I love visiting historic churches in the Philippines. After researching a few places, I honed in on…read moreSan Sebastián Basilica. As other reviewers state, this basilica is primarily made of steel. The structure is impressive and I love the Neo Gothic style architecture. Currently the basilica is rusting and desperately needs repair. Thankfully the church has the wherewithal to begin renovations with work currently underway to preserve the structure's integrity. Better late than never because I would be very sad to see this church go. Unfortunately specific criterion fell short of making San Sebastián a protected UNESCO landmark. It's truly saddening because the backstory behind the creation of this basilica deserves the title. I'm also charmed by how this church is elusive and away from the main drag of say the more popular churches in the area (i.e. Quiapo Church). We drove through some narrow and winding street to get here. It felt very local and not touristy however I expect this is going to change very soon the second the Instagram and vloggers catch wind of this place. There is a small parking lot for cars however by midday spots were non-existent. San Sebastián is my favorite church of any in the Philippines. If I were to return, this basilica would be it.

For the faithful, it is known simply as Simbahan Ng San Sebastian. For the Clergy, it is a Minor…read moreBasilica, dedicated to a Roman Martyr-St. Sebastian with the Our Lady of Mount Carmel as the secondary patron; wherein Church sacraments can be celebrated. For Art students, (as they should know better), San Sebastian Church is a Neo-Gothic Architectural design with spires, stained glasses and paintings inside that are as priceless as the artworks of the Classical and Neo-Classical artifacts. For historians, it was a symbol of how Augustinian Recollect missionaries, seasoned in the Philippines from 1606 to date how to stand catastrophes and weather conditions giving them the ultimate reason why build this Church made of steel imported from Europe. The burgeoning Manila was prone to fire and floods. Added to that was the experience of earthquakes and typhoons almost twenty times a year. The idea of putting up a house of worship made of steel was brilliant. This 132-year-old structure continues to be the object of builders' big dream and wonder up to this very day.

San Agustin is a beautiful church in the historic walled city of Intramuros. Built in 1607 in the…read moreSpanish colonial era, it's the oldest stone church in the Philippines, as well as a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. We couldn't go inside during our first trip to Intramuros, as there was a wedding in progress on a Tuesday afternoon. San Agustin is, understandably, a highly desirable wedding venue. It books out way in advance, and I guess you might have to get married on a Tuesday. We were able to go in when we went back, though, that Saturday. There must be some limitation on weekend weddings, or I'm sure we would've been shut out by further nuptials. The church is grand and attractive in the way of old European churches. You get plenty just by admiring the architecture and the way the building anchors Intramuros. The interior is worth exploring too, though. It's huge and impressive and very ornate. If you're a tourist in Manila, Intramuros is a must-visit, and you'll want to check out San Agustin while you're there. You'll either get to go in or witness a Filipino wedding, a pretty strong sightseeing win-win.

At 417 years young, San Agustin is the oldest stone church in the Philippines founded by the…read moreSpanish Augustinans. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. With its groundbreaking in 1586, it took 21 years for its completion in 1607. The interior is well kept and ornate. This is a beautiful church which survived several wars and earthquakes over the centuries. Parking lots do not exist in this space simply due to the age of the building so if you pay a visit, you will need to arrange transport. We took a Grab rideshare vehicle to come into town. If you are into churches and history, San Agustin is definitely worth the visit while visiting Intramuros.

Came through for a baptism. Although the church allotted/blocked some hours for this special event,…read morethe church was still packed. There wasn't only one: there few a few dozen, at least! But that didn't bother me a bit. What I noticed was this church's beautiful structure. It's almost as if they kept and maintained it the way it is as it helps in telling its own history. There's also a bit of a read inside to tell you what it has gone through in the past century or so. I actually learned something about this particular church! As many babies were getting baptized that day, and as chaotic as it seemed, it was pretty organized. All the church staff knew when and how to direct people. All in all, everything really went smoothly. I probably won't find myself in here anytime soon, but glad I got to come by.

One of the old and beautiful churches in Metro Manila, I like how its appearance was maintained…read more The restorers did a great job at making sure the original appearance was not compromised. The current structure is 150 years old, though the original one was over 400 years old before it was destroyed by an earthquake and a typhoon. While this is a Spanish church, I was fascinated to see that the design has a Muslim influence with its trefoil arches. The interiors are also nice, with many arches. My cousin was married here, and it's a great place for a wedding, especially with the Manila Bay close by, where they had a pictorial. Also, with its simple, gray facade, the church provides a great background for wedding photos - the bride's white gown looks stark and dramatic against the background, and the colors of bridesmaids' dresses really pop out in the picture.

