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.

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.

My family regularly goes to mass at a church near our village. Sundays are usually rest days but if…read moremy family does go out during that day, we go to the Power Plant Mall to watch a movie AND go to mass there. It's one of the few malls that have chapels conveniently situated inside like in Greenbelt 3 and Glorietta. The chapel is small but very nice. It tends to be reallyyyy crowded that the crowd extends to outside the chapel, so be at least 30 minutes early if you want seats. There are also chairs and a television/screen outside for the people who can't see into the chapel. Masses are during late afternoon until early night time. For the mass schedule, I always inquire at the concierge area or call the mall.

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.

National Shrine and Parish of the Sacred Heart of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila was…read moreestablished on January 11, 1976. It is located at Brgy. San Antonio, Makati City. The Parish Fiesta is celebrated every 24th day of June https://www.parishph.com/2022/01/national-shrine-of-sacred-heart-makati.html

The National Shrine of the Sacred Heart was where I got baptized in 1989. In 2012, this is where I…read morehad my daughter baptized as well. They used the same holy bowl of water for both us, though the baptistery had been renovated. I think that was pretty meaningful. I remember Sacred Heart as an old church, pretty run down and dark. But when it became a shrine in the early 2000s, the parish got a makeover. It got airconditioning, landscaping, and all new interiors and lighting. What a breath of fresh air! Since then, there have been a number of weddings at Sacred Heart. Apparently it also has a crematorium on the property, which I only discovered after the renovation. It gets full on Sundays, naturally, when residents of Makati and Pasay come to celebrate mass with their families. (The Binays are often here too.) There's a children's mass at 430, a Filipino mass at 530, then 630 up to 830 the masses are in English. Come early if you want to take a seat. They open the baptistery for seating, too, but the aircon isn't too strong there. Sit at the very back of the main church if you want cool aircon. If it's not raining, they have outdoor seating as well.

Its still look the same, since I was a kid. So nice and nice setting. You can actually see the…read morepriest. I'm glad they have more mass time now. Thank you for keeping the place nice and clean

Greenbelt Chapel is beautiful open-air church. Love it being in the center of the malls. Many…read moretimes, we are just walking by and say hey let's stop in for mass or just to say a prayer. Happy Easter!

Anybody who has worked or lived within the Makati Central Business District would know how noisy…read moreand chaotic this part of the Metro can be from sun up to sun down. Even the famous Greenbelt Chapel, which sits right in the middle of a mall complex, no longer provides the noise-free respite that it was known for years ago. The good news is that there's still a hidden sanctuary right in the heart of the country's financial district. It's none other than the Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Tucked away in the basement of the BDO Corporate Center along Makati Avenue, it provides a perfect sanctuary for the weary soul. Anyone -- and I mean anyone -- who wants to pray and meditate in silence and peace is welcome any time of day. Apart from its spiritual atmosphere, the chapel's interior is also a sight to behold. The image of the Our Lady of Guadalupe in the altar is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen locally. During weekdays, masses are celebrated here three times a day, scheduled as follows: 7:45am, 12:15pm, and 5:30pm. Confessions are held at 11:45am before the midday mass and also from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. Devotees of Our Lady of Guadalupe can also attend novenas held on Wednesdays before the midday and afternoon masses. The staff emphatically requests visitors to turn off mobile phones to respect the sanctity of the chapel.

The chapel is so beautifil! Perfect place for…read morepraying/meditation and reflection. Our Lady of Guadalupe is always there to pray for and with us to be more closer to JESUS Thank you and GOD bless to all who have been part of having this chapel around this busy area.