My underpaid writer friend — this is how she describes her occupation — says it right.  Tarlac is known for being the bailiwick of the Aquinos and the Cojuangcos.  And unknown to many, this province has many churches worthy of your visit. I, together with this friend, toured Tarlac for a day, chronicled each trip to Tarlac’s select places of worship, and took a few interesting shots.

Two of husband’s friends, Maui and Arvin, made our Visita Iglesia more exciting, fun, and easier.  Though equipped with a travel map, still, without the two boys, I am very certain we might have been lost along our way.

 Visita Iglesia at Tarlac| 1st stop:  Santo Nino Parish, Bamban

a 1938 church at Bamban, Tarlac

Unlike hundreds of grand and ornately decorated churches, Santo Nino Parish Church in Bamban is one simple house of the Lord.  Said to have been built in 1938, this place of worship doesn’t look too old, maybe because of its bright and subtle color.  It noticeably underwent a painting work.  Its parish priest, perhaps, is too keen as well in keeping the church in perfect form.

A water well behind a Golgotha rock replica.

In front of the church is a replica of the stone in Golgotha, often referred in history books as a skull-shaped hill in Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified.  And beside this Golgotha model is a huge old bell.  It bothers me still the significance of the stone and the humongous bell to Santo Nino Parish.

The small church is loaded with almost life-size religious statues in each beam.

Once inside this place of worship, one would readily tell that indeed, Santo Nino Parish Church lives more than half a hundred years.  It has some pillars or columns where a quantity of expressive statues of biblical figures lined up.

Its huge glass windows invite charming natural light.  This might be the reason that despite its thick red steel bars hanging from the ceiling, the church appears well-lighted.

Visita Iglesia at Tarlac|2nd stop:  San Nicolas de Tolentino Church, Capas

From Bamban, we headed to Capas.  We asked an old lady in the neighborhood of Santo Nino Parish Church for a nearest old church.  She directed us to a church along Mac Arthur Highway; a big old church beside 7-eleven and in front of Mcdonalds.  We traveled for almost fifteen minutes looking forward to the Mcdo landmark, only to find Jollibee inviting us to stop for a needed breakfast.

This church is situated within the park of San Nicolas de Tolentino.

Little did I know that our first Filipino saint, Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, was married and had two sons and a daughter with Rosario, a Flipino too.

Just in front of Jollibee is the very spacious San Nicolas Park.  And yes, there is a 7-eleven nearby. Within the park is the massive San Nicolas Church.  An equally gigantic Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary statues lined up along the park.

The Pietà (pl. same; Italian for pity) is a subject in Christian art depicting the Virgin Mary cradling the dead body of Jesus (source: wikipedia).

Low-ceilinged, this blessed place has a rather long walkway, ideal for brides aspiring for a long walk down the aisle.  And just like the previous church, various religious statues adorn the place.

English translation: “I adore Thee devoutly.” A Eucharistic hymn written by Saint Thomas Aquinas.

At the altar displays the image of Jesus Christ nailed to the cross.  Below is a somewhat gold-plated tabernacle with an inscription that says:  Adoro te devote latens deitas.

Visita Iglesia at Tarlac| 3^rd stop:  Sanctuario de la Immaculada Church, Concepcion, Tarlac

I was a bit disappointed to see Sanctuario de la Immaculada Concepcion.  I hate banderitas and this place of worship has a few in front.  It has a very small frontage as well, very unlike the spacious San Nicolas de Tolentino Park.  Tricycles are parked everywhere, making the place too crowded and untidy.

The exterior is dominated by red bricks and from each side of the main entrance are the images of St. Paul and St. Peter.  St. Peter was referred as the head of the Apostles, a title shared with St. Paul, thus may explain the significance of their presence at the main entrance.

Once inside, though, the grandeur of its retablo invited the very little artistic side of me to use my camera.  I simply couldn’t miss the sight.

Longer aisle, ideal for brides wanting to enjoy long walks and more prolonged stares

Its ceiling has stylishly and very detailed curved drawings.  Its stained glass windows illustrate significant historical spiritual episodes. The finest I have seen- its handcrafted solid brass chandeliers hang gracefully on each far sides of the church.  Handsome roman-inspired pillars further complement the church’s very chic interior.

The architectural details emphasize the artistic expressiveness of the building.

It has a dome-shaped altar,  creating an illusion of grandness.   At its very center is the image of the Virgin Mary decked with freshly picked white and purple flowers.   Gold and white dominate the entire altar which all more boost the stateliness of its interior.