Saint Anthony of Padua Parish of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila is located at Malate,…read moreManila. It was established on December 6, 1905 and celebrates it's Parish Fiesta every 13th day of June. https://www.parishph.com/2022/01/saint-anthony-of-padua-parish-manila.html

I was baptized in this church so many years ago (I'm not gonna say just how many, that'd be up to…read moreyou to guess), and it's nice that I am now living a short walk from it. Really speaks about the circle of life, doesn't it? Because of my connection to the church, I've always been curious about its history. During the time of the Spanish, the Malate area was mostly swampland where those expelled from other corners of Manila or those coming from the provinces settled in. There was a small shrine dedicated to St. Anthony de Padua, patron saint of the lost, that the community put up. The Church, seeing this, recognized the community's need for spiritual leadership, and set up a formal church at the turn of the 20th century. Because of the patron saint, you see a lot of people here fervently praying for guidance, either to find someone or something lost, or to find themselves. You can light a candle here too, if you need help. What do you have to lose?

Being from a Chinese and also (not related but notable) very Catholic family, I always find myself…read morein Binondo Church, officially known as the Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz of Manila. It is named after Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino saint, who happened to be of Filipino-Chinese descent. He used to be an altar boy for the church but then became a clerk. The church was erected almost after San Agustin Church, and is a true testament to the beauty of old baroque architecture especially with its Chinese-style bell tower that makes the church all the more notable. Binondo Church today have several masses lined up in Filipino, English and Chinese, catering to the Filipino-Chinese community of the area. If there's no mass when you visit, it's good to light a candle in the entrance of the church and then drop by inside and be mesmerized with the beauty of Binondo Church.

It may now be known as the Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, but everybody still refers to it as…read morethe Binondo church or the Binondo cathedral. This church in the Binondo district of Manila is one of the most imposing structures in the city. It may come as a surprise to many that the facade that looks a century old is actually new, with the old one covered due to extensive damage over the ages. It serves as both church and tourist spot, what with Ongpin being one of its side streets. The new name is, of course after the first Filipino saint, San Lorenzo Ruiz. I have entered this church on numerous occasions just to kneel and pray. I hope they don't mind because I am no longer a practicing Catholic. But I do still appreciate the peace that comes with some moments of quiet prayer and contemplation. More than this, I am impressed at how the church was rebuilt to still look like it is centuries old.

I've only been to Sanctuario De San Antonio Parish exactly two times - both was to attend a…read morewedding. My first experience was when I was a wedding guest and my brother was part of the wedding entourage. I was immediately impressed upon entering the sacred venue, high walls, cosy structure and long aisle. It seemed like Sanctuario De San Antonio was made for weddings. It also helped that the place was fully aircondtioned. I can imagine how hard it must be for brides to walk down the aisle in scorching heat. Aircon is definitely a must when I get married. My second time at this church was when I was part of the entourage of my friend's wedding. I was quite excited to walk down the aisle and have the feeling of being enveloped by the church. Yet again, I was impressed by everything the church had to offer. Good sound system, good ventilation and a feeling of exclusivity and sanctuary. Sanctuary De San Antonio is definitely one of my favourite churches in Manila.

If there's one thing I love about San Antonio Parish, it's their area for crypts. Yes, it sounds so…read moremorbid... but to be completely honest, I love how they have one of the most conveniently located and well-maintaned crypts that I have been to. I have many relatives buried here, so I frequent this place a lot. Besides their location, I like how their crypts are neatly lined up in rows, with no frills around them. The floors are always clutter-free and the crypts are also cleaned regularly. They make sure to remove any wilted flowers/plants, in case you are not able to visit right away to remove the trash yourself. They also have fans in each hallway to make it breathable for visitors. I used to dread visiting relatives in other cemeteries, but now that most are in San Antonio, I don't mind it at all and even find myself visiting more often than I normally would.

