Category Archives: Churches

Church of St. James the Greater (Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte)

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Church of St. James The Greater

The last destination in our tour of Dapitan, prior to our trip to Sindangan, was the Church of St. James the Greater.  As we arrived just 5 days before their patron saint’s feast day (July 25), small, colorful flag-shaped banners were strung up all over the plaza and the church.

The Dapitan parish was established in 1631 by Jesuit Fr. Pedro Gutierres.  The present church, a 5 minute walk from the foot of Ilihan Hill, was originally built with galvanized iron walls and wooden floors in 1871 under Fr. Juan Gelabert, S.J. .

The church’s simple Gothic-style facade

 During his exile from July 17, 1892 to July 31, 1896, national hero Jose Rizal painted a backdrop, inspired by a church in Barcelona, for the church altar. However, the painting was later destroyed by fire.  A marker here, near the entrance, also marks the spot where Rizal usually stood when he heard Mass every Sunday. He could not go near the altar during Mass because of his excommunication from the Catholic Church.

Spot where Rizal stood during mass

National Historical Commission (NHC) plaque

From 1904 to 1909, the church was repaired and renovated under the guidance of Fr. Antonio Obach, S.J.  The original galvanized iron wall was replaced with the present solid masonry and the wooden floor changed to mortar. In 1915, the floor was concreted and the sanctuary was remodeled in 1921 by Fr. Eliseo Gil, S.J..

Historical plaque

For about five days in 1944, Japanese soldiers used the church as a resting/sleeping area. Through the years, it has undergone several reconstructions including a major renovation in 1964 when the whole structure was almost completely reconstructed with reinforced concrete by Fr. Antonio Hamak.  The new church was inaugurated on July 23, 1967.

The church interior

It’s simple Gothic-style façade, devoid of much decoration, is flanked by twin square bell towers with pyramidal roofs and semicircular arched openings.  The protruding central portion at the lower level is flanked by lancet windows and rounded pilasters. The Gothic arch main entrance, above which is a lancet window, is flanked by rounded pilasters and is topped by a triangular pediment with a centrally located oculus.

The beautiful church ceiling

Inside the church is its beautifully designed ceiling of interlocking orange and white rectangles forming a swirling pattern around the dome and arches, creating an optical illusion of depth and motion. As a whole, it drowns the audience far below in dizzying disarray.

View of interior from choir loft

At the choir loft is a German made manual pipe organ, with European pipes and a manual pump, that bears the year 1827. It was brought to Dapitan in 1864 by the Augustinian Recollect fathers.

Church of St. James the Greater: Fr. Francisco Paula de Sanchez St., Potol, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte 7101.  Tel: (065) 212-6202. Email Address: dapitanparish1631@gmail.com. Feast of St. James the Greater: July 25.

How to Get There: Dapitan City is located 15 kms. from Dipolog City. GPS Coordinates: 8.654734,123.42465

Church of St. Peter, Martyr of Varona (Hermosa, Bataan)

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Church of St. Peter, Martyr of Varona

The seventh and last pilgrim church we visited in our visita iglesia was the Church of St. Peter, Martyr of Verona in the town of Hermosa.  It was just about dusk when we arrived at the church and, as it was Holy Saturday, outside the church the Easter fire was being prepared to be kindled.

PHC Historical Marker

This church, established in 1717 and built in stone by Dominican friars, was destroyed by fire several times but was renovated in 1869.  In 1901, the church was handed over to the Filipino clergy.

The present church measures 58 m. long and 18 m. wide.  Old adobe walls were cut, sliced and re-used for its interior and exterior wall finishing.

Interior of the church

AUTHOR’S NOTES:

The church’s generally Baroque facade, with a projecting central portion, has first level with a semicircular arched main entrance flanked by coupled and single superpositioned  pilasters that rise up to the second level.

The second level has three statued niches.  The undulating pediment, carried down to large scrolls, has a centrally located circular rose window and is topped by a  square bell tower with semicircular arched openings. The whole facade is flanked by massive square piers topped by urn-like finials.

The main altar and its retablo

Church of St. Peter, Martyr of Varona: National Road, Hermosa, Bataan. Tel: (047) 491-1526. Feast of St. Peter, Martyr of Varona: May 3.

How to Get There: Hermosa is located 106.5 kms. (a 2.5-hr. drive) from Manila and 31.9 kms. (a 45-min. drive) north of Balanga City.

