This is one of the nicest retreat houses I've been to - you can really commune with nature here…read more The main session hall is open, and with a view of the grounds below, which is abundant with trees and grass. There are really quite many trees here and even some gazebos with flowered vines as roofs. My favorite here is the labyrinth, which is perfect for any retreat, and which takes quite some time to walk all around to get to the center. Just when you thought you're getting closer, the path leads you away from the center again. It was a very effective practice in meditation for me. The food here is also quite good. They have coffee buns that taste great that many retreat participants place orders to take some buns home.They also have nice fish and vegetable food options for pesca-vegetarians like me.

May bayad na ang tissue dyan sa restroom ng Antipolo Cathedral. Dati wala naman. Sabi donation daw…read morepero syempre magbibigay ka na lang kahit nakapag donate at offer ka na sa loob mismo ng simbahan.

Antipolo Cathedral is along the route to where we were going so my wife asked if we could stop in…read more She remembered this Cathedral from years past when her family would venture out of Manila on a family get away. Back in the day they didn't own a car so she said they had to rely on public transportation. We stopped in very briefly. There was mass in progress at the time so we stopped in briefly but had to go because of restricted parking in the area. The security guard was kind enough to let us park in a govt. lot that was closed for a holiday for the People's Power Revolution (02/25 the anniversary date) in the Philippines that eventually led to the downfall of Ferdinand Marcos. Filipinos are predominately Catholic and her family is no exception so we stopped in briefly to attend part of the mass in progress. The construction of Antipolo Cathedral began in 1948 & was completed in 01/15/1954. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines declared the new Antipolo Church a National Shrine to Our Lady of Peace & Good Voyage

Prayer Mountain is a nice place to spend in if you just want to pray, mostly in a prayer cell (yes,…read morethey have prayer cells with Bibles here), then go out from time to time to commune with nature. If you're just staying for the day, as I did, entrance is at P70. There are options to stay overnight, though. I scouted this place as a possible venue for a workshop. There were tall bamboos among the cemented paths, and some cottages. Then there's a big patch of green grass dotted by gazebos. The grounds are not so big, though. The place is great for prayer (since they have prayer cells), though not for long walks in nature, as there is not much area to walk around. They have a cafeteria, and the food seems good. I only tried the suman, but it was very rich and tasty. But then again, suman is an Antipolo delicacy.

I suppose I've been going to CCF for quite some time now, ever since they were located at the top…read morefloor of a mall. I've always felt great about the greetings, the members, the sermon/teachings and the band and music are also very awesome. Now they've moved to their new location and it's just beautiful inside and out (reminded me of my visit to Pastor Prince's church in Singapore). The AC is probably my only complaint, it was freezing when we attended and I was clapping to show praise and keep warm at the same time. This is our favorite church in Metro Manila.

Such a nice and wonderful church to come too. I had a such a lovely time listings to the word of…read moreGod here at this wonderful church.

What can I say? It's one of the most beautiful churches around the metro. It's huge in size, can…read moreaccommodate a large group of church goers, and airconditioned (a great bonus). What I love about this church is how beautiful the ceremonies are especially during the Holy Week. My family never fails to spend the first 2 days of the Easter Triduum at Christ the King because of the solemnity. It's extremely difficult to find parking during the Holy Week though, but on normal Sundays, you can find parking space 30 minutes before the mass. It's always difficult to leave the parking lot, though. I suggest you park nearest to the exit, and once the mass is over, sprint towards your car to leave ahead of everyone else.

I'm not Catholic, so I can't comment on the quality of the sermons here or anything in relation to…read moretheology, but I've been here on more than several occasions for wakes, baptisms, internments, masses, weddings and more. It was always a pleasant experience, emotions aside, from an objective standpoint. The staff here has done a fantastic job at maintaining the cleanliness, tidiness and brightness of the place. It feels very welcoming. Having said that, I would not hesitate for a second to recommend Christ the King as a venue for any of the aforementioned life or death events. Ample parking is available as well.

