubia, 19, estudyante ng Marinduque State College
4. Shera Marie Dolatugo, 18, estudyante ng Marinduque State College
5. Rufina Mae Tagle, estudyante ng Marinduque State College
6. Joselito Peralta, estudyante ng Marinduque State College
7. Mark Darwin Padaca, estudyante ng Marinduque State College
8. Randave Regala, 22, estudyante ng Marinduque State College
9. Sei Angeves, 18, estudyante ng Marinduque State College
10. Roselyn Roldan 19, estudyante ng Marinduque State College
11. Sandralyn Pialago, 18, estudyante ng Marinduque State College
12. Suxmipha Amen, 18, estudyante ng Marinduque State College
13. Rizalie Franca, 18, estudyante ng Marinduque State College
14. Genalyn Pontero, 18, estudyante ng Marinduque State College
15. Jeanie Mae Pedrialva, 19, estudyante ng Marinduque State College
16. Almar Regino -19, estudyante ng Marinduque State College
17. Jeninia Gomez, 22, estudyante ng Marinduque State College
18. Roshell Pernia, 20, estudyante ng Marinduque State College
19. Renzel Sulueta, 19, estudyante ng Marinduque State College
20. Lorena Villaruel, 19, estudyante ng Marinduque State College
21. Mary Joy Regala, 20, estudyante ng Marinduque State College
22. Manilyn Ray, 19, estudyante ng Marinduque State College
23. John Laurence Antolin, 22, estudyante ng Marinduque State College
24. Romel Pergis, 18, estudyante ng Marinduque State College
25. Aldrin Almonte, 22, estudyante ng Marinduque State College
26. Rebina Quele, estudyante ng Marinduque State College
28. Alfonso Feria, 23, tourist guide
29. Ryan Abrera-35, tour guide
30. Roger Cuyo Albayalde, bus driver
31. Joel Bengua, 33, truck driver, mula Antipolo
32. Jose Bonife, 33 Truck helper, mula Antipolo
33. Milagrito Balistoy, 29, truck helper, mula San Mateo

The Problem is Beyond Field Trips ( a flash back)


