In the town of Pakil in Laguna
stands a beautiful church officially known as the St. Peter of Alcantara Parish Church, though most of the people simply call it as Pakil Church. This rural
town may not be your usual destination when visiting Laguna, yet it is actually
a good place to visit especially if you go on a Visita Iglesia of the
great churches across the province.
A tour of the church would
yield a lot of trivia, especially if you speak with the locals and the people
in charge of the cathedral’s upkeep. The locals are friendly and ready to answer
your questions.
You would not believe that
this church took some 35 years to build. Perhaps they placed attention to every
detail because you could really see how lovely each part of the church looks.
Did you know that this church
was the setting of the popular Juan dela Cruz? Yes! So, if you were an avid
follower of that show, you will find this church familiar to the eyes. You
could try to remember the scenes of that TV show as you try to check out in
which part of the church the major events happened.
The seal from the National Historical Commision- inscription of the church's history |
This grand church features
lots of angels, shields, and crosses that made it appear to be a wonderful
sanctuary where you can feel guarded from evil forces at all times.
It was quite surprising,
though, that his church also held several frescoes, including one that featured
heaven, hell, and purgatory! It was a chilling yet admirable painting that
makes you want to confess your sins and turn away from evil just so you can go
to heaven – it is vivid and heavenly.
The fresco was called “Judicum
Finale”, a masterpiece created by 19th century painter Jose Dans. Several
stunning frescoes and paintings adorned this grand church, including a replica
of La Pieta.
The Nuestra SeƱora de los
Dolores or the Virgen de Turumba is enshrined in a tiny chapel in this
beautiful church. The image is clothed in stunning beaded gowns which are
changed every 2 weeks. According to some locals, the gowns of the Virgin are
then cut up into small pieces which are then distributed to the faithful/devotees.
If you plan to visit this
church, it would be a good idea to speak with the church workers and you might
be able to obtain a piece of the virgin’s gown as a holy memento to bring home.
How to get there
from Metro Manila
Ride in a
bus (HM, JAC, JAM, Greenstar), from Taft
Avenue (Buendia)/Edsa/Cubao Terminal, going to Sta. Cruz, Laguna. At Sta. Cruz,
board in a jeepney bound to Siniloan. Ask the driver to drop you in front of
Pakil Church.
from Lucena (Quezon Province)
Ride in a jeepney (at Lucena Grand Central Terminal) with route going to Pagsanjan or
Sta. Cruz. Alight in front of Pagsanjan Church or in front of the town’s plaza
then ride in a jeepney bound to Siniloan. Ask the driver to drop you in front
of Pakil Church.
***
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Philippines is rich with so many old churches full of history.
ReplyDeleteyou can actually see how old the church is and how historic it is for the place.
ReplyDeleteIt's no wonder old structures like this easily become tourist spots. Its vintage make and the history behind it makes it all the more interesting.
ReplyDeleteI love the beauty of old churches. They are simply stunning. I've never been to Pakil, only in San Pablo. We have relatives there.
ReplyDeletethat is one beautiful parish church. I loved the design. It is old but it still looks beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThe intricate details and the elaborate workmanship make this church truly stand out. No wonder it took so long to build it.
ReplyDeleteMalapit lang ang Pakil sa Victoria but never pa akong nakapunta rito. Thanks bro sa added info and ganda ng mga photos mo.
ReplyDelete