Church of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary (Orani, Bataan)

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Church of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary

The sixth pilgrim church we visited in our visita iglesia was the Church of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary in the town of Orani. The town’s present church and convent is one of the best in the province.  Both were repaired by Dominican friars in 1792.

The right side of the church

Badly damaged during the September 16, 1852 earthquake, both were improved by Dominican Frs. Bartolome Alvarez del Manzano, O.P., in 1868 and Fermin Perez San Julian in 1891.

The left side of the church

Repaired in 1936, both were destroyed by the fire of March 16, 1938 and reconstructed on September 1938.  In 1939, a historical marker at the façade of the church was installed by the Philippines Historical Committee, classifying it as a House of Worship with Level II status.

PHC Historical Marker

On August 15, 1945, the church was rehabilitated by Fr. Elias Calimbas. Its construction was finished in 1982 by Fr. Simplicio Fernandez and Msgr. Emilano Santos. On April 18, 1959, the image of the Nuestra Señora del Rosario was canonically crowned in a solemn ceremony headed by the Archbishop of San Fernando and the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines.

The four-storey bell tower on the right

From 1987 to October 6, 1991, the church was renovated Frs. Antonio Dumaual and Camilo Pacanza and, on October 6, 1991, the new altar ( which replaced the former Neoclassic altar which was demolished in the late 1980s) was blessed by Bishop Celso N. Guevarra.

A right side entrance doorway

In 2002, the church and convent were repaired and improved and, on August 22, 2004, it was declared as a Pilgrimage Shrine (Shrines to the Virgin Mary or “Dambana ng Paglalakbay”) by then Bishop of Balanga and later Archbishop of Lingayen Socrates B. Villegas.

The church interior

On April 18, 2009, the 50th Golden Anniversary of the Virgin’s Canonical Coronation was celebrated with the presence of Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales.On September 25, 2012, the church was granted a perpetual spiritual affinity bond by Pope Benedict XVI with the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome.

The church’s three-level Baroque and Neoclassical facade has regularly spaced paired columns alternating with pedimented windows at the second level and topped by a pediment decorated with huge flowing scrolls.

The main altar

It is separated from the second level by a triglyph-decorated horizontal cornice.  On the church’s right is its four-storey bell tower.   Its old 1806 bell was installed in front of the church on June 7, 1998. The Church has four portals – the Gate of Heaven, the Gate of Saints, the Gate of Angels and the Gate of Paradise.

The dome above the altar

Beside the church is the Museo ng Mahal na Birheng Maria, a repository of Marian relics and artifacts such as the numerous vestments and crowns of the Lady of the Most Holy Rosary.

Museo ng Mahal na Birhen Maria

In front of the church is the historic bell of the church, dedicated and first used during the tenure of Frs. Juan José de Acuña and Esteban de Sta. María in 1806 and installed on June 7, 1998.

The Bell of Orani

Church of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary: National Highway, Poblacion. Tel: (047) 481-1095 and (047) 333-7252. Feast of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary: Second Sunday of October.

How to Get There: Orani is located 104.9 kms. (a 2.5-hr. drive) from Manila and 16.6 kms. (a 15-min. drive) north of Balanga City.

Church of St. Catherine of Sienna (Samal, Bataan)

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Church of St. Catherine of Sienna

The fifth pilgrim church we visited in our visita iglesia was the Church of St. Catherine of Sienna in the town of Samal.  The town’s first church was destroyed during the Dutch attack in 1647 and was rebuilt by Dominican Fr. Jeronimo Belen and again by Fr. Juan Zubelsu in the later half of the 17th century.

The 5-storey hexagonal bell tower

It was burned in 1836 and its roof repaired with galvanized sheets by Fr. Miguel Portell (who also built the convent).  In 1898, the church was burned by Katipuneros to drive out their enemies in the convent. Fr. Justo Quesada rebuilt the present church and convent from 1903 to 1905.

The convent

The church’s three-level, High Renaissance facade has semicircular arched main entrance with recessed door jamb and flanked by segmented arched windows and superimposed pilasters topped by pinnacles.

Church interior

Main altar and retablo

The second level has a semicircular arched window flanked by two smaller semicircular arched windows (above which are small triangular pediments).

Historical marker installed by the Philippine Historical Committee in 1939

Its balustered pediment has a blind circular window at the tympanum, above which is a small statued niche.  On the church’s right is its five-storey, hexagonal bell tower, with blind and open semicircular arch fenestration, and topped by a dome.