Not again. Just barely two weeks after the Tanay incident that killed two students, a field trip in Baguio shocked the country. Involved was the Marinduque State College. Three students, two teachers, a reliever-driver, and a tour guide died. Twenty-eight other students were hurt.
The bus carrying the students was trekking Tuba, Benguet going Manila. An early rescuer, Rafael Valencia, claims the allegedly colorum tourist bus driven by Roger Albayalde overtook another resulting in a collision with a truck going Baguio. The truck driver, Joel Bengua, reasoned that the bus was over-speeding. His statement was corroborated by Roselyn Roldan, a student survivor.
This latest incident only further polarized positions of people regarding field trips. Representative Pedro Romualdo of Camiguin and Senator Edgardo Angara called for a ban on field trips. Secretary Armin Luistro of the Department of Education and Representative Sonny Angara took the opposite view.
MORE THAN ENOUGH LAWS
The DepEd follows Order 52, Series of 2003 on field trips. It discourages visits to TV stations and malls, and encourages tours to educational sites. It highlights student safety. Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Memo Order 17, Series of 2012 not only promotes local tourism outright but also details the requirements for schools to accomplish.
We have more than enough laws to govern field trips. In relation to teachers and schools, Family Code Article 218 on special parental authority and Articles 219 on minors are applicable. Civil Code Article 2176 on negligence and Article 2180 on responsibility of employers are also relevant. With regard to travel agencies, tour guides, and drivers, Article 1733 on common carriers, Article 1755 on standard of care for passengers, and Article 1756 on injuries and deaths of passengers are to the point. Finally, Article 365 of the Revised Penal Code on imprudence and negligence is likewise applicable.
In truth, it is not the idea of field trip per se which is the problem. Young students of Japan, China, Thailand, for instance, visit their local art and science museums, temples and sites of historical significance regularly. Even elementary students from England visit mainland Europe on field trips. There are American high school students who travel abroad as part of international study tours.
THE PROBLEM
It is the culture within which we have field trips that is the bigger issue. Field trips have been trivialized by some schools which undertake these for the commissions given by tour organizers. This makes parents view field trips as downright irrelevant.
Tour agencies, meanwhile, could have helped professionalize the conduct of field trips. Yet, many tour agencies do not even have an inkling on what students really need and how to educate them best.
It is definitely better if the school itself would scout and develop itineraries. However, many teachers are not conversant and oriented enough about highly educational places like museums, historical sites, science centrums and the like. In the meantime, there are some school administrators who have other priorities than examining field trip objectives and safety of students.
AN EVEN BIGGER PICTURE
Part of the bigger picture is that our people and leaders find it alien to follow laws. This results in a thinking that it is fine to drive fast and bribe traffic officers, or buy judges if need be. Negligence causes deaths in road mishaps. Lack of discipline halts progress. Impunity kills a nation. This situation is partly historico-cultural, as we were trained to hate rules imposed on us by colonizers.
Partly, our alienation from the law is a byproduct of mis-education as our basic education curriculum professes to follow the law, without teaching us basic principles of law. Contrast this to basic education students of Europe and North America who learn from their textbooks not only the basic legal principles that govern their societies, but also the landmark jurisprudence decided by courts of law that changed the flow of their histories.
Punish all those responsible for the deaths of students and teachers involved in the Tanay and Baguio incidents. But let it be said that they died, too, because of our lack of discipline, and our lack of knowledge as well as appreciation of laws. Let it be said that after punishing those responsible, genuine justice for these victims can be finally served if DepEd and CHED will succeed in instilling in the minds of students the knowledge of basic laws, that is a giant leap in educating our nation on the imperative of the rule of law.
An alumnus and former faculty member of UP Diliman, PROF. ROLANDO S. DELA CRUZ is Founder and President of the Darwin International School System. He studied in Osaka University (Japan), the University of Cambridge (England) and at the University of Leiden (the Netherlands).

Thursday, March 28, 2013

SCI MORYON BAGS the Grand winner for BATTLE OF MORYONS 2013

The four year old competiton "BATTLE OF MORYONS" first held in Boac happens successfully in the town of Santa Cruz province of Marinduque.

                  As the Lone District of Marinduque Representative and JCI President Lord Allan Quinto Velasco says: "Marami na po kaseng event sa bayan ng Boac kaya dito naman namin dinala sa Bayan ng Santa Cruz ang taunang Kompetisyon na ito "






       Maging ang Ama ng Bayan ng Santa Cruz ay nagpahayag ng pasasalamat sa event organizers partical to the JCI's.

   HERE ARE THE LIST OF PARTICIPANTS:

Battle of Morion Inter-town participants:

Santa Cruz 3 entries:
*Fighting Gladiator(winner last year)
*Santa Cruz Institute-LAV CLUB
*LIPA MORYONS


BOAC 1 ENTRY
GASAN 2 ENTRY
BUENAVISTA 1 ENTRY 

MOGPOG ENTRY (backout)

Prizes:
1st Prize-P80,000.00
2nd Prize-P60,000.00
3rd Prize-P40,000.00

Sponsored by:
Office of the Congressman
Office of the Municipal Mayor
Office of Sanguniang Bayan

Fueled by:
Petron

Brewed by:
San Miguel Beer


and the result of winners:

COMPETITION RESULT:
Grand winner :SCI MORYONS
2nd: SANTA CRUZ CENTURION (last year winner)
3nd: one of the GASAN entry

BEST IN PARADE: SCI MORYONS



 SANTA CRUZ INSTITUTE FANPAGE ADMIN REACTION ON THE RESULT OF THE COMPETITION:

https://www.facebook.com/StaCruzInstituteMarinduque/posts/500550130011544?notif_t=like 

 REVIEW:
Sa isang kompetisyon, may natatalo may nananalo,..At sa nananalo hindi nawawala ung sinasabing luto, may dayaan.

