Ferddie's Blue Jeans: April 2011

Kamay Ni Hesus Healing Center in Lucban, Quezon City

We almost didn’t have this leg of the spiritual tour.

Late in the afternoon, the group initially decided to head back to Manila from Majayjay, Laguna. However, somewhere along the way, some of the sisters I understand expressed their desire to really see this renowned place established by healing priest Fr. Joey Faller. When Bro. Steve Krueger asked me about it, I asked in return how far the place was to which he replied about 30 minutes away. I said let’s proceed. As it turned out, it was a decision we all did not regret.

From Majayjay, we passed through the municipality of Luisiana and then crossed over to the Province of Quezon. A few kilometers away from the poblacion of Lucban in Barangay Tinamnan, you will find the Kamay Ni Hesus Healing Center.

The Healing Center’s Chapel

I could only describe it as a soothing sanctuary for tired pilgrims like me. In a sense you could say that it has everything. There is a lovely chapel, a “Garden of Eden”, a Via Dolorosa Grotto of Healing, a “Way of Purification” and a 50-foot image of the “Ascending Christ”, all dedicated “to the people of the Philippines and of the whole world who believe in the Infinite Love of God.”

Inside the chapel you see the image of a Risen Christ

The Center’s Stations of the Cross carved out of the mountain

A sprawling 2.5 hectare ‘Garden of Eden’

The Garden featured biblical tales like the story of Creation

“Noah’s Ark” was ‘recreated’ in the Healing Center’s grounds

Famously known as Christ’s Last Supper, the scene more importantly depicts the Institution of the Holy Eucharist

Some brethren like Bro. Omin del Castillo and several others took the challenge of climbing the mountain all the way up to the image of the ‘Ascending Christ’. In my family, Faith and Joshua joined me for the climb along with niece Julia, Maymay our helper and her sister. Junior stayed behind to look after his mother and lola who found difficulty in making the uphill trek.

Jesus falls under the weight of the cross

Despite the difficult climb my children press on

By thy Holy Cross, thou has redeemed the world

Thank you Lord, we triumphantly reach the peak of this holy mountain

Spiritual reflection during the physically challenging climb is an occasion to purify one’s soul…

…while the panoramic view rejuvenates one’s weary spirit

A final picture memento before the long trek down

A close replica of Michelangelo's La Pieta

Back to Noah’s Ark

A closer view of Noah and his Ark

As I found out, the ‘Ark’ also known as ‘Bahay Pari’, was envisioned to be a home for old priests in the Diocese of Lucena which administers the facility. Relatively new, it was solemnly blessed by the Bishop of Lucena, the Most Reverend Emilio Marquez, D.D. along with Bishop Emeritus Ruben Profugo, D.D. only last October 27, 2010. The ‘Ark’s” facilities and amenities also make it as a suitable venue for recollections, retreats and conferences.

Faith tries out the cool and creamy ‘scramble’

If you’re hungry after all the walking and climbing, don’t fret. On the outskirts of the Healing Center’s property are numerous shops that offer food, drinks and souvenir items alike. A welcome surprise in a number of local government units particularly here in Laguna and Quezon is the prohibition on the use of plastic bags. Instead you are given brown paper bags. They’re not exactly the best container of heavy or pointed items but they are relatively more environment-friendly than most plastics.

When you’re in Lucban, don’t forget to try their chami and popular Pancit Hab-hab

One should never forget to try the native noodle products of Lucban particularly their Pancit Hab-hab. For a real authentic Lucban Pancit Hab-hab experience, try eating it the way locals traditionally do, without utensils, using only your hands to place the pancit (sometimes served over banana leaves) near your mouth.

We left Lucban still as a convoy of four (4) vehicles but took on separate routes as we reached Pagsanjan. Our vehicle took the longer western route that went through Pila, Bay, Los Baňos and Calamba, and though the SLEX tollway while the rest took the same eastern route we went through this morning back to Quezon City.

Tired but happy we reached our home sometime around midnight after bringing my in-laws to their home in Project 8. The long distances surely required endurance but also brought us a sense of new discovery, achievement and spiritual fulfillment during this time of Lent.

After all, going through the various places in a pilgrimage and marveling at God’s various creations and thanking Him for everything was already half of the deep religious experience.

Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Turumba, Parish of St. Peter of Alcantara in Pakil, Laguna

The second main leg of this spiritual journey brought us to the Diocesan Shrine of our Lady of Turumba in Pakil, Laguna.

Under the Diocese of San Pablo, Laguna, this church was declared a diocesan shrine in honor of the Lady of Turumba on October 19, 2006 in commemoration of the 330^th founding anniversary of the San Pedro de Alcantara parish.

Statue in honor of Pakil’s native son: Marcelo Adonay acclaimed as a prince of church music in the country

The church’s centuries-old front door

The group prayer continues

Side altar

Main altar and church dome

The La Pieta, the Evangelists and artwork on biblical stories are seen at the church dome

Stigmata

Holy oils and other religious items are made available at the church

Stairway leading to the second floor chapel

The view of the town plaza from the church upper floor

Garments of the Lady of Sorrows

View from the church balcony

The Turumba chapel

Next stop – Liliw, Laguna.

Nestled at the northwest slopes of Mount Banahaw, the natural boundary of Tayabas (now Quezon) and Laguna, Liliw stands beside the banks of a river with the same name, bounded by the towns of Nagcarlan, Majayjay and Magdalena.