Right side altar

Left side altar

Church of St. Catherine of Sienna: Guttieres St., Brgy. San Roque, Samal.  Tel: (047) 451-1101. Feast of St. Catherine of Sienna: April 30.

How to Get There: Samal is located 111.3 kms. (a 2.5-hr. drive) from Manila and 14.6 kms. (a 25-min. drive) north of Balanga City.

Church of St. Dominic of Guzman (Abucay, Bataan)

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Church of St. Dominic of Guzman

The fourth pilgrim church we visited in our visita iglesia was the Church of St. Dominic of Guzman in the town of Abucay.  This church was built by Fr. Geronimo de Belen in the early 1600s after the establishment of the Dominican mission in Abucay on June 10, 1588.

PHC Historical Marker

In 1608, it housed one of the earliest printing presses in the country.  Here, Dominican Friar Fr. Francisco Blancas de San Jose, O.P.  and Don Tomas Pinpin printed several books in Spanish and Tagalog.

The 5-storey bell tower on the church’s left

This church’s court was the site of a fierce battle between the Dutch and Pampango natives on June 23, 1647.  After the battle, hundreds of Kapampangans and Spanish officials and priests were massacred in the church complex, while others were taken to the former Dutch colony of Batavia (the original downtown area of Jakarta, Indonesia).

The wooden door at main entrance

The church was damaged during the September 16, 1852 earthquake.   Destroyed by fire in 1870, it was later reconstructed by Fr. Jose Diego Pelaez. In 1925, major changes were made in the church’s structure.

The balustered pediment

The church’s two-level, Renaissance -style facade, divided vertically by single or coupled Doric columns, has a semicircular arched main portal flanked by statued niches on the first level, and three segmental arched fenestrations on the second level.

The church’s interior

The undulating pediment, its top lined with balusters, with a statued niche of St. Dominic of Guzman in the center.  All are topped by triangular pediments, each with a pair of decorative brackets to support it.

The main altar

The second-level cornice is topped by four urn-like finials. To the right of the church rises the five-storey bell tower, each of its storeys defined by decorative balusters and ornamented with semicircular arched windows. It still houses the bells donated in 1839 and 1859.

The dome above the main altar

Church of St. Dominic of Guzman: Brgy. Laon, Abucay, BataanTel: (047) 237-3830. Feast of Saint Dominic of Guzman: Last Sunday of October.

How to Get There: Abucay is located 115.9 kms. (a 2.5-hr. drive) from Manila and 7.6 kms. (a 15-min. drive) north of Balanga City.

Diocesan Shrine and Cathedral Parish of St. Joseph (Balanga City, Bataan)

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Diocesan Shrine and Cathedral Parish of St. Joseph

The third pilgrim church we visited in our visita iglesia was the Diocesan Shrine and Cathedral Parish of St. Joseph in the capital city of Balanga.

PHC Historical Marker

The city’s church and convent was built in 1714 by Dominican Fr. Agustin Esquivel and renovated by Fr. Benito Rivas who strengthened the church by raising and fortifying its wall.

The 5-storey bell tower on the cathedral’s left

Fr. Vicente Fernandez changed its roof to galvanized iron sheets and decorated its interior.  From 1838 to 1845, Fr. Fernando Ma. Miñano constructed the arch of the choir loft and made a baptismal font out of granite from Mariveles.

The cathedral’s interior

During World War II, the cathedral was used by the Japanese 14th Army as an artillery emplacement to bombard Mt. Samat, where the Filipino-American troops were making their last stand.  On March 19, 2015 the cathedral was formally declared as a Diocesan Shrine.

Main altar

The church’s Baroque facade has a semicircular arched main entrance, segmented arched windows on the second level and is topped by a huge, undulating pediment with a niche supported by a pier and lintel.

Left side altar

Right side altar

The pediment’s raking cornice is enhanced by volute-like strip mold.  On the church’s left is its five-storey, hexagonal bell tower.

Confessional and wooden spiral stairs leading to the choir loft

Diocesan Shrine and Cathedral Parish of St. Joseph: Brgy.  Poblacion, Balanga City, Bataan. Tel: (047) 237-3595. Feast of Saint Joseph, the Husband of Mary: April 28.

How to Get There: Balanga City is located 118.6 kms. (a 2.5-hour drive) from Manila.

