It's Holy Week once again, it's another opportunity for our family to go on another Visita Iglesia. Just a recap, last year (2018), we did the Cavite Loop Visita Iglesia. Now, for this year 2019, our plan is to go around the province of Batangas and visit as many old churches as we could.  |
| Batangas - Las Pinas - Muntinlupa Visita Iglesia |
Day 1: April 17, 2019
As part of our annual Visita Iglesia / family reunion, we booked in A-zone Beach Resort in Lian, Batangas. During that time, we booked the whole resort for 12,000 pesos. We also paid 25 pesos per head environmental fee. In exchange, we got to enjoy Lian's part of Nasugbu Bay.
 |
| Road to Barangay Binubusan, Lian, Batangas |
 |
| A-Zone Resort - Lian, Batangas |
 |
| The pools of A-Zone Resort |
We spent our 1st full day here. Since we arrived around noontime, we rested a bit and avoided the heat of the noontime sun.
 |
| Sunset at Matuod Beach |
 |
| Dinner time at A-Zone Resort |
 |
| Cooking time for uncle and cousin |
That afternoon, we took the opportunity to bond as a family, not to mention enjoy the sunset by the beach and also night swimming in the resort's pool.
Day 2: April 18, 2019
My siblings, cousins, and I woke up early to explore the beach. We didn't miss the opportunity to take photos of our mini-adventure of course.
 |
| Matuod Beach - Lian, Batangas |
 |
| The Backpack Adventures explores Matuod Beach |
 |
| Mangrove roots growing on Matuod Beach |
We also did not miss out on the opportunity to take a dip in Matuod Beach. After that, went back to eat breakfast, pack our stuff and help cook lunch afterward.
Photos in A-Zone Resort
We checked out of A-Zone Beach Resort a little before 12NN. After leaving the resort, we started with our Visita Iglesia around Western Batangas. The first church that we visited was Balayan Church also called Immaculate Concepcion Parish Church in the town of Balayan.
 |
| We had the first few Stations of the Cross in Balayan Church |
After several Stations of the Cross, we then drove to our next church destination in the town of Calaca.
 |
| Passed through Calaca Arch |
 |
| We accomplished the next set of the Stations of the Cross in Calaca Church |
 |
| Stopover: Tagaytay Country Homes 2 |
 |
| Family time at Tagaytay Country Homes 2 |
Since we are only on our 2nd church, my cousins and I wanted to continue on but was out-voted by the older members of the family who wished to visit and enjoy the cool weather of Tagaytay City.
We spent the whole afternoon at our place in Tagaytay Country Homes 2 before driving back home to our home in Bacoor.
Day 3: April 19,2019
With only two churches visited yesterday, and plenty more Stations of the Cross left, some of my aunts and cousins decided to resume our Visita Iglesia. This time, we'll just visit some churches in the nearby Las Pinas City and Muntinlupa City.
 |
| We accomplished the next set of the Stations of the Cross in Nature's Church |
From our house in Bacoor, our first stop is the nature-inspired Nature's Church also called Mary Immaculate Parish Nature's Church in Las Pinas City. This is not the first time that I visited this church. However, this is the first time that got to explore its grounds as I only attend mass here every time I visit.
Our next destination is the unique-looking Shrine of the Five Wounds of Jesus Christ from the outside this church looks like a seashell, a nautilus to be exact. Just to share, this church is special to the family as it was where my younger brother got baptized.
 |
| Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Church - Muntinlupa City |
 |
| Inside the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Church |
From Las Pinas City, we drove going to my workplace in West Service Road in Muntinlupa City to visit the beautiful newly built Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Church. This church reminds me of PAREF Southridge School due to its brick facade.
 |
| St. Jerome Emiliani and Sta. Susana Parish Church - Muntinlupa City |
 |
| Inside St. Jerome Emiliani and Sta. Susana Parish Church |
 |
| We accomplished the next set of the Stations of the Cross in St. Jerome Emiliani and Sta. Susana Parish Church |
We then headed to St. Jerome Emiliani and Sta. Susana Parish Church in Alabang, Muntinlupa. This was the first time that I got to visit this church despite its close proximity to Alabang Town Center (ATC) which I frequently visit. Going back to our Visita Iglesia, after our visit to St. Jerome Emiliani and Sta. Susana Parish Church, we were almost done with our Stations of the Cross so we decided to finish it in the last church that we would visit.
For our last church visit this 2019 Visita Iglesia, we entered Ayala Alabang Village to visit its church - St. James the Great Parish. What makes this church special is the fact that it is inside one of the most exclusive subdivisions in Luzon. It is also the largest church that we visited this Visita Iglesia. We finally completed our Stations of the Cross here which concluded our 2019 Batangas - Las Pinas - Muntinlupa Visita Iglesia.
Overall, we managed to visit 2 Spanish-Colonial churches in Batangas, 2 unique-looking churches in Las Pinas City, and 3 beautiful churches in Muntinlupa City. See you in our next Visita Iglesia!
I'm following your Visita Iglesia series and I'm surprised to see that this is the last one. What happened sir?
ReplyDeleteI'm in Japan now. =) Hopefully, when I visit the Philippines again in the future, I'd do the Visita Iglesia again with the family.
Delete