At the far end of the church is a statue of Jesus Christ and John the Baptist. The image powerfully portrays John baptizing Jesus Christ.  Through teachings say that John’s baptism was the baptism of repentance (Matthew 3:11), Jesus is sinless and has no need of repentance.  This sight, as I interpret it, only proves that indeed, Jesus is very humble, showing that He identifies himself with sinners.

We visited its nearby parish office, hoping to get a handful of pertinent details about Sanctuario de la Immaculada Concepcion.  We found these old ledgers instead, a compilation of baptism and confirmation dealings some dated as late as the 1950s.

Visita Iglesia at Tarlac| 4th stop:  Our Lady of Sorrows, Concepcion

On our way to our supposedly fourth church, we chance upon Our Lady of Sorrows.  Built in 2000, this relatively new church displays a Pieta sculpture on top.

From afar, one would notice that this sanctuary is made of clean marble stones, generally polished and refined; its architecture is very simple.

A quick research on Our Lady of Sorrows educated me of the Seven Sorrows (or dolors) in the life of the Blessed Mary, each popularly depicted in various art pieces.  One of which is Mary receiving the body of Jesus in Her arms, popularly interpreted in Michelangelo’s Pieta. 

Once inside, contrary to the church’s name, an aura of vivacity greets my soul. From the altar is the huge figure of the risen Lord set against a remarkably wooden polychrome retablo with gold and silver accents.  Its floor is made of plain white glazed tiles, creating an illusion of extra space.

The slightly expansive sanctuary has three aisles. Unpretentiously classy chandeliers hang from its modestly painted ceiling.  Circle stained glass windows are on both sides, each glowing with exalted beauty and narrate the fourteen stations of the cross.

Visita Iglesia at Tarlac| 5^th stop:  Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Central

Way to the Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel.

The Our Lady of Lourdes chapel we visited has a grotto of the Virgin Mary that sits on top of a hill (made of stones).  The name is used to refer to the various Marian apparitions, all in separate occasions, within Lourdes in France.  The first apparition recorded was that of with Saint Bernadette, a then 14-year old peasant girl.

The grotto “on the top of the hill” is an eye-catcher.  The surrounding as well is too serene. There is a separate ample parking space as well.

Inside, though, the chapel looks too ordinary. Not ornately decorated, this place of worship has a rather too simple – not that impressive – interiors.

Visita Iglesia at Tarlac| 6th stop: San Sebastian Cathedral, Tarlac City

From Central, we traveled to Tarlac City and visited the once site of the revolutionary congress, the San Sebastian Cathedral in Tarlac City.  Located in front of the Tarlac City Hall, this cathedral stands gracefully at the very heart of the city.

Seems newly painted in cream and with pink as an accent, the cathedral has an image of St. Joseph carrying the little Jesus by the entrance.

A life-sized statue of a kneeling and praying Jesus Christ within the church premises caught my attention.  A dramatic portrayal of Christ’s agony in Gethsemane, this describes Jesus receiving strength from an angel on the Mount of Olives before his betrayal and arrest.

From the inside, shades of cream or ecru dominate the whole church, and at the altar is the colorful image of Jesus Christ nailed to the cross.  Its windows are made of stained glass where natural lighting passes through.

Visita Iglesia at Tarlac| 7th and last stop:  Monasterio de Tarlac

Twenty kilometers from the city, we reached the town of San Jose.  We trekked the mountainous edge of the central plain of Luzon to bring us to the Monasterio de Tarlac we have never seen or heard before.  After about 45 minutes, we finally reached the top of the mountain, but way back from afar, we had a glimpse of an all-white statue of the Risen Christ-with His arms all stretched up under the blazing sun. He stands proudly atop the high mountains.

The 30-foot statue of Jesus Christ is within the compound of Monasterio de Tarlac. This statue is just one of the many attractions of the monasterio. Enshrined within its chapel is a piece of wood said to have been taken from the very cross where Jesus Christ was crucified.  Called the relic of the true cross, and said to be the only one in Asia, this makes the place as one of the most-visited pilgrimage sites in the country.

The four of us after a tiring yet wonderful adventure- a somehow near-to-close encounter with Jesus in seven different settings.

We left Manila at 7 am and returned home by 8 pm.  The long travel though was worth it.  We have been to seven churches, somehow had a good chat with the Lord, and had with us a rosary bracelet to constantly remind us of this wonderful experience.

* This was last April 2011.  I am looking for a nice place to visit this Holy Week when I chance upon this entry, thus reblogging.  

Holy week is fast approaching.  You may want to consider Tarlac as your next Visita Iglesia destination.  I attest to you that Monasterio de Tarlac is worth the visit same with the other churches.

admberlin