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've had the opportunity to hear mass at St. Jerome's. It's that parish or church (not sure what…read morethe difference really is) that's near Alabang Town Center. The church celebrates mass sometimes in Tagalog and sometimes in English and on most occasions Taglish. I wish I could give you guys a schedule, but I'm not even sure anymore whether the schedule still holds up. What I do know is that there are morning masses as well as masses for the afternoon and the evening. A word of caution though. A lot of people go to mass hear on Sundays. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that the heavy traffic that goes on every Sunday is due in large part to this place. I strongly recommend anyone who goes here to think about parking and the amount of traffic that they'll encounter. If not, you might just regret it later on.

Yeah so writing about this church, Our Lady of Fatima Parish, really sent me on a long trip down…read morememory lane. The church has undergone plenty of transformations both inside and out. In fact, looking at it today I would say that it hardly even resembles what it used to look like. Most of the people who go here live nearby There's really nothing miraculous about this church other than its ability to draw in a crowd. It's probably not the priests or sermons, since every now and then they do change. In my opinion it's probably the atmosphere. I like hearing the children running around and being children. I like the smell of barbecue near the church. I love the sounds that the leaves make when a cool breeze drops by for a visit. I love how the these yellow flowers or petals, that I still haven't had the time to look up on Google out of laziness, cover the streets during certain times of the year the same way snow covers parts of New York during winter. I enjoy seeing people walking around the park while I walk home enjoying their Sunday afternoon as if their only purpose in life was to enjoy their Sunday afternoon walk. I like listening to the idle chatter of people talking as they wait for their orders in one of three local barbecue establishments. Our Lady of Fatima Parish isn't just a church that one goes to for weddings, baptisms, masses or other religious ceremonial rites or traditions. It's something that adds a little extra flavor to where I live.

Growing up and having lived in Phil Am Village for the past 29 years, I have seen Our Lady of…read moreFatima Parish Church go through several major renovations and improvements. These renovations are not for plain vanity, but actually as response to the call of the times. Through the years, as the population in the village increases, the number of non-resident churchgoers have also increased, not just from neighboring villages, but from places as far as Moonwalk Village, which is 20minutes away. This is especially true when special occasions are celebrated like Easter, Palm Sunday, Ash Wednesday, Christmas, New Year, etcetera. Aside from the beautiful church, the Prayer Room with the Blessed Sacrament at the back of the church is also simply beautiful. Daily masses are celebrated at 5 in the morning and 6 in the evening. Then on Sundays, masses start at 5:15 am and is followed by another 1 hour and 15 minutes until 11:30 a.m. Masses resume at 3:30 p.m. and end at 8:30 p.m.

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 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

Two of my friends got married here and the place was impressive! It's a bit of a workout if you're…read morecoming up from the fountain but it's worth it. The greenery is beautiful and so is the church itself. Regardless of its size, it still looks terrific! The location is remote and stress-free! (October 2017)

Traffic gets more unpredictable and it piles up in any day of the week. The influx is worse during…read moreweekends especially every payday and during long holidays. Slowdown of vehicles becomes more terrible but places like this makes all the traffic bearable. It took us 4 long hours from Manila to reach Batangas. Usual travel time is from 2-3hours. Calaruega is a small town in Spain where our patron Saint was born. The simplistic architecture is derived from the spanish colonial. Enter the building in the entrance gate and walk towards the garden stairs leading to the scenic Chapel. It is indeed a visual spectacle. The chapel has been a popular venue for private weddings with rates ranging from P15,000-20,000 depending on the season. Holy Mass is open for public every Sunday at 11:00 in the morning. Calaruega is not merely a solemn place of prayer but a destination to unwind. The other side of the fountain is a long stretch of road for the Station of the Cross. It is filled with blooming flowers and the picnic grounds is located downhill where people can rest. There are different sights to see. Families will find peace in the manmade falls, koi ponds, and hanging bridge. The entrance fee of P30 per head collected upon reaching Calaruega is for the maintenance of the entire property. The location is easily reachable. From Tagaytay-Nasugbu Hi-way facing south, turn left at Batulao Road. Chapel is 1.5km from the Hi-way. Roads are rough but the view is simply breathtaking. There is a parking fee of P40 paid directly to the attendant. You can also travel to Calaruega through Nasugbu-bound buses and take a tricycle from the main road.

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.

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.