It's so easy to be calm and holy when you're in Tagaytay. Probably because of the cold breeze that…read moremakes us feel relaxed or the astounding view that makes us contemplate on God's beautiful creations. Tagaytay is home to a lot of retreat houses, convents and beautiful churches and chapels. One of my favorites is Chapel on the Hill. The place is actually located in Batulao, Batangas, but Tagaytay practically adopted that area because it's so close to their vicinity. Chapel on the Hill is a favorite for destination weddings because of its quaint interiors (no need for over the top styling as this place is already so lovely), the seating capacity is perfect for intimate celebrations (up to 200 persons can be accommodated inside the chapel), the lush greenery outside the church, and an access to a scenic view of the valley. Everything about Chapel on the Hill provides a beautiful backdrop for a dream wedding. But even without a grand event, it's still a nice place to visit for reflection when you go to Tagaytay.

Parks and shrines like this don't really seem to exist outside the Philippines. It's a very…read moreinteresting experience of religion and amusement, but a pleasant place to worship, I imagine. The shrine is clean and very beautiful. It's a lot like Kamay ni Hesus in feel. Open air church and pews. You can learn a lot about St. Padre Pio and his work here.

I was bridesmaid for a wedding held here a few years ago and I have to praise Our Lady of Lourdes…read moreChurch for getting one very important thing right - having a clean, spacious comfort rooms. Yes, you heard me right. It's just the comfort rooms - plain and simple. Often that factor is neglected by couples when choosing a venue for ceremony or reception and I do forgive the bride and groom because there are indeed more significant concerns like affordability, accessibility, availability of the venue. However, I think, it is very thoughtful if they do consider the cleanliness of the comfort room. Let's face it: Staying in a venue for more than an hour would require you to visit the washroom at least once. If you are part of the entourage, you would, most likely, look for the comfort room once you arrive at the venue for you have to retouch your make-up and check the way you look. That's exactly what I did when I arrived at Our Lady of Lourdes and I was very thankful that I did not have to worry about my gown getting wet and dirty because the floor was dry and clean. And, because I did not have to hold my gown, I was able to use both my hands to retouch my make-up. There were also a good number of cubicles so I did not have to fall in line and wait for my turn. For all these things, I thank the maintenance of Our Lady of Lourdes.

The Philippines has no lack of religious and spiritual attractions, and Tagaytay is one of them. It…read morealso has a lot of meditation centers, shrines, and churches where you can find peace and solace. The tranquil Catholic church is the best church of them. It is the best paradise for prayers and reflection. Our Lady of Manaoag, Tierra de Maria, is a gorgeous shrine that epitomizes the aura of serenity and peace. It is a red/brown statue of Mother Mary standing 50 ft. tall, something which can't be missed. The walls decked with dried flowers and vivid images genuinely add to the beauty of the chapel, and the exquisite surroundings of the church add up to its grace and appeal. Our Lady of Manaoag is also known to be an ideal place of healing, relaxation, and meditation. One can easily miss this place as it is on a busy road with only on street parking available. It is a small chapel right across the DAP complex. It has a small chapel with a huge image of Our Lady of Manaoag in the exterior Inside the chapel there are images of the many variants of Virgin Mary, like in Lourdes, as Mother of Perpetual Help, Carmel and Guadalupe. The chapel is quiet and solemn and is a place for meditation. The small store in front should have been enough for the place and the ambulant vendors in the side are not really needed

I went to Nature's Church yesterday again after failing to visit after more than a year, and I…read morecan't believe I've forgotten how beautiful this place was. From its entrance down to the minutest details, this church has the whole nature concept established. The altar and pews are made of fallen trees, Capiz lanterns shaped as doves accentuate the Anahaw ceiling. Surrounded by lush tropical plants and under a canopy of mango trees, Nature's Church is one of the nicest, most unique churches I've seen here in Manila. This place caught fire a few years ago, but it's wonderful how they have still restored its beauty. The church looks magnificent, but I'm assuming it's not that popular for weddings because it has no long aisle in the middle. The small chapel at the entrance of the church, the Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel, is even more breathtaking. It's so quaint and intimate; I remember wishing I got married here. I should really come here more often, and take my daughter with me because she'll definitely love roaming around here while we're hearing mass.

Holy Rosary Church is the epitome of a historical cathedral that has survived through the ages…read more The bells first rang in 1896 and since then, the cathedral has survived through World War II, the Japanese occupation, and more. Personally, this church is meaningful for me because it's the one in which my parents and their families grew up. I remember vaguely visiting this place as a child and recently got to visit it again as an adult. There is so much history here and you can see the Spanish influences in the architecture. There was a nun practicing on the organ the day that I came here with my father to tour the cathedral and that made the visit even more beautiful. I highly recommend a visit to this lovely place even if you're not Catholic; the history of Angeles and the influence of the Spaniards' rule is evident within its walls.