 

Church of Our Lady of the Pillar (Pilar, Bataan)

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Church of Our Lady of the Pillar

The second pilgrim church we visited in our visita iglesia was the Church of Our Lady of the Pillar in the town of Pilar.  This church, with pilasters and adobe stone walls, was started in 1834 by Dominican Fr. Jesualdo Minaño. Fr. Jose Diego (1851-1864) completed the second row of windows and Fr. Francisco Govea (1864-1867) constructed the church’s walls. Fr. Miguel Vasquez (1882-1886) galvanized the roofs in 1885.

The left side of the church

On May 28, 1898, local revolutionaries burned the church, including the rectory.  The image of Nuestra Señora del Pilar survived. In 1931, Dominican Fr. Fermin de San Julian built a new stone church while Fr. Renato Manansala (1977-1979) rebuilt the still standing old rectory.

The right side of the church

Fr. Roberto Tayao (1996-2003) installed stained glass windows at the sanctuary and new flooring for the entire church. On March 4, 2001, the church was consecrated by Ricardo Cardinal J. Vidal.  Surprisingly, unlike the six other pilgrim churches and in spite of its history and age, this church doesn’t have a historical plaque installed by the Philippine Historical Commitee (PHC).

The church interior

Its two-level, Baroque facade has a projecting central section with a semicircular arched main entrance flanked by coupled flat pilasters.

The main altar

The second level has three semicircular arched statue niches and is topped by a balustrade and a central square bell tower.  Interestingly, it is the only church in Bataan built facing the mountains instead of the sea.  Near the church is the Museo ng Kagitingan.

Check out “Museo ng Kagitingan“

One of the church’s bells

Church of Our Lady of the Pillar: Poblacion, Pilar, Bataan.  Tel: (047) 237-2923. Feast of Our Lady of the Pillar: October 12.

How to Get There: Pilar is located 131.4 kms. (a 2.5-hr. drive) from Manila and 15 kms. (a 25-min. drive) from Balanga City.

Church of St. Michael the Archangel (Orion, Bataan)

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Church of St. Michael the Archangel

The first pilgrim church we visited in our visita iglesia was the Church of St. Michael the Archangel in the town of Orion.  The town’s present day 19th-century church was repaired by the Dominicans upon their return in 1832.

The church complex

It was extensively damaged during the September 16, 1852 earthquake but was rebuilt in 1854 by Fr. Jose Campomanes, OP.   Fr. Ulpiano Herrera constructed the beautiful sacristy and the marble altars.  The church was repaired by Fr. Miguel Fuster and its dome was added by Fr. Jose Auli.

Statue of St. Michael the Archangel

The church’s three-level, barn-style  Baroque facade has a balustraded semicircular arched concrete porte cochere (a later addition) at the main entrance and is flanked by flat pilasters (that divide the façade into five segments) topped by urn-like finials.  Cornices divide the expanse of the wall into two levels.

PHC Historical Marker

The undulating pediment, with its raking cornice and a square window at the tympanum, ends into two small volutes before tapering down to the sides. It has a framed statued niche, within a post and lintel arrangement, flanked by two hexagonal windows.

The church interior

On the church’s left is its slender four-storey bell tower whose two uppermost levels are octagonal.  It is pierced with rectangular, circular and semicircular arched campanile windows.

The main altar

The dome above the main altar

The early 18th century main altarpiece (retablo), done in the Rococo style, features the seven archangels and a tableau of the Holy Family

The left side altar

The right side altar

Church of St. Michael the Archangel: Brgy. San Vicente, Orion, Bataan. Feast of St. Michael the Archangel: May 8.

How to Get There: Orion is located 132 kms. from Manila and 6 kms. south of Balanga City.

Bisita Iglesia: Bataan

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It was now Black Saturday in Mariveles, Bataan and, to avoid the rush of tourist returning to Manila the next day, Maricar, Norman, Jandy and I opted to leave The Oriental Bataan in the morning, right after breakfast.  Normally, returnees take the Roman Superhighway (Bataan Provincial Expressway) to avoid the traffic gridlock in towns along the MacArthur Highway but we chose to travel via the latter to go on our own Lenten tradition of Bisita Iglesia (visit to 7 churches).

Check out “Hotel and Inn Review: The Oriental Bataan”

Jandy and Maricar at Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Orion

Aside from the old Spanish-era churches along the MacArthur Highway, you’ll also pass a lot of interesting Death March Markers as well as World War II monuments, museums and shrines.