1. ang pinakakonsepto po ng kompetisyon ay tungkol sa MAHAL NA ARAW, hindi street dance at lalong hindi paramihan ng members as long as nasa 30 ung participants.

2. issue na sa lahat ng sulok dito sa Sta. Cruz,Marinduque bulong bulungan ang kwestyonableng pagkapanalo ng SCI MORYONS

3. desisyon ng mga hurado ang manalo ang SCI MORYONS, ang tanging nasa isip sampu ng aming mga ksamahan makapag perform ng maayos,,sumali kami sa kompetisyong ito hindi para sa pera (oo kaipokrituhan naman atang di namin pinangarap manalo) pero malaking bagay na sa amin na magawa namin ung best namin.

3. sulit ang pagod kc pagpasok ng SCI MORYONS sa plaza magulang at estudyante kug hindi man ay ALUMNI ng SCI-Marinduque ang sumuporta.

4.dun sa nangkkwestyon, bahala kayo ang mahalaga alam namin na ginagawa namin kung higit pa sa kakayahan namin para manalo.

muli salamat at kita-kita tau sa Battle of Moryons 2014


(sorry if i cant include all the photos,,just click the link below on the SCI FANPAGE for the photos

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.500541233345767.1073741832.373601909373034&type=1 

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Marinduque | Sta Cruz Church

This is the century-old Sta Cruz Church of Sta Cruz, Marinduque.

 
  


 

Marinduque, Boac Cathedral

Marinduque: Scenic Boac Cathedral

The Belltower
Having spent almost eight hours waiting for a boat ride in Dalahican port, I finally arrived at Boac about a couple of hours after noon. Tired and hungry from sleepless waiting, my next big task is to find an accommodation for the night. Seems an easy task right? Not if you have gone to Marinduque on a Lenten Season because every nook and cranny of every hotel and lodging inns are packed to the rafters. Although I have prepared a list of possible places to stay beforehand, the list is stricken-off one by one as all of them are either occupied or reserved.

The Boac Cathedral
And as I am looking for a place to stay, I passed by Boac Cathedral and the place temporarily gave me a respite from the heat. Although visiting this Church is in my itinerary, I have planned to visit this at early morning because that is the perfect time to have a good shot of the Church's facade under a glistening morning sun light. But then again, afternoon is probably one of the better times to appreciate the interiors of this age-old beauty.
Old Century Bell
From the wooden engraved doors to the neatly designed walls, Boac Cathedral is truly admirable. Although this church have withstood the test of time, preservation seem to be among Marinduque's top priority because this Church is truly and admirably preserved. I have visited several old churches in the country and sometimes, I can't help but feel sad about the conditions of some because while some are left to rot, some are restored wrongly. Boac Cathedral is a great example of how an ancient Church should be preserved.
The Belltower Facade
Call it serendipitous but after spending almost an hour roaming around this Church, I have been offered to stay in a home of two gracious ladies who owns resorts and hotels in Boac. I have inquired for a room in their resort by the sea (which is about fifteen minute tricycle ride from the town proper) but as expected, the resort is full. I don't know if I look desperate or pitiful enough but these kind-hearted ladies offered me a room in their home right at the Boac proper where the Moriones parade will pass. Great!
Guardian Angel at the Gate
Now I have one of the best spots in town because all the activities of the Moriones Festival is just a few minutes walk away and that the Parade will pass by the house where I stay. And more importatntly, the Boac Cathedral is just a stone's throw away so I can visit the place again in the morning. And shoot I did. The exterior shots in this post was taken in the morning while the exterior shots were taken in the afternoon.
Wooden Sculpture at the Church's Door
By the way, the Boac Cathedral is Marinduque's central cathedral. Located in Brgy. Mataas na Bayan, it is a historical church where the Katipunan Flag is said to have been baptized. Our Lady of Immaculate Conception is the patron saint of Boac, while Birhen ng Biglang-Awa is the patron saint of the province.
The Simple and Neat Interior

