Whenever my nieces and nephews stay over for the weekend, they ask me to take them to this church…read more See, the first time I took them Our Lady of Beautiful Love or OLBL, the nuns were conducting Sunday School for the children. They really loved it because they did arts and crafts and they weren't bored. The second time I took the kids to OLBL, there was no Sunday School. I found out that they only have it once a month. Sometimes on the first Sunday of the month. Sometimes on the last. So the kids and I had to sit through mass. The thing is, OLBL is a parish for families. So no one will glare at you if your kid suddenly runs or cries to talks loudly. It's like they're used to having kids in this parish. Another thing that I like about this parish is their choir. They sing so well! I'm not that into God, but their songs uplift me.

Finally a church near our house with aircon!…read more My family likes attending mass here because it's not too crowded and the priests are lively and charismatic in their homilies (most of the time). We usually go to the 12 noon mass because my siblings wake up late on weekends. As expected, it's quite hot inside the church around that time. And all the fanning and sweating can distract you from what you're supposed to be doing inside the church: praying and reflecting, being attentive and listening to God's word. Especially when you're with kids. You can't expect them to sit and be still when it's very hot in their places. Thankfully, the parish had a major renovation in their interiors. Nothing really ostentatious, but just some repainting and upgrades with the lighting. The place looks a lot nicer now. But one major upgrade that the church received was the air conditioning. Now it's easier to be still and be attentive because you're feeling more comfy. Minimal fanning is required if you're really the type who's used to aircon all day.

The Mother of Perpetual Help National Shrine otherwise known as Baclaran or Redemptorist Church is…read moreprobably one of the churches I have visited the most. Wednesday has always been Baclaran day for my Dad for as long as I can remember, and as soon as I was old enough, I started going, too. At the main altar, the image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is situated and to get near and touch, one must fall in line on the right side of the church (facing the altar). There is, however, another image at the area where candles are lit; a mosaic gifted to the church by a foreign artist. The smaller crucifix is also in the same area where the candles are, but the bigger, free-standing crucifix is at the main church (by the main entrance), near the encased image of the Sto. Niño. Masses on Wednesdays are held every hour starting from 5:30 in the morning until 7 in the evening, with a break between 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. as the priests and lay ministers take a break for lunch. Baclaran is pretty convenient to go to for commuters as the area is a turn-around point for buses and jeepneys from all over Manila and neighboring cities. For those who intend to bring their cars, I personally suggest that you find parking across the row of restaurants and buildings facing Roxas Boulevard and just walk towards the church. Nowadays, Baclaran isn't just known for the church, but also for bargain shopping. Hundreds of vendors display along the street their items ranging from phone cables, ladies' accessories, shoes, clothes, snacks, and so much more. This of course is aside from the shopping malls that populate the area.

This is definitely one of the most popular churches in the country. The church where thousands…read moreconverge on wednesdays for their devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Devotees walk to the altar on their knees, join the novena and light candles as part of their devotion. This church played a huge role in my childhood. I grew up just a block away from the church so my parents and aunties are all devotees. I remember braving the crowds during wednesdays and wondering why people are walking on their knees while clutching their rosaries. I try to coerce my nanay into giving me some coins so I can buy candles. It's a challenge for me to look for a spot where I can place my lighted candle because almost everyone lights a candle in prayer. There is a Santo Nino encased in glass near the front door of the church and I love squeezing my way through devotees so I can touch the case. I distinctly remember the smell of the garlands of sampaguita and ilang-ilang. There is also a life sized crucified Christ and my tatay used to lift me up so I can hold the toes of the image. A lot has changed in its surroundings. There are more vendors and stalls near the church. The traffic is heavier because of the commercial centers in the area. But the intensity of the devotion of the people that go there on wednesdays remain the same.

There are times when I feel like going to a church to pray and when I go to the church, it's…read moreclosed. Holy Eucharist Parish is closed during the day, but they have a spacial place where people can go and pray or do adoration. This is really neat especially because people get the urge to pray at odd hours of the day. Every morning (6AM to 7AM) and every evening (6:30PM to 7:30PM) there is mass in this church. And on Sundays, there are about seven mass schedules to choose from. People really visit this parish and lots attend mass here especially on Sundays. If you're planning to drop by and hear mass, go early so that you can have a seat.

The Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus and Columbarium, is so close to NAIA Terminal 3 that…read moreyou could almost walk there. The area has an ecclesiastical museum with beautiful artwork of St. Therese. The shrine also has its own Adoration Chapel and a flower shop. Mass there is something to see. The entire area is softly lighted and you can hear mass no matter where you are sitting. It is very close to the Marriott, and I understand it is used a lot for weddings with the reception at the Marriott. We simply went to mass and looked at the lovely art work. It was wonderful.

The Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus and Columbarium, or simply St. Therese Shrine, stands…read moreright across NAIA Terminal 3 and within the vicinity of Newport City that houses the busy Resorts World Casino complex. The shrine is among the most popular wedding venues in the southern areas of Metro Manila. Apart from the bright altar that makes use of natural light (making it perfect for post-wedding photo ops), the church has tastefully designed interior. Plus, it's near Manila Marriott Hotel - itself a favorite reception venue with its huge ball and function rooms. In short, if you get wed at St. Therese, you won't need a bridal car if your reception is held at Marriott Hotel. The minimum fee for a wedding at the shrine is PHP 40,000.00 and that gives you one and a half hours of air-conditioned use of the church, a basic flower package, a soloist and pianist, a royal blue carpet for the aisle, and a priest. Weddings can be pencil-booked for three days, after which an official reservation must be made with 50% downpayment. Another attraction of the shrine is the columbarium. It houses 38,000 vaults or niches which can each fit four urns. The area also has an Ecclesiastical Museum displaying artwork about the life of St. Therese. The shrine also has its own Adoration Chapel and a flower shop.

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.

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.

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'm not really amused by chapels inside shopping malls. In Christianity, there's this story about…read moreJesus Christ cleansing the Temple of people who turned it into a marketplace. But I digress. What I really wanted to say is that, finally, there's a mall chapel that I'm willing to favor. The San Pedro Calungsod Chapel at SM Aura Premier is unlike other places of worship inside malls. For one, there are no retailers or restaurants near the chapel. True, the Samsung Hall (a performance theater) is located on the same floor but it's on the far opposite side of a garden strip. The chapel is an ideal place for devout senior citizens, especially during summer, because it's air-conditioned and easily accessible. There is a small elevator on the 5th floor exclusively servicing churchgoers. But during my visit, I opted to use the stairs instead to allow more space to the senior citizens who were lining up for the elevator. It was a steep climb but it was worth all my effort. The dome-shaped chapel is a feast for the eyes. Its modern architecture and the bright ambient lighting give it that holy ground glow which is nothing short of spectacular. Everything in it -- from the simple altar to the amphitheater layout and the great acoustics -- can surely move a person to be silent and say a prayer or two. Masses are held twice a day at 12:00 noon and 6:00pm from Mondays to Saturdays. During Sundays, five masses are held and scheduled at 10:00am, 12:00 noon, 3:00pm, 5:00pm and 7:00pm. Confessions are held daily after each mass. Baptisms, confirmations, and weddings are not allowed in the chapel.

The St Joseph Parish Church, more colloquially known as the Las Piñas Bamboo Organ Church, would be…read morejust another heritage church in a country teeming with heritage churches, if it wasn't for one key feature: The Bamboo Organ. The Bamboo Organ, as the name suggests, is an organ with most of the pipes made of bamboo. Built during the late 1800s, and repaired, restored, and maintained through the years, the organ is really something else to behold and to listen to. While the church and the museum is open daily, the best time to check out the Bamboo Organ would be around February, during the annual Bamboo Organ Festival, where renowned musicians from all over the country and the world fly in to take part in a truly special event. The Las Piñas Bamboo Organ Church anchors Las Piñas historical corridor, a small stretch of road filled with turn-of-the-century houses, buildings, and a plaza. It's nice to check it out after seeing the Bamboo Organ.

I have lived in Las Piñas all my life and have several reasons why I'm proud to say that I'm from…read moreLas Piñas. One of them is St. Joseph Church, more commonly known as Bamboo Organ Church. I remember having it discussed in school because of it's history and I'd always be proud to say that I've seen it and have heard the bamboo organ play. It's a relatively old church, with the façade looking like other churches built in the era when the Spanish colonized the Philippines. The floor is of clay tiles, has brown wooden pews, and is relatively dark inside. That is until the lights on the chandeliers and the lights at the altar are turned on. It's just such a beautiful altar! Pair that with the surreal, ethereal music coming from the bamboo organ and you are taken to a dreamlike, heavenly state.