Check out “Bataan’s Death March Markers” and “Museo ng Kagitingan”

Church of Our Lady of the Pillar in Pilar

The churches we visited were:

  • Church of St. Michael the Archangel (Orion) – this 352 year old church, the third oldest in the province, was repaired by the Dominicans upon their return in 1832.

Check out “Church of St. Michael the Archangel“

Church of St. Michael the Archangel

  • Church of Our Lady of the Pillar (Pilar) – this 218 year old church, the seventh oldest in Bataan, was burned by revolutionaries on May 28, 1898.  The image of Nuestra Senora del Pilar survived.

Check out “Church of Our Lady of the Pillar“

Church of Our Lady of the Pillar

  • Diocesan Shrine and Cathedral of St. Joseph (Balanga City) – this 305 year old church, the fifth oldest in Bataan was, during World War II, used by the Japanese 14th Army as an artillery emplacement to bombard Mt. Samat.  On March 19, 2015, the cathedral was formally declared as a Diocesan Shrine.

Check out “Diocesan Shrine and Cathedral of St. Joseph“

Diocesan Shrine and Cathedral of St. Joseph

  • Church of St. Dominic of Guzman (Abucay) – this 431 year old church, the oldest in Bataan, housed one of the earliest printing presses in the country and its court was the site of a fierce battle between the Dutch and PPampango natives on June 23, 1647.

Check out “Church of St. Dominic of Guzman“

Church of St. Dominic of Guzman

  • Church of St. Catherine of Sienna (Samal) – this 423 year old church, the second oldest church in Bataan, was burned by Katipuneros in 1898 to drive out their enemies in the convent.  The present church and convent were rebuilt from 1903 to 1905.

Check out “Church of St. Catherine of Sienna“

Church of St. Catherine of Sienna

  • Church of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary (Orani) – this 309 year old church, the fourth oldest in Bataan, is one of the best in the province.  Repaired by Dominican friars in 792, it was badly damaged during the September 16, 1852 earthquake.

Check out “Church of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary“

Church of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary

  • Church of St. Peter, Martyr of Verona (Hermosa) – this 263 year old church, the sixth oldest in Bataan, was built in stone by Dominican friars,  destroyed by fire several times but was renovated in 1869.

Check out “Church of St. Peter, Martyr of Varona”

Church of St. Peter, Martyr of Varona

Bataan Provincial Tourism Office: Roman Superhighway, Balanga City, Bataan.  Tel: (047) 237-4785

Caleruega Retreat Center (Nasugbu, Batangas)

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Dominicum (Caleruega Retreat Center)

After a filling lunch at Josephine’s Restaurant in Tagaytay City, Mark, Jandy, Vicky, Marc, Bryan and I opted to go on a sightseeing trip.  Back on Mark’s Starex van, we traveled a further 15.7 kms. (25 mins.) to the town of Nasugbu, in the adjoining province of Batangas, where we were to visit the much hyped up retreat center and wedding venue called Caleruega. Designed by Arch. Yolanda D. Reyes (Dean of UST’s College of Architecture) and built in 1995, Caleruega was set up as a venue for retreats and seminars of the Dominican institutions.

Mark (center) and Vicky (right) exploring the grounds

 

The much-publicized wedding of Christopher de Leon and Sandy Andolong gave Caleruega its early exposure and, today, it is a lovely setting for an out of town wedding for brides and grooms.  Even movies and television ads producers have taken notice.

United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) 1996 Design Award in Architecture

From the highway, we turned into of a long, rough, bumpy and isolated road, at the end of which is the sprawling, 8-hectare property owned by the Dominican Fathers. We parked our van just outside.  Past brick-paved rotunda and fountain is the Dominicum (which we mistook to be a chapel), the receiving hall for visitors and those having their retreats at the place.

Perched atop an elevation with a 21 steps leading up to it, its two level Moorish and Spanish-style facade has a segmental arched main entrance flanked by square pilasters and niches with statues of Thomas Aquinas and Catherine of Sienna, both doctors of the church, at the ground level.

Stairway leading up to the Dominicum

The main entrance is topped, at the second level, by a semicircular arched window with the stained glass image of St. Dominic, founder of the Dominican order.  This window is flanked by smaller semicircular arched windows with stained glass images of his father’s coat-of-arms on the left and his mother’s coat-of-arms on the right.

