Semana Santa en San Mateo (Holy Week in San Mateo, Rizal)

The Holy Week celebration in San Mateo, Rizal is a display of devotion and love for Christ. For He saved us all from sin. His passion and death can be visually seen by the images used during the Holy Week processions.

Some of the images include:

San Judas Tadeo (Saint Jude)

San Bartolome ( Saint Bartholomew )

San Simon Makabayan ( Saint Simon the Zealot )

San Matias ( Saint Mathias )

San Jose ng Arimatea ( Saint Joseph of Arimathea )

San Felipe ( Saint Philip )

Santo Tomas ( Saint Thomas )

San Mateo ( Saint Matthew )

Santiagong Bata ( Saint James the Less )

San Marcos ( Saint Mark )


San Lukas ( Saint Luke )

San Pedro ( Saint Peter )

San Andres ( Saint Andrew )

Santiagong Matanda ( Saint James the Great )

Truly, it is a display of great devotion to what Jesus Christ has given us.

_______________________________

- Holy Week in San Mateo Rizal -

Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Aranzazu

Diocese of Antipolo

Philippines

Nustra Señora delos Desamparados : A Journey with New Friends

It was another Sunday morning when my mother said that I was going to the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Abandoned in Santa Ana, Manila with Kuya Rey. Since it was Sunday, I was the one assigned to deliver the embotido to my grandmother's pawnshop to be sold. Since I woke up late, I took a shower and went to deliver the embotido without eating breakfast.

When I arrived, I greeted my grandmother. I ate breakfast there, which was fried eggs and pandesal. After eating, I watched television. After a while, Kuya Rey texted me that we were going to a photo developing shop to develop a few photos. After getting the photos, we went to the church to meet with Kuya Randy.

We then went to the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of the Abandoned of Marikina, Marikina City, to meet up with another friend.

After fetching him, we've set on towards the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Abandoned in Santa Ana, Manila.

Upon arriving, we waited for a few minutes before the doors were opened and a few more minutes before Bro. Philip Escudero, President of the Cofradia of Nuestra Señora delos Desamparados, arrived.

Upon his arrival, he opened the doors leading to the back of the image of Our Lady.

After a few prayers and after Kuya Rey and Bro. Philip's short talk did we decided to go to a near fast food to eat.

After eating, we decided to leave. But before heading home, we also decided to go to Pandacan Church to visit the Santo Niño de Pandacan.

Since I wasn't able to hear mass earlier, we decided to hear the mass in Pandacan Church. After the mass, we went to Gateway Mall to visit a shop and eat dinner.

After eating dinner, we dropped our friend in the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of the Abandoned of Marikina, Marikina City, and headed for the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Aranzazu in San Mateo, Rizal.

The image of Our Lady of Aranzazu is supposed to be dressed that night. So, I joined in dressing up the image for the upcoming Santacruzan, with Kuya Mao, Justine, Aljohn and many more.

After dressing the image, we decided to go home. After departing, I went to my grandmother's house to sleep there that night.

Viva! Nuestra Señora delos Desamparados de Marikina!

Viva! Nuestra Señora delos Desamparados de Sta. Ana Manila!

Viva! Santo Niño de Pandacan!

Viva! Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu!

Nuestra Señora delos Dolores de Turumba : An Unforgettable First Time

It was my first time to go to Paete, Laguna. Before going there, we stopped by a few churches. One of it was the Diocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora delos Dolores de Turumba, Parish of San Pedro Alcantara Pakil, Laguna.

When we stopped by there, we saw the andas of Nuestra Señora delas Antiguas (the larger image of Nuestra Señora delos Dolores de Turumba), being adorned with flowers. When asked why, the man said that the image will be brought down later that evening and will be processioned tomorrow morning.

After hearing that, we agreed that we will return there later to witness the bringing down of the image. But before leaving, we went to the chapel of the original image of Nuestra Señora delos Dolores de Turumba above the church. We also viewed some parts of the church, including the gallery of clothes that the image of Nuestra Señora delas Antiguas.

We continued our trip to Paete, Laguna. Meeting with sculptors and painters, it was nearly nightfall when we decided to return to Pakil.

When we arrived there, the main entrance was closed, so we have to go through the side entrance of the church.

When we entered the church, the image is still in the retablo mayor of the church. We waited for the image to be brought down.

While waiting, we also talked to some of the people there., including the caretakers of the image. After sometime, the caretakers called the person that will bring down the image of the virgin, saying that there are people waiting to witness the event.

After sometime, the people there were getting ready to bring down the image. Then finally, the glass door of the image is opened, the person bringing it down said a short prayer, then carried it down to be kissed by the people and later, to be put in her andas.

After taking pictures of the image, time for the group pictures, my camera suddenly ran out of batteries. Good thing Aljohn also brought a camera. After kissing the virgin and a few pictures, one of the caretakers gave us pieces of cloth that the virgin used. They say that this piece of cloth will serve as protection to those who have it.

After a few talks, we decided to leave. After stopping by on a shop to buy fried itik, we ate dinner at a local fast food.

After eating, we went home, enjoying the fresh, cool breeze of the province area. When I got home, I said goodbye and good nights to my company. Truly, a very unforgettable first time.

Viva! Nuestra Señora delos Dolores de Turumba!

Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage : An Unexpected Journey

It was a very sunny morning. I was watching a cartoon show in a local television channel. I was enjoying myself, when the phone rang. I picked it up and the caller was Kuya Rey. He said that our trip to Paete, Laguna will be again moved to next week. But, he also said that we will go to Antipolo Church, because there will be a procession there in the afternoon. After we hang up, I asked my father if I can go. At first, he said no. Feeling disappointed, I went down and continued watching the show I left.

After a few minutes, my father called. I thought he was just going to ask me about something. But when I got to his room, he said that I can go to Antipolo. Happy as I am, I charged my cellphone and the batteries of my camera. This, being my first time to go there, I knew I would take a lot of pictures for souvenirs.

After awhile, Kuya Rey called again. Saying that I am given permission to go there, he would fetch me later at around one o'clock. I prepared my things and waited for him to come. At around 1:20, he texted me that he was already close. So, I got up and met with him outside.

We reached Antipolo Church at around three o'clock. We viewed the images in the church before meeting up with Marc.

Marc, a seminarian friend, met with us behind the image of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, also known as Our Lady of Antipolo. We went inside the room of the recamadera (the caretaker of the image) and saw an image of Our lady of Antipolo.

Without the caretaker knowing, we took pictures of the image. Then, she caught us in the act, exactly after the flash of my camera. Marc said "Ma'am, we'll take pictures..." but the caretaker said "You are already taking pictures." in a humorous manner.

Then she said that the image that we were touching and taking pictures with, is the original image of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. We were a bit shocked, knowing that the very historical image of the Virgin is right in front of us!

But it was very nice. After all, not a lot of people can see the image up close. And not a lot of people know that since 1:00 that afternoon, the image in the main altar is already a replica.

After a few talks, we went down to hear the mass and to wait for the procession of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage after the mass. After the mass, the image in the main alter (replica) was brought down to be put in her float and to be processioned around the church area.

During the procession, the participants also prayed the Rosary, led by women under the float of the Virgin. In every corner turn, the image is being incensed by sacristans.

After the procession, the image is returned inside the church.

We ate dinner at a fastfood nearby. After eating we returned to the church to check wether what image is placed in the main altar. The image placed in the main altar is the original and the replica is set to go to another place the following day.

Truly, a very unexpected but a very wonderful journey this was.

Viva! Nuestra Señora dela Paz y Buen Viaje!