When I got engaged in 2013, one of the most important things for me was to have a wedding in a…read moresimple, yet beautiful church. I have never been a fan of statues (because they honestly scared me as a child) so I wanted to get married in a minimalist church. I immediately searched online for possible options and I got intrigued when I read about St. Benedict Church. During the drive there, I was honestly convincing myself that I shouldn't have it there since it's an hour away from Manila... but when I saw just the exterior of the church, I already fell in love. It was more than what I hoped for... it was clean, all white, with trees in the courtyard. The interior was just as lovely. There were no tacky statues in front. Just a clean white wall with a gold accent and a cross. I loved how the natural light from the sun lit up the whole place. It was also a plus that it's fully airconditioned so I didn't have to worry about my guests feeling hot. In just a span of 15 mins, I found myself paying the downpayment and setting a date for our wedding. (And to think, this was the first church we checked out). The only downside to the church is that they are very strict with the wedding rules, but we complied to everything and it all worked out! ----- It's been a year since we got married and we attended mass again there for our first wedding anniversary. It's still as beautiful as it was and I'm so glad we chose to get married there.

Being a Bedan at heart, I have some sort of reverence for anything and everything related to St…read more Benedict, whether it's St. Scholastica's College (his sister), the Benedictine Monastery in Bukidnon, or even St. Benedict's medals. This is why I was glad to find out that a church named after St. Benedict was built in Westgrove near Nuvali, where we were to organize a wedding. A few years after, our group has done several weddings at St. Benedict Church and I still find it as beautiful every time as if it's the first time I see it. The pocket garden on the side of the church can be turned into a holdng area or even a refreshment and picture-taking area for after the ceremony. The small but nice driveway, the airy patio leading to the main door of the church, and the simple yet elegant design of the church can be breathtaking if you look at it well enough. The simple lines of the pillars and the ceiling are stunning, and with the right amount of lighting, it will seriously make any minimalist swoon. The altar is equally beautiful with an understated elegance. The church is so beautiful that whenever we have weddings here, even the couples themselves choose not to put too many flowers along the aisle and on the steps of the altar so as not to overdo it and keep the simple beauty of the church. Indeed, less is more, even with churches.

You've probably seen this chapel in movies, most notably in that Aga Muhlach-Regine Velasquez…read morestarrer from long ago. If you've been wondering where it is, you're in luck 'cause I'm about to tell you. Nestled in Mount Makiling, Los Banos, Laguna, about a 15-minute drive up the mountain from the University of the Philippines Los Banos, is Saint Marc's Chapel a.k.a. the National Arts Center Chapel, an open air beauty that would blow your breath away. Made primarily of stone and concrete, the altar, pews, and the ceiling/roof (if you could call it that) with an unconventional (read: artistic) giant cross designed by no less than National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin, the chapel is surrounded by forest. Words are not adequate to capture the tranquility and magic of the place so, no worries, I'll throw in a few photos. Regular Masses are not held here, though, but the Chapel may be booked (through the Cultural Center of the Philippines, if I'm not mistaken) for Masses or weddings. This is the perfect wedding venue for the lover of nature and art. If you're lucky, the nearby fire trees may be in full bloom during your special day and you could get to march to your beloved on a carpet of red and yellow.

The National Shrine of Our Lady or Lourdes has always been my family's parish ever since I was old…read moreenough to know that I am attending the Holy Mass. I remember quite well the first time I joined an organization in my beloved parish, the Children's Choir, and NSOLL has felt like a home to me. NSOLL has a solemn feel, numerous seats, kind parishioners, and most importantly, dedicated, intelligent and inspiring priests to help Christians be closer to our Creator as they attend masses. Daily, the masses are as follows: 5:30 am, 6:30 am, 7:30 am and 6 pm. Every Saturday at 7:30 am, a Healing Mass with the imposition if Holy Oil is held. Every Sunday, the mass schedules are as follows: 5am to 12 nn (by the hour), 3:30 pm, which is a Family Mass, and 5pm to 7 pm (by the hour). Not only these, there are several organizations in this parish that aims to help and offer free/discounted services for everyone, such as medical check ups, school supplies drive, Christmas drive, etc. The Youth can also participate in fun and soul-nourishing activities and events during summer and in other selected schedules all through out the year.

This has got to be the most fashionable statue in the whole world. Seriously. I've only seen a part…read moreof her wardrobe and it's bigger than mine! The statue of Our Lady of Caysasay is considered one of the oldest in the country, found in a river by a fisherman in 1603. The statue is full of history which you can just search for on wikipedia, but seeing it up close is worth the trip. The statue itself is almost black and looks ready to crumble, but her neverending costume changes make her seem fresh and renewed. Many of the dresses come from devotees hoping to get on her good side, and I have to wonder how this tradition of gifting her clothes began in the first place. I've never been able to pay a visit during her fiesta, but the church itself is surprisingly small and ordinary considering her importance. Still, it's definitely worth a visit for the religious and the fashionable alike.