CAVITE: Imus - Nuestra Señora del Pilar Church

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History
In the year 1775, town of Imus Cavite was separated  Kawit and became a officially free town. That time, Recolletos brought out their petition on government and because of that, October 3, 1795, Archbishop Juan Antonio de Obrigo y Gallego and Governor General Rafael Maria Aguilar approved establishment of Nuestra Señora del Pilar Parish at Imus. According to Fr. Emilio Quilatan, a Recolleto Historian, the image of Nuestra Señora del Pilar was also the one kept at the Intramuros before, brought to Hacienda de Imus and enshrined at Casa Hacienda Chapel.

When this church was established, the Image was presented at the new church.  From 1821 to 1840, Fr. Nicolas Becerra, OAR, became parish priest of Imus and built the present structure of the church made of bricks and adobe.

Diocese of Imus in 26th of April 1962 was established to be the Cathedral and became patron of the Diocese as well. This was headed by Rufino Cardinal Santos together with the acceptance of Bishop Artemio Casas at the there to lead the whole Diocese.

The visit
It was my first time to visit the province's Cathedral. It's quite huge and has a very serene interior lights and design. From the entrance you will notice a small room with lots of holy images of different saints including Nuestra Señora del Pilar. It is free to view the room but has time schedule for closure about 6:30pm.

Church info
Address: General Castañada St. Poblacion III-A, Imus Cavite | Tel. Number: (046) 471-4829/ 471-2686 |Email: ourladyofthepillarparish@yahoo.com
Mass Schedule: Sunday: 5:30pm/7pm
                          Mon-Fri: 6:30am, 9:30am/ 5:30pm, 7pm
                          Saturday: 6:45am/ 5:30pm


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CAVITE: Cavite City - San Roque Parish Church, The Shrine of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga

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History
Image of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga was first enshrined at this church the time it came during the galleon trade from Mexico. The original photograph of the the saint can be found here at San Roque church and became their patron for more than 300 years. She was known to be "Reina de Cavite" and "La Celestial Guardia de Cavite y Puerto".

According to old stories, Virgin Mary appeared to a Spanish soldier year 1667 at the shores of Canacao near Porta Vaga which is the only entry point to Intramuros or Cavite Puerto. The next day, the photo of Virgin de la Soledad was found and settled at San Pedro Church in the year 1692, April 12 and enshrined at Ermita de Porta Vaga and November 17, 1978, the image was crowned by Nuncio Apostolico of the Philippines. Until now, miracles and devotion for the Holy Virgin were still present.

The visit
During the time we went there, the church was having a massive interior renovation and also has an on going mass. Because of that, I wasn't able to take photos inside.


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CAVITE: Bacoor - St. Michael Archangel Parish Church

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History
January 18, 1752 when parish of San Miguel Arch Angel of Bacoor was established through "cedula real", a permit issued by government. Before, people of Bacoor had to ride a boat just to attend masses and faced dangers of huge waves of the sea.

This Parish was established by secular or diocesan priest. One of them was Fr. Mariano Gomez delos Angeles from Manila and eventually became Caviteno by heart. He was one of the people then accused to be one of the people who started revolution and killed at Luneta together with two other priests, February 17, 1872.

The Visit
Current Parish priest told a lot of stories behind this church and the thing I really remembered was this church has a part that was removed. Before it was bigger, has extensions at the side of the altar. But because of too much area, it was decided to renovate and cover the unused part. You can see the old brick markings at the side  walls of the church in front just beside the altar.

Church info: 
Address: Evangelista St. Poblacion, Bacoor Cavite | Tel. no.: (046) 4345-679

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CAVITE: Kawit - Mary Magdalene Parish Church, Where Katipunero Leaders Religion Belief Started

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History
St. Mary Magdalene parish of Kawit Cavite was founded in 1624 under a Jesuit priest and built a church made of wood. Funds in raising the present stone structure of the church might be from donations of rice fields and salt farms of Kawit during 1638 and was used and finished in 1715.

Chandelier.

Present "retablos" and  holy images found inside the church was influenced during time of Jesuit priests.

The altar.

This church witnessed the baptismal of prominent people in our history like leaders of Philippine revolution Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, Baldomero Aguinaldo, Silvestre Legaspi, Crispulo Aguinaldo, Candido Tirona and others.

One of the most popular celebrations at Kawit is "Maytinis" which happens a day before Christmas every year. A parade of carriages that shows different personalities from the Holy Bible  starting from the story of Adan and Eve to the story of Mary and Joseph.

Old books and scriptures.

At the left side of the church you will notice a glass cabinet of old books and scripture where you can see a photo of Aguinaldo and some writings. I am not sure if it is his.

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CAVITE: Tanza - St. Agustin Church, Where Oath Taking Of Katipunero Leaders Took Place

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History
1832 when people from Tanza Cavite decided to put up a church which was started in 1839 but unluckily damaged by an earthquake. At first, it was established by Filipino priests but eventually passed to Dominicans.

 March 23, 1897, a very significant historical event happened at the convent of the church when Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and Gen. Mariano Trias took their oaths as president and vice president of Philippine Revolutionary Government in front of the Holy cross after their election at the Tejeros Convention. It was witnessed by Fr. Cenon Villafranca who's priest of the church that time.