10 Churches to Visit for Visita Iglesia

10 Churches to Visit for Visita Iglesia





 
San Agustin Church 
The only Intramuros church that survived the Second World War, San Agustin Church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is said to be the oldest church in the Philippines. Built from 1587 to 1607, the church withstood earthquakes, the Philippine Revolution, the Philippine-American War and World War II, which saw the destruction of all other Intramuros churches.When visiting the church, notice the impressive trompe l’oeil murals done by Giovanni Alberoni and Cesare Dibella. Aside from the main altar and two side altars, there are 12 collateral chapels, each with a Baroque or Neoclassical retablo. Also check out the intricate gold gilt narra pulpit that dates back to 1627.On the left side of the altar is a hall with the tomb of conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. Inside the church museum are crypts that house the remains of Manila’s prominent citizens of the period, including renowned painter and propagandist Juan Luna. The museum itself hosts an impressive collection of religious art. San Agustin Church is located at Gen. Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila. Tel. 527-406


San Beda Chapel
Formally known as the Abbey of Our Lady of Monserrat, this school chapel dates back to 1925 and is located inside San Beda College in Mendiola, Manila. It was designed by Swedish architect George Asp, and it houses paintings done by Fr. Lesmes Lopez, OSB, a Spanish monk who did murals for monasteries in Spain and Australia (so don’t be surprised to find a kangaroo in the mural!).
San Beda Church is located at Mendiola Street, San Miguel, Manila. Tel. 735-5972


Manila Cathedral
The current Manila Cathedral is a reconstruction of the original that was destroyed during the Second World War. According to the rectory of the Manila Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica, the current 1958 structure is actually the 8th Manila Cathderal, while the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) marker says it is the sixth.
According to the NHCP, the first cathedral was built in 1581, but it was damaged by a typhoon in 1582 and again destoyed by fire in 1583. The second cathedral was built in 1592 but was damaged by an earthquake in 1600, while the third cathedral was built of stone in 1614 and destroyed by the earthquake of 1645. The magnificent fourth cathedral was completed in 1671 and destroyed by another earthquake in 1863. The fifth cathedral was completed in 1879 and was devastated by the bombs of the Second World War. The sixth cathedral dates back to 1958.
Manila Cathedral (Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception) is at Cabildo cor. Beaterio Streets, Manila. Tel. 527-3093 / 527-1796


Las Piñas Church
The Las Piñas Church is home to a famous National Cultural Treasure: the Bamboo Organ. Many say it’s the highlight of any visit to this church. Fr. Cera built the musical instrument in 1823 with a total of 1,031 original bamboo pipes and 129 new metal ones. It was restored in 1942 by Carmelo and Jose Loinaz and again in 1973, when it was sent to the Johannes Klais Factory in Bonn, Germany for a full restoration.
In 1810, Fr. Diego Cera began construction for the Las Piñas Church, which was completed in 1819. The architecture of the church itself is simple yet sturdy with massive stone colonades and a stucco Neoclassical altar.
Las Piñas Church (Saint Joseph Parish) is located at Diego Cera Avenue, Las Piñas. Tel. 826-1856



University of the Philippines Chapel
The Catholic church of the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman is called the Church of the Holy Sacrifice or simply the UP Chapel. More than just a National Historical Landmark, it is recognized by the National Museum as an Important Cultural Property—a testament to the creativity of four national artists.
The dome-shaped structure, a fine example of Modern architecture in the Philippines, was designed by Leandro Locsin. Around the UP Chapel are 15 large murals painted by Vicente Manansala depicting the Stations of the Cross. The marble altar and the large wooden cross above it were sculpted by Napoleon Abueva. And finally, the mosaic floor mural called the “River of Life” was designed by Arturo Luz.
The UP Chapel is located at J. P. Laurel cor. Apacible Streets, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.
Tel. 926-1592 / 926-9496


