Manila Trip: Part One

Note: This is a long post.

Another long overdue post. I finally got to go to the Philippines (last month) this year and even that trip was supposed to be just for visitation. I was supposed to visit Kaka Sister but as she has gone home a few weeks earlier, plan B was to just join in the tour. That, too, was almost cancelled since I was down with flu two days before departure. Anyway, just to let you know, I skipped my first week of the fifth semester for this trip. So here are the few stuffs I want to share with you all.

13th June – Departure Day: The first registration day for the new semester and since I do not want to pay an extra RM50 for late registration, I went to campus as usual and waited until the counters opened around 8.45 am. Hey, I wanted to get it done quickly. I had a plane to catch! Went home about half an hour later.

I left for the airport around 11.00 am. Not much to talk about that. Our flight was at 1.00 pm so by  12.00 pm, we were already at the waiting bay. Now here, something happened. I went over to the little cafe there to buy myself some breakfast since I did not manage to have any in the morning. There was this male customer in front of me and I don’t know why but he was fussing over his orders. Maybe because he was ordering for himself and his friends so there was a slight misunderstanding between them.

When it was finally my turn, Uncle Paul called out to me. He and Aunt Rita were signalling about something. I was blurred at first until they said, “On the floor.” Uh, so what was on the floor? A few tens. RM40, to be exact. They were right between my feet and I swear, while I was waiting in line, I did not see the man dropping anything.

I picked it up and looked around me, in case someone realised they have just dropped something. No one showed any sign so I tucked those tens into my left pocket and paid for my order, with my own money. I kept an eye on people around me while I was at the cafe. Who knows, right? Someone might just be looking for it. In the end, no one was so I guess it was a lucky day for me. XD

Long story short, we arrived at Clark at 2.45 pm. I realised our group was a small one with only 13 people, Aunt Rita and Uncle Paul included. I had a feeling this trip was going to be a fun one, regardless of it being a pilgrimage tour. Done with day one!

14th June – Day Two: For the whole week, we will be staying at Fray Juan and today starts our pilgrimage tour. First stop – St. Rita of Cascia. It is a small place but let’s not forget that we are in the Philippines so though it is small, the interior is still beautiful. Don’t believe me? Take a look at this:

 

 

The statue of Christ on the wall, added with the stained glass window behind gives a certain awe to the place. Trust me, the whole trip blew me away! Pictures? Well, yes, bit by bit I will share them with you. Thanks to Uncle Paul for this picture!

Then we went on to the Shrine of St. Therese, Pasay. I could tell of the shrine’s history but it would take a lot of space to elaborate. With its unique structure, again, the interior is really beautiful. Kind of grand.

 

 

Top: the Altar area. / Below: Some of the stained-glass windows around.

Our next stop was the church of Santa Ana, one of the oldest churches in the Philippines, if I got my facts right. It was here at this church also that Our Lady of the Abandoned was venerated as the patroness of the parish.

 

 

Left: The Exterior / Right: The Interior

Our final stop for the day was the Ermita Church. I have to admit, even on the first day of our tour, I am already amazed. The churches so far (including those we passed by) were either built in the traditionally grand, gothic style – like our very own St. Michael’s church – or with a touch of modernity – like most churches including our Sacred Heart of Jesus’ church here in Inobong (cemented, if that is the word for it). As for Ermita, it is a modern building.

 

Left: The Exterior / Right: The Interior

And below is a better view of the altar are.

Look who I found standing guard : Our beloved Parish’s patron – St. Michael the Archangel.

And that concludes our first day of the tour! We went for lunch at one of the SM malls nearby. I do not remember which one it is but it is an SM mall. Ate at Chowking Restaurant. My eyes are beginning to pay attention on someone.