Stained glass window depicting St. Dominic

The four square pilasters (two reaching up to the pediment) are topped by pineapple (probably hinting at its proximity to Tagaytay)-shaped finials.  The undulating pediment has a bell-gable (espadana) at the center.

Grand stairway

Inside is a grand, elegantly curving staircase (unfortunately, off limits to visitors), a gift house (where one can buy souvenir shirts, trinkets and religious items) on the left, a mess hall on the right and a corridor that leads to the gardens.

Mess hall

From the Dominicum, pathways, following the natural curves and slope of the hill, lead us into a garden bursting with color and life. It was easy to fall in love with the serenity and beauty of this gorgeous retreat sanctuary with its abundant and colorful varieties of flowers, lush plants and trees and walking paths.

In the comforting company of nature, one can sit on solitary park benches, found in niches, and gaze at the 180-degree view of cobalt-blue skies,  the rolling, verdant hills and mountains and the plains. Caleruega’s tag line, “Closer to Nature, Closer to God,” is a fitting description of this nourishing sanctuary.

Lining the pathway are functional dormitories, cottages and overnight guests plus an interesting gazekubo, a conference hall that mixes the elements of a gazebo and a bahay kubo, with adobe stone walls roof made with once brown pawid (now green with small plant growth).

Gazekubo

The many signs and symbols of the Dominicans were abundantly integrated into the architecture.  The motif of the Dominican star (Joanna of Aza, St. Dominic’s mother, saw a star on her son’s forehead, a sign that he would eventually spread light to the world), as well as the sun, can be consistently seen in the refreshing fountain on the driveway, capiz windows, grilles and even inside cottages in the retreat center.

There were also viewing decks where one can witness the stunning show and the magical moment of the sun setting between the two rugged peaks of Batulao (incidentally, the name Batulao is derived from the words bato, meaning “stone,” and “ilaw or “light”), creating the perfect mood for love. St. Dominic’s Point, another beautiful vantage point, has a statue of St. Dominic, his feet lined with a star formation of fuchsia plants.  Rosary Lane, framed by the rolling hills of Mt. Batulao, has a statue of the Mother and Child sitting in prayer, each clutching a rosary.

At the peak was the famed, stunning and quaint Transfiguration Chapel with its Moorish-style facade done in red brick and painted concrete. When we arrived, a wedding was ongoing inside the chapel.  Patterned after the original Caleruega Chapel in Spain, it can fit only 150 people.  Its door has a brass sculpture of seven grapevines (symbolizing the Seven Sacraments).

Transfiguration Chapel

The chapel’s interior, finished with varnished wood and painted concrete, has a lectern with Biblical images of the mustard seed while the tabernacle has a burning bush design.  The altar, made from a carved tree trunk, signifies the Stem of Jesse in the Book of Isaiah. The birds, at the communion table, symbolize God’s providence.

The chapel interior with its centerpiece stained glass window featuring the Transfiguration – Moses on the left, Jesus at center and the prophet Elijah at the right

The stained glass windows of the chapel, giving a very soft and warm glow to the interior (an atmosphere conducive for prayers and reflections), were impressive. On the facade is the seal of the Dominican Province of the Philippines. Inside is the centerpiece of the church floor to ceiling stained glass of the figures of Transfiguration (Jesus, Moses and Elijah).

The author at the Transfiguration Chapel

In front of the chapel is “Thy Will Be Done,” a metal sculpture with arms outstretched done by Baguio City artist Benhur Villanueva. Surrounding the chapel are carefully selected plants and trees (the planted pine trees even mimic the Mediterranean setting where St. Dominic was born in 1170 in Caleruega in Old Castile).

Thy Will Be Done (Benhur Villanueva)

Caleruega is a lovely, quiet and soothing addition to the 39 Catholic houses (retreat houses, formation houses, seminaries and contemplative groups) tucked along Tagaytay Ridge as well as over a dozen Christian lay communities and prayer houses.

Caleruega Retreat Center: Bgry. Kaylaway, Batulao, Nasugbu, Batangas.  Mobile number: (0921) 270-9890 and (0921) 830-4226.  E-mail: caleruega_philippines@yahoo.com. Open daily, 8 AM – 12 noon and 1 – 5 PM. A mass is held every Sunday at 11 AM.

How to Get There:
Coming from Tagaytay City, board a Nasugbu bound bus and ask the driver to drop you off at Evercrest where there’s a tricycle station.  Here, you can hire a tricycle for a two-way trip to Caleruega.