I haven't read the Bible cover to cover, but I'm quite sure there is nothing written about offering…read moreeggs for a fair weather (correct me if I'm wrong). Yet we Filipinos have a funny way of mixing superstition with religion. I've been to Monasterio de Santa Clara several times, and always with a carton of eggs with me. It has been believed that if you offer eggs to the nuns in that monastery, there are greater chances that it wouldn't rain on your event. I tested this belief a couple of times; the first one was for our wedding. We offered more than two dozen eggs a week before the big day, and not only did it not rain, it was freaking humid! All our guests were sweating in our outdoor venue. The following time was for my daughter's first birthday. We did the same routine praying for fair weather, but that day it rained... a lot! The monastery not only accept eggs but also other forms of donation, such as cash. And I think you can give the nuns your prayer intentions, not necessarily weather-relaated. I have some friends who went there to pray for success in their board exams, and some offer eggs for thanksgiving. I'm not sure if it this is a joke, but I heard that the nuns use the eggs to make Leche Flan or another dessert using eggs, and sell these to the public. Well, if the profits go to some sort of charity, then I see nothing wrong with continuing this tradition.

One of the stranger traditions that you encounter in Manila is the one where devotees of Monasterio…read moreDe Santa Clara would offer eggs so that their prayers and/or wishes would come true. Most of the people who go to the monastery located nearby Katipunan are brides who are wishing for good weather on their wedding day. It is said that by offering a dozen eggs, you'll get nice weather and clear skies for a day or two, which would be perfect for your wedding day. This of course, has no empirical basis whatsoever but it is one of the longest standing traditions in Manila. As such, there vendors on site who sell eggs by dozen, all wrapped neatly in colorful cellophane. One can only wonder what the nuns inside the monastery do with the eggs. I hope they don't die of high cholesterol. Even if you don't believe in such things, it's a nice gesture to do before your big day. Can't hurt, right?

It feels like entering an oasis, especially when I've come from the traffic-choked and arguably…read morepolluted Aurora Boulevard. Once I enter the gate, a long line of trees greets me. From the green grass and gray concrete rises the convent structures, like the chapel and the Heart of Mary Villa. I've been attending workshops held at the conference room at the Heart of Mary Villa here, and it is nice as aside from having a spacious room (can accommodate I think around 50 people and still have much space left. We've had some movement workshops here, so I'm quite confident.), there is also a nice garden just outside the villa with lots of shrubs and some flowers. This is where we have the outdoor activities. The conference room can be air-conditioned, but I think the many electric fans available in the room are quite enough to beat the heat, and you won't need to use the air-conditioner.

Our Lady of the Abandoned Church, commonly referred to by Marikenyos as OLA, is the biggest church…read morein Marikina. Because of its size, it has become the usual choice for brides who decide to have their ceremony in this city. It can accommodate many guests and, with its extensive aisle, OLA allows the bride to enjoy her much-awaited and well-deserved walk. Once, I was able to attend a wedding here - the golden anniversary wedding of the brother of my grandfather and his wife. U-huh, they were already very much advanced in years, but they did walk down the whole aisle. It was beautiful to watch. With a big seating capacity, OLA can let you invite many guests so that all of your dear ones can witness your special day. You need not worry about the cost because OLA's fees are lower compared to most churches. It also has a spacious parking area so you've got the cars of your guests covered.

Welcome to the Adventures of the Agnostic Catholic! This is where I review some of the churches…read moreI've been to and known, minus the point of view of a committed member of an organized religion. Santa Maria Della Strada Parish Church is not very well-known, despite the fact that it's just along Katipunan. It's the type of structure we pass by and go, "Oh. It's a church pala." PROS: Location-wise, it's quite accessible. It's right next to UP Town Center, and it's the only Catholic church I know that's along Katipunan (except for the church inside ADMU); I have a thing for low, circular churches like this one. I like those modern architectural and interior designs for churches because it enables ventilation and maximizes the view of the altar during religious ceremonies. CONS: On Sundays, traffic gets pretty heavy and roads get clogged along Katipunan and Pansol avenue. It's not very crowded inside the church itself, but it's a little difficult to maneuver and park vehicles in this area. TL;DR: I like Santa Maria Della Strada because of its beautiful structure and accessible location.