According to folklore, the town of Liliw got its name from a singing bird that perched on a bamboo pole raised by Gat Tayaw, the town’s legendary founder.

However, during the Spanish and American colonial periods, Liliw was actually known as “Lilio” because the Spaniards and the Americans had difficulty in pronouncing the letter “w”. It was only in 1965 that the name “Liliw” was formally adopted by the Municipality.

An avenue of saints in front of the St. John the Baptist Parish Church in Liliw, Laguna

As a settlement during the Spanish colonial period, Liliw residents were evangelized in 1578 by Franciscan missionaries Juan de Placensia and Diego de Oropesa. The town remained a dependency of Nagcarlan until 1605 when it was assigned its first permanent minister, Fray Miguel de San Lucas.

Under the patronage of St. John the Baptist, the Liliw parish and town celebrates its feast day on August 29, a date marking the martyrdom of Christ’s humble cousin and precursor.

Picture of the Liliw Church and town of old

The group prayer continues

The Church’s three restored retablo altars

The church structure as well as the parochial rectory is primarily made up of adobe blocks and clay bricks. In 2007, then parish priest Rev. Fr. Philip B. Atienza, inspired by an old document that described the original church design, started a massive restoration that led to the reconstruction of three retablo altars, a confessional and a hanging pulpit.

Capilla de San Buenaventura

An old image of Saint Bonaventure, well known Franciscan theologian, Cardinal-Bishop of Albano and Doctor of the Church is displayed for veneration in a small newly built chapel adjacent to the atrium of the church and rectory. In 1664, the image is said to have been witnessed by the parish priest and 120 persons to have wept and sweated blood.

Side trip along Liliw’s commercial district

From the church, the group decided to have lunch there at Liliw. That of course gave everyone the chance to see the bustling commerce and trade that put this town on the map.

Aside from being a popular destination for its cold mountain water resorts, Liliw is also known as the “Tsinelas (footwear) Capital of the Philippines rivaling Marikina City of metropolitan Manila. There are numerous footwear shops along the main streets of Liliw where one can bargain hunt and haggle for a good price.

Similarly well known are Liliw’s lambanog (coconut sap alcoholic beverage), Uraro biscuits and various leather and fiber products.

OTOP – One Town, One Product concept

Liliw and Footwear synonymous to each other!

Not familiar with the local eateries, my family decided to eat lunch at the small local Chowking outlet. Being a Friday in Lent, I tried to remain true to my promise to abstain from eating meat today. I ate only pancit canton if I recall. Of course, my abstinence didn’t prohibit me from buying some delicious native white cheese and some Pako (vegetable for salads) to bring home.

Local vendor sells Pako

Mt. Banahaw and Mt. Cristobal provide a magnificent background to the figure of the Blessed Mother

Waiting for the rest to come back from lunch gave me a lot of time to appreciate the beauty of Laguna’s natural surroundings. Taking cue from Bro. Terence’s magnificent shots of the Blessed Virgin statue beside the Liliw church, I took some of my own with the two great mountains of Banahaw and Sto. Cristobal as the stunning background.

Mama Mary beside the church tower

Next stop – Nagcarlan

As a young boy, I had many good memories of Nagcarlan. During my elementary years in St. Mary’s College, this area was often a destination for school field trips and Cub Scout camping activities. In this town, we continued our spiritual pilgrimage with a visit to the church of St. Bartholomew.

St. Bartholomew Parish in Nagcarlan, Laguna

Identical in design to many nearby churches also ran by the Franciscan order (OFM), the first church of St. Batholomew was built in 1583. A second church made of brick and stone was constructed in 1752 but was partially damaged by a fire in 1781. In 1845, a choir loft was added to the reconstructed church by Reverend Father Vicente Velloc. Fray Velloc incidentally was also the cleric who had the historically famous Nagcarlan(g) Cemetery and its underground crypt built that same year.

St. Bartholomew’s altar

Statues of the Immaculate Mary with Sta. Catalina of Sena and Sta. Ana

In this station we remember as Jesus was nailed on the cross

A relief painting depicting the purification of souls in purgatory before entering God’s heavenly kingdom

From Nagcarlan, we retraced our travel route passing by the town of Liliw to go to the Municipality of Majayjay. Our travel destination - the remarkable parish church of St. Gregory the Great.

St. Gregory the Great Parish in Majayjay, Laguna

Designated a national treasure by virtue of Museum Declaration No. 2, dated July 31, 2001, the parish church of San Gregorio Magno commands a clear view of the hilly town and the Laguna de Bay from a distance. Despite some alterations on the walls, the church interior’s retablos and azulejo-tiled floor have been well preserved. I didn’t get to see it but access to the bell tower has supposedly been made easier with cement steps. This access way is also said to lead to the so-called ‘langit-langitan’, a catwalk above the ceiling which in turn proceeds to the crossing over the transept.

Originally built by the Augustinian friars out of bamboo and nipa material at Sitio May-it after the conquistador Salcedo pacified the natives in 1571, the first parish church was burned in 1576. It was reconstructed by the Franciscans in 1578 but caught fire a second time around in 1606. The present stone church was put up from 1616 – 1649; partly burned again in 1660 and repaired in 1707. It then underwent expansion and several repairs over the next two centuries due to damages from passing storms. The American colonialists used the church as a base during the Philippine-American War, again undergoing repairs in 1912.