Wednesday, April 04, 2007
IMPROMPTU BISITA IGLESIA
I admit that I'm not at all a religious person although I love visiting churches even briefly. Sta. Cruz Church in Manila is among those that I go to every now and then. I have many fond memories of it. You see, upon entering high school, I stopped going to Espiritu Santo Church in Tayuman Street with my parents and started going with my brothers and cousins to Sta. Cruz Church.
It wasn’t so much that the latter offered a more trendy and hip Sunday service. It was mainly because the church was popular among some girls from my brothers’ and cousins’ universities. So, more than anything else, it was basically the posturing (precipitated by teenage raging hormones) that motivated our going to Sta. Cruz Church at that time.
Earlier this afternoon, I met with three fellow camera club members at Hidalgo Street in Quiapo. We shot some pictures around the church's vicinity; afterwards, we headed over to Sta. Cruz Church wherein I took a picture of its chapel by the front door (see photo below). Everyone enjoyed taking pictures of this church and its grounds, as well as the Carriedo Fountain over at Plaza de Sta. Cruz in front of the church.
I am very happy that through my interest in photography, I am developing many friends as I used to when I was in high school. However, for tomorrow until Easter Sunday, it would be a time reserved for family and visiting relatives.
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Labels: Sta. Cruz Church
posted by Señor Enrique at 8:24 PM
20 Comments:
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said... One place I wish I could be at during this coming Easter is the San Agustin Church ...
Anyway, have a blessed Holy Week and happy Easter!
(:-
Photo Cache said... i miss the solemnity of the holy week celebration/commemoration back home. photography does feed the soul in ways i can not describe.
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said...
Holy Week is a time to reflect and I love visiting churches. Hope you have a rested week ahead of you.
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said...
I have three Holy Week traditions:
1) Visit seven churches on Good Friday
2) Take a bath at exactly 12 noon on Good Friday (LOL!) Well, they say it's for healing. :)
3) Ask my mom in law to make coconut oil extract on Good Friday (she says it has healing power)
Nice photo of the church, Eric... makes me feel like I'm looking up to God from that angle. :)-
sheilamarie said...
even though we are from caloocan, we (mom, dad and i) used to make visita iglesia in manila like ermita church, san agustin, etc.
happy easter, eric =)-
said...
one of these days pwede ba akong sumama? kahit taga masahe lang ng likod kapag napapagod na kayong maglakad at kumuha ng litrato lol!
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Señor Enrique said...
Quite apparent how much you like San Augustin Church, Kyels. But I'm sure you'll be back for a visit soon.
BTW, you're right. They cordon off the entrance with a sign, "No tourists allowed during mass." But only when there's a wedding ceremony going on.-
Señor Enrique said...
You're right, Photo Cache, you can still somehow feel the solemnity of the Lenten Season here in Manila. But in NYC, not at all; just another work day.
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Señor Enrique said...
Thanks, Noemi. Wishing you the same for the rest of the week. I might go to Espiritu Church later; the church of my childhood days.
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Señor Enrique said...
Interesting traditions, Rhoda! The third one is intriguing. Do you know that I've been using coco oil on my hair for the past two years now?
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Señor Enrique said...
Those are very nice churches you mentioned, Sheilamarie. BTW, I was surprised to realize that Malate Church is actually very small as compared to Ermita Church which is more spacious and airier.
Happy Easter to you and the family, too!-
Señor Enrique said...
Sumama ka para mag-practice ka din kumuha ng pictures, Melai -- hindi para magmasahe. Dami atang mga masaherong bulag dito, no?
Let me know when you're back in Manila, ha? Kahit minsan lang, eh, makasama ka naman namin.-
said...
Haha... I also remember the days when I used to go to church to check out the other teen-agers. :) I've never been to the Sta. Cruz Church. It looks really beautiful.
Happy Easter Senor Enrique!-
Señor Enrique said...
Sta. Cruz Church has the most dramatic lighting on its altar, Toe. Very nice and meditattive.
So, you were one of those like us, eh ... hehehe!-
-= dave =- said...
Haha, I understand that switch to Sta. Cruz Church. For "sightseeing" purposes, I'd prefer Sanctuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park ;)
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said...
Uwi po ako ng April 16 stay ako ng isang bwan :)excited ako syempre makasa sa inyo :)
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said...
Hope you didn't to deal with police and/or security guards not allowing you to take pictures on a Holy Saturday !
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Señor Enrique said...
Now, that's a church I have never been to at all, Dave. Seen pictured of many big wigs and celebs getting married there, though. I want to pay a visit; wonder if picture-taking is allowed if done discreetly?
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Señor Enrique said...
Sige, Melai, if we have any photo shoot opp anytime within that time frame, sama ka sa amin, ha?
I'll let you know.-
Señor Enrique said...
Suprisingly, BW, no harrassment from any uniformed guys. Inside Sta. Cruz Church, I was in and out quickly -- more like guerilla-shooting -- and although I noticed a guard looking at me, he never bothered walking over to stop me. It must have beeen because of the Lenten season. The grounds has always been okay, it's inside the church that's supposedly a no no even without a mass going on.