The main altar.

People at Tanza said to have a strong devotion for St. Agustin. They say that there were numerous miracles made by the Saint, from it was recover from a burning rice field to different stories of miracles from different people spread to different towns and provinces. Because of that it became center of pilgrimage at Cavite especially at the month of August, Feast day. Due to that, Arch Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle, D.D offiicaly announced St. Agustin as Tanza town's patron saint.

Aisle out.

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CAVITE: Naic - Diocesan Shrine of Immaculate Conception

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History
Naic church, one of the largest churchs in Cavite is the one and only Neo-Gothic style church which is usually inspired by a Dominican priests. It was constructed in 1839 after was successfully separated from Maragondon as a free Parish in 1796. Due to lack of funds, the church wasn't able to put up a bell tower.

 In the year 1855 Fr. Vicente Lopez came and made plan for convent construction with three "retablos", a devotional painting especially a small popular folk art one using iconography derived from traditional catholic church.

The main altar.

It was continued and constructed under Fr. Francisco Govea's term in 1874 and finished in 1892. Year 1996, November 17,  when the church was consecrated by Arch bishop Ricardo Vidal and was proclaimed as Diocesan Shrine of Immaculate Conception in 8th of December, Feast day.

The visit

The Tabernacle.

The aisle.

This church was one of the churches we visited during Visita Iglesia and I was actually amazed by it's main altar and details. You won't miss their colorful stained glass and the golden altar, podium, chandeliers and tabernacle. Almost 70% of the altar were gold leafed.

Immaculate Conception old painting.

It feels like you're in heaven with the most Holy God in his golden house. You can also see from its colossal stone blocks the church age and how it adds to church's beauty.

Immaculate Conception holy image.

From the entrance of the church, you will notice a room on the left side where you can see image of Holy Immaculate Conception adorn with flowers and warm lighting. They allowed people to enter and touch the image.

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CAVITE: Ternate - Sto. Niño Parish Church

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Sto. Niño de Ternate one of the churches rich in history in Cavite can be found at Ternate which is usually known for black sand beaches. 1663 when it was established by Jesuit Missionaries. It was installed as titular patron saint after the Mardicas, the first settlers from Ternate Moluccas Island  of eastern Indonesia, with the Holy image of Sto. Niño de Ternate.

The bell tower.

Year 1692 when Fr. Antonio Borja decided to construct a church for Ternate, however stopped during 1700. Philippine revolution against Spanish happened in 1899 and the church was devastated and only the Holy image of Sto. Niño was left.

Sto. Nino de Ternate original image.

People and devotees of Sto. Niño form Batangas, Rizal, Bataan reconstruct the church in 1906. However for 30 years it was under Manila Archbishop interdict, an ecclesiastical censure that excludes groups, individuals form certain rights of the church, but do not remove them from being a member. This was because his foot was accidentally hit by a stone during the "Visita Pastoral".

The main altar where the original image is kept.

After so many rise and fall of this parish, Sto. Niño de Ternate stood still and gave so many miracles ever since. Because of that people traditionally bathe the original image every year a day before New Year and believed water used can cure illnesses.

View after touching the Holy image, at the back of the altar.

When we went here, people and devotees are allowed to go and touch the Holy image of Sto. Niño de Ternate at the back of the altar. A very nice experience to feel an image who came all the way from Indonesia and saw all the tragedy and condition happened in the town.

Wood carvings.

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CAVITE: Indang - St. Gregory The Great Parish Church, The Jesuit and Dominican In One Church

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It was 1625 when St. Gregory the Great was chosen as town of Indang patron saint after it was separated from Silang as one parish. Town was also successfully separated from the latter as a town just in the year 1665. 40 years in the making before they were classified differently towns.  In the year 1672 to 1676, huge part of the church construction was finished by a Jesuit priest, Fr. Luis Morales who probably made some interior design influences of the church and finished in 1707.

"Pulpito"

Indang church interior design is very surprising. Two different religious order designs were present in one church, Jesuit's and Dominican's. Inside is a "pulpito", a platform raised from surrounding to give prominence to the priest before whenever he went there to preach. Jesuit saints only were carefully carved on it. 

The main altar

Dominican touch is also evident at the main altar where Dominican saints on the other hand were beautifully arranged.

Jesuit and Dominican united. The Pulpito and the main altar.

Polychromatic trompe l'oeil

Moreover, an outstanding design you will never miss is the ceiling. It is only church in Cavite that has a hand-painted polychromatic trompe l'oeil, a kind of art technique involving realistic imagery to create an optical illusion that shows an object exist in three dimensions.

Seven Archangel old painting

Another interesting thing inside St. Gregory the Great church was the old painting of Seven Archangels found at the right side of the altar, which is believed to be the oldest devotion in upper part of Cavite.

The long convent

St. Gregory the Great at the gates of Indang church

Outside the church just beside it can be found one of the longest old convent in the province. Also, St. Gregory Image in a colored glass designed at the church plaza to add beauty and respect to their patron.

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