I only actually started frequenting going to mass here for about a year which is weird because my…read morefamily has lived in Magallanes for six years and for some reason they refused to go to this Church and we still went to our previous Church. Haha. Anyway, this is actually a newly renovated church because it was burnt down a couple of years ago. It took awhile for them to rebuild it but voila! This newly renovated church is finished. I love that on Sundays, they celebrate mass until 9 pm the latest. I think that that's perfect for those who aren't really morning persons and have family obligations all day. After an early Sunday dinner, you can head over to this Church and hear mass. I also love the priests here. They're nice and friendly and easy to talk to. Parking though can be difficult so I opt to walk. You can come early to find a good parking slot somewhere, or just park somewhere in Magallanes and walk. :)

My family has been going to this parish since before I was born! I grew up hearing mass in this…read morechurch, and I've attended mass every Sunday here even after the church had burned down, and masses were being held in a large bahay kubo while the church was being renovated. First of all, the church structure is absolutely beautiful. If you attend mass in the mornings, the light passing through the windows is so beautiful and calming, it really sets up the atmosphere for hearing mass. It's also air-conditioned inside, so you don't have to worry about passing out from the heat. The priests that give the homily are all very talented too - never have I strayed from listening to a homily in St. Alphonsus. My favorite priest was a Hispanic one whose name escapes me now, but he was very funny and always made the audience laugh during his homilies. I remember he blessed my mom's boyfriend's motorcycle (it's a long story), and afterwards, he showed me his prayer book and jokingly said, "Do you have an airplane I can bless too? Because this book has instructions for blessing airplanes and I've always wanted to try." What a great guy! The masses are also pretty short, they last around 45 minutes, and bells outside begin chiming once the mass is ended. It's pretty neat, and plus the singers for mass are also very talented. Mass schedule goes from 7:30am all the way to 9pm, so all you nightowls have no excuse to miss mass now, haha! Overall, I love this church, and I'm probably going to attend mass here until I die.

The Sta Cruz Church may seem like a lesser church compared to the nearby Quiapo Church, but it…read moreshould not be. It has its own charm. For one thing, it has it's own parking, so take that Quiapo Church! And not only inside, but outside as well. Some decades ago, the priest in charge of this church commissioned an artist to come up with a painting that has become famous, or infamous, depending on how one looks at it. To this day, I still think that the 'Lamb of God' painting belongs in an art gallery of modern art, but that's neither here nor there. The church is smaller than its Binondo or Quiapo counterparts, but also has the high vaulted ceilings that make for a cool interior on the hottest days of summer. While I am no longer a practicing Catholic, I still go to churches every now and then for some moments of quite solitude. I find the Sta Cruz quite welcoming for this purpose.

Thank you to Mikey A. for kicking off the reviews for Santa Cruz Church and for making me laugh for…read morefive whole minutes, clapping my hands like a retarded seal. That lamb painting sure is freaky, and I chuckle every single time I see it. The thing about Sta. Cruz is that it is everyone's favorite church in Chinatown because it is so accessible, and right in front of it is the entrance to Chinatown (the arch), and from there is a whole new world filled with excellent restaurants. Also, if you're looking from foreign priests to talk to, attend mass to, or confess to, this is the place to go.

There's more to Makati than the Central Business District. If you just walk around the nearby…read morebarangays, such as Bel-Air and Poblacion, you will learn more about the history of the city and marvel at structures that were created by no less than National Artists of the Philippines. One church that I consider a landmark is the St. Andrew the Apostle Parish, located at Nicanor Garcia Street (formerly Reposo) in Bel-Air. This Catholic Church is simply beautiful and architecturally impressive. Just by looking at the undulating top of the structure and the cone-shaped ceiling, you will know that the church is nothing less than inspiring. Not many are aware that the church was created in 1968, designed by National Artist Leandro Locsin. The design and floor plan of the parish got their inspiration from how Saint Andrew, the patron of the church, died on the cross. My aunt who lives in Bel-Air also told me that the cross hanging at the center of the altar was created by National Artist Vicente Manansala. However, this is not the only church that the two maestros collaborated on, the UP Diliman Chapel was also created by Locsin, while its Stations of the Cross were painted by Manansala.

St. Andrew the Apostle Parish is one of the more unique churches in Metro Manila. Unlike other…read morechurches inspired by European medieval design, this church has a more modern look. Funny enough, it has been around since 1968 and is in existence because of the generosity of some of the more popular public figures such as the head of San Miguel Corporation and the Ayala Corporation. It has a tent-like design with a butterfly shaped floor plan which allows a good airflow, natural lighting and acoustic balance. Being in N. Garcia St (formerly Reposo), it is also pretty easy to access by car or by public transport (just go down at the corner of Buendia and N. Garcia or on the J. Rizal side, it's easy to reach the church by walking from either side of N. Garcia) I really am just biased about liking this church because I was baptized here.