Most of the time, we go to this particular church when we wish to hear mass. It's a nice,…read morerelatively small parish that still normally offers a lot of space for people despite its size. The way it's constructed also allows you an unobstructed view of the priest wherever you're seated. However, the place can get packed during important dates such as Easter Sunday and Christmas which makes it harder to find seats, especially later in the day when most people go to church. It can also get really hot during the summer because the place is open and it can only hold so many electric fans. But what's a little heat when you're listening to the Word of God? Amen? Amen!

The nearest church to my house is St. Paul the Apostle Church. Although relatively small, its…read moreconvenient location makes it very efficient for us to hear mass. While the church is not air-conditioned, there are plenty of fans that keep the sacred venue well-ventilated. For someone who has been going to this church for years, here are some tips you would thank me for. One, park not too close yet not too far. Getting out after the service can be quite tricky because of the traffic build-up. Park right in front of Daisy or Mario's. Two, hear mass during late afternoon or night schedule to avoid the harsh heat. Three, sit near an electric fan. I'm sure this does not need any explanation. Four, opt to sit in plastic chairs right outside the church, you'll get more air there. Five, know that this used to be a popular disco venue. Just a nice conversation starter to know.

It's always a struggle when you're the only non-religious person in the family. I would often take…read morepart in religious practices that I have zero interest in. I believe and love Jesus, but there are just certain Catholic customs that I don't wanna be a part of just because I have my own special way of professing my faith. Every Maundy Thursday, it's always our family tradition to visit seven churches for the Visita Iglesia. I understand and respect why most people do it. but if you're a non-practicing Catholic like me, things can get a little bit boring. For our third church visitation, we decided to go to the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Quezon City. The moment I saw the church, I was somehow mesmerized. It looked just like one of the big and grand cathedrals during the Spanish era. Despite its very minimilastic design, it stands tall and proud amidst the other more colorful establishments that surround it. I remember I walked inside the cathedral to appreciate its complex interior, but for some reason I was more motivated to just pray and contemplate (power of God, maybe?).

I'm not much of a churchgoer in my adult years, but I've always been sort of attracted to our local…read morechurch back when my family still attended mass on Sundays. The church was still pretty plain back then with a simple painted Jesus on the sanctuary wall and with mismatched stained glass. Now that it's a cathedral and everything's laden with steelwork and gold paint and matching window panes, I've always felt like it's gotten a little haughty in its grandeur. The scores of couples getting hitched there, including Dingdong and Marian, would beg to differ, I'm sure. A recent visit did kinda warm me up to it a bit though. Granted, there was a small wedding going on, so they might have distracted me from the gaudiness around me, but still I did get to appreciate the other less extravagant parts of the church. The monument and grotto manage to evoke stillness even though they're beside the Vancouver thoroughfare. And this will come off morbid, but the columbarium is especially beautiful, as is the open-air passage behind it, set in brick and decorated with simple foliage. It wouldn't be enough to bring me back into the fold, but if I'm feeling especially pensive, I wouldn't mind taking a breather there.

Okay, I'll admit it. I had to google the real name for this church.I had no idea what it was…read moreactually called, since the place is famously known as the Pink Sisters Church. The nuns of this convent all wear pink dresses and white veils, and they've become famous for their attire. This place has become a regular stop on our yearly visita iglesia, and over the years we've watched the place fill up more and more during special occasions. 10 years ago you'd only see a handful of people in there at any given time, but it now gets packed during holier times. It's a tad unfortunate, since a large part of the charm was the odd sense of quiet in there even as the nuns walked by beyond the bars. If you can find a time with no random visitors, this church is definitely worth a visit. Otherwise, beware of the crowd.

My mother chose to get married in this church because it had a looooooong aisle. Really. That's…read morewhat she tells me when I ask her. This is also where my siblings and I were all baptized, and where my family attended regular Sunday masses when I was a kid. Every time I come here, I become seven years old again. With its large parking yard where vendors sold balloons and live chicks, which according to urban legend, were manually painted to make them look attractive to children. (If you see a child bawling, it's probably because his parents didn't buy him one. I know this from experience.) The structure itself feels so expansive and cavernous. It's actually difficult to imagine that they run out of seats during Sunday masses. It has very high ceilings, yet for some reason, it was always ALWAYS dim inside no matter the time of day. It took me some time to figure out why - the walls are lined with colorful, heavy stained glass windows. The church opens up to a courtyard - I've always liked this detail about the church. Also known as the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of La Naval de Manila, it is actually an important, historical treasure. Enthroned in it is the centuries-old image of the Virgin Mary believed to have interceded to help the Spanish armada defeat the invading Dutch fleet. When I was young, her fiesta was one of the biggest, most-talked about celebrations of the year. It was almost a national holiday. The Church would be festooned with yards upon yards upon yards of white, blue and gold fabrics. The night before the feast day, we would brave the throngs of people just so we could light a candle and go see the images of saints set in full regalia, all towering upon their carrozas which are all marvelously bedecked by fresh flowers. All this, in preparation for the procession happening the next day. This is the sixth structure - the first five had all stood in Intramuros; earthquakes and fire kept on bringing it down until finally, it was destroyed during World War 2. In the 1950s, the Dominican Order decided to move the shrine and their monastery to Quezon City, where it is has become, to this day an important piece of religious, cultural and architectural landmark.