Far Eastern University Chapel
Speaking of school chapels, another university chapel worth visiting is that of Far Eastern University. While most of the buildings in the FEU campus were designed by National Artist Pablo Antonio, it was Felipe Mendoza who designed the FEU Chapel. The main attraction is the Stations of the Cross murals of National Artist Carlos "Botong" Francisco.
Far Eastern University Chapel is at Nicanor Reyes, Sr. Street, Sampaloc, Manila. Tel. 736-0036 / 735-5621 to 30 loc. 251 (Admissions & External Relations Office)



San Dionisio Chapel
This small chapel in San Dionisio, Paranaque is famous (or infamous) for its headless image of San Dionisio, or Tatang Dune to the locals. Its wooden altar has been kept intact, and is also worth seeing. While you’re in the area, you can also add  Paranaque’s other heritage churches including the Paranaque Cathedral, La Huerta Chapel and Redemptorist Church to your list for Visita Iglesia.
San Dionisio Chapel is located at Quirino Avenue, Brgy. San Dionisio, Parañaque. 



San Pedro Makati Church
Who knew that a city as modern and cosmopolitan as Makati still had its old town church intact? Accodring to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, the Franciscans were the first missionaries in Makati in 1578 but it was the Jesuits who built the first church in 1620 and administered it until their expulsion in 1768. The church was dedicated to San Pedro in memory of Fr. Pedro de los Montes, the builder of the church, and Capitan Pedro de Britto, Regidor of Manila, who donated the site called Buenavista.

The highlight of the church is its original wooden altar. Unfortunately, recent additions below the church altar went overboard and overshadowed the elegant simplicity of the original.
San Pedro Makati Church (Saints Peter and Paul Parish) is at  5539 D.M. Rivera Street, Poblacion, Makati. Tel. 890-3842


San Sebastian Basilica
Plaza del Carmen, which borders the San Miguel District and Quiapo, is home to a rare gem: the gothic revival, all-steel Basilica Minore de San Sebastian.

The structure was prefabricated in Belgium before it was dismantled and shipped back to the Philippines. It was said that after three earthquakes that leveled the earlier San Sebastian churches, the recollects decided to use an unconventional material to build an earthquake proof church, which explains why the structure is made entirely of steel. But nothing is decay-free and we all know that the biggest enemy of steel is iron oxide, or rust. This is why the World Monuments Fund (WMF) included the structure in the List of 100 Most Endangered Sites in 1998 and 2010.
Being a neo-gothic church, notice the stained glass and rose windows, lancelet arches, fan vaults and tracery. The basilica is also a National Historical Landmark and on the tentative list for inscription in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
San Sebastian Basilica is located at Plaza Del Carmen, Quiapo, Manila. Tel. 734-8931



Santa Ana Church
Santa Ana, or the pre-Hispanic community of Namayan, is probably older than Manila itself. The church’s long history was confirmed when archeological evidence of pre-colonial burial grounds were found in the church complex, which have been designated a National Cultural Treasure.

While the church is relatively well-preserved, many of the original features were lost during renovations in 1977 and 1985. One of the highlights of the church is its impressive main altar which houses the venerated image of Our Lady of the Abandoned or the Nuestra Senora de los Desamparados, a replica of the original one in Valencia, Spain. In fact, the retablo is said to be the only one of its kind and period in a Manila church.

Located behind the main altar is another National Cultural Treasure: The Camarin de la Virgen or the dressing room of the Virgen de los Desamparados. Used primarily when the virgen’s vestments are changed during the Sta. Ana fiesta in May and other special occasions, its ceilings are made up of 11 large mural paintings on wood depicting scenes from the life of Mary and Jesus. These paintings are said to be the oldest ones in the country.
Santa Ana Church (Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish) is located at Pedro Gil Street, Sta. Ana, Manila. Tel. 564-4203http://www.spot.ph/gallery/1120/10-churches-to-visit-for-visita-iglesia/article/48124#pid=16576