I've attended a couple of wedding ceremonies in this church and each time, I somehow feel that the…read morebride has made the wrong choice. Not to impose my own aesthetics on the couple, but somehow, I feel that the huge space makes it virtually impossible to have an intimate exchange of vows. Unless you are a public figure, there's no way for your guests to fill even half of the pews. I suppose that there are some advantages to getting married in a big church. First of all, the back of the church is far enough from the altar area so that restless ring bearers and flower girls can run around without disturbing your ceremony. The long aisle also gives you a lot of leeway for dramatic bridal march shots--- a boon for anxious photographers looking to bag the money shot. And of course, the large parking area is a blessing too, especially if you're tottering around in uncomfortable shoes and restrictive clothes.

This is a perfect example of a gothic church in the Philippines. The church looks enchanting in a…read moregloomy way. Located in Broadway, Quezon City and not New York, this church is a popular choice for those who want to tie the knot. The church has a large seating capacity so you can invite all of your relatives, friends, officemates and neighbors to witness your wedding (the more the merrier right?). The church is not airconditioned but there are a lot of fans so the interior remains cool. There is a hall right behind the church so receptions can be held right after the ceremony without having to move to a different venue. And they have a really large parking area so there's no need for guests to jockey for parking spots. You might also chance upon one of the bazaars that they hold every few weeks with part of the proceeds going to selected charity works.

I don't go to church (and I'm not even a practicing Catholic) but somehow, every time my husband…read moreasks me to go to church with him, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Shrine attracts me and he gets me to say yes. It's not because the service is different or they have a unique choir, it's really just the structure that draws me in. It is one of the most beautiful churches I've seen in Manila. I love the long aisles (which is really ideal for weddings), the vaulted ceilings and the overall gothic feel of the place. Reminds of some of the most beautiful churches in Rome, actually.

The Tridentine Latin Mass form, codefied at the Council of Trent.. that is the Catholic "Mass of…read moreall Time" that you will find here. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered by the Society of St.Pius X order of priests. This order never changed after Vatican II and is keeping the Faith without the entry of modern practices. So, you will see here that all of the congregation faces God together, towards the tabernacle. The only time the priest faces the people is when he is talking to them during the homily/sermon. The rest of the time, he is offering prayers to God and faces Him along with the people. The women will still veil themselves here as mentioned in the Bible 1 COR 11:5-6 "[5] But every woman praying or prophesying with her head not covered, disgraceth her head: for it is all one as if she were shaven. [6] For if a woman be not covered, let her be shorn. But if it be a shame to a woman to be shorn or made bald, let her cover her head." People are very reverent towards God here. You will notice that the dress modestly and in clothing more worthy of the King of Kings. :) BEAUTIFUL altar with reminders of the Faith are there. You could spend hours just praying near the side devotional areas... There is also a school attached. Check this church out the next time you are in Manila. If I lived in Manila, it is the only one I would attend. There is daily Mass and the first Mass on Sundays (9am) is a high mass (sung) with asperges and everything! On Sundays the rosary is prayed and confessions begin at 830am. Learn more on this website: http://www.sspxasia.com/Countries/Philippines/ God bless!

Over time, the Catholic church has become increasingly more lenient and liberal. Times change, and…read moreeven the Church needs to adjust to accommodate a shifting world view. There remain places that cling to more conservative beliefs, however, and one of the few remaining in Manila is the Our Lady of Victories church hidden deep inside New Manila. The church itself doesn't look too old, and it looks par for course among the old houses in the vicinity. What really sets it apart, however, is the fact that masses are conducted in Latin. 100% latin. A language that probably 5 people in the Philippines understands. While it may be incomprehensible, there is something enchanting about the religious chants of a foreign language. The church also imposes a strict dress code: collared shirts, pants and shoes for men; sleeved dresses flowing past the knees and a veil for women. Nope, no pants for women, no shorts for men. There's something comforting about the fact that these places still remain, but don't expect me to do anything more than visit.

Welcome to the Adventures of the Agnostic Catholic! This is where I review some of the churches…read moreI've been to and known, minus the point of view of a committed member of an organized religion. Chapels inside malls has become the choice place of worship for Catholic consumerists, and I think Trinoma's Chapel of St. Michael the Archangel has exploited this need to its fullest extent. PROS: You don't even have to hop off your car and go to mass then hop back in and drive to a mall and go shopping. This is a chapel *inside* a mall. Seriously; Eat at the restaurants a few steps away right after. It's usually crowded though, as everyone seems to be thinking the same thing. CONS: The gripe I have most about malls having Catholic chapels is that it's far from non-sectarian, which may end up isolating non-Catholics. Would they be willing to open a mosque inside their mall as well? How about Baptist or Methodist churches? Buddhist temple? Synagogue? But hey, it's privately owned and the Ayalas can do whatever the hell they want with their space. TL;DR: With its smack-in-the-middle-of-a-mall location, the Trinoma chapel can easily be the choice of Catholics who just want to get Sunday mass over and done with and carry on with their shopping.