A Walk in Manila pt1

It's a great opportunity to visit some of the Philippine's old yet well-known churches. And this small photowalk with sir Axl, Nowitzki and sir Joey was a great chance for me to visit Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, or commonly known as Binondo Church......

Here's a short FYI about the place:

This church was founded by Dominican priests in 1596 to serve their Chinese converts to Christianity. The original building was destroyed in 1762 by British bombardment. A new granite church was completed on the same site in 1852 however it was greatly damaged during the Second World War, with only the western facade and the octagonal bell tower surviving.

San Lorenzo Ruiz, who was born of a Chinese father and a Filipino mother, trained in this church and afterwards went as a missionary to Japan and was executed there for refusing to renounce his religion. San Lorenzo Ruiz was to be the Philippines' first saint and he was canonized in 1987. A large statue of the martyr stands in front of the church.

Masses are held in Filipino, in Chinese dialects (Mandarin, Hokkien), and in English.

Even before the arrival of the Spanish to the Philippines there was already a community of Chinese traders living in Manila. The population of Chinese traders increased with the advent of Spanish colonization of the Philippines, due to increased trade between the islands.The upsurge in their population prompted the catholic missionaries to manage the conversion of the Chinese population to the Christian faith.

In 1596, Dominican priests founded Binondo church to serve their Chinese converts to Christianity as well as to the native Filipinos.

The original structure has sustained damages during wars and various natural disasters. The current granite church was completed on the same site in 1852 and features an octagonal bell tower which suggests the Chinese culture of the parishioners. The church was burned during the British invasion of 1872. Another one was quickly built following the occupation. Improvements were made in the 18th century but the edifice was again destroyed in the 1863 earthquake. It was rebuilt in the grandeur the remains on which we see today. Before the war, it was considered as one of the most beautiful churches in the country. Its bell tower was composed of five stories, octagonal in shape. At its top was a mirador (viewing window). This roof was destroyed during the 1863 earthquake.

American bombing on September 22, 1944 destroyed the structure. Everything including the archives of the parish were burned. Nothing was left behind except the stone walls of the church and the fire-tiered octagonal belltower. After the war, Binondo parishioners had to make do with a roofless church for several years until it was rebuilt in the 1950's.

The present church and convent was renovated between 1946 and 1971.

Situated at the busy district of Binondo Manila, the church lies on its site for all devotees, Chinese-Catholics or purely Catholics, and tourists as well. While inside, with the use of my digicam which I got as a graduation gift, i took pictures of this majestic place. Here are some of them:

Entrance to the church

the main interior of the church

An image of  Saint Josemaría Escrivá   the founder of Opus Dei

The altar

My favorite part, the Choir Loft...(boom mike din ang gamit nila, so buga ang pagkanta nila,lavet! hehe)

this is an image of  Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of  La Naval,
is found on the highest part of the altar

the Tabernacle

An image of St. Lorenzo Ruiz

Along the altar, different images of various saints can be found, I could not take some pictures of it, I was having a hard time figuring out how to brighten my shots of them, I decided not to post it, since it was too dark, and also, I do not want to go the altar, it's disrespectful in my part.

the ceiling of the Alter

this is what's painted around in (see picture above)

Confessional

and the most beautiful part of the church were these paintings on the ceiling:

Joyful Mysteries

1st Mystery: The Annunciation
2nd Mystery: The Visitation

3rd Mystery: The Birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ

4th Mystery: The Presentation in the Temple
5th Mystery: The Finding in the Temple

Sorrowful Mysteries

1st Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
2nd Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar

3rd Mystery: The Crowning of Thorns

4th Mystery: The Carrying of the Cross
5th Mystery: The Crucifixion

Glorious Mysteries

1st Mystery: The Resurrection
2nd Mystery: The Ascension
3rd Mystery: The Decent of the Holy Spirit

4th Mystery: The Assumption
5th Mystery: The Coronation of Mary as Queen

One mystery is missing right? Yeah I know, the Luminous Mysteries, i sure do wish na may part din na meron,
and of course, if there's an interior, there's an exterior :)

This is the statue of St. Lorenzo Ruiz that was said to be
found outside.

I had a great while taking these photos, di man kasing ganda ng mga may dlsr, peor at least nakapunta ako sa Binondo Church. And I thank God for leading me here, naligaw man ako ng kaunte pero at least nahanap ko pa rin yung site, and I'm hoping na sana makabalik ako dito kasama mama ko, isa rin yung makati ang paa tulad ko (may pinagmanahan lang) ehehehe.


And it was a great adventure dahil nadagdagan na naman ang mga destination na kabisado ko ang lugar, hehe (walang hassle kapag ako'y napagtanungan kung saan maganda pumunta). A lot of people would choose to go to other countries for migration due to the fact that it is nicer to have a life there, yes it is true, pero why not appreciate the wonders that are just around us before we go to other places which we need great financial investment. Why not wander around places were we could only invest just a minimal amount of money para mapuntahan yun, if I were you, before you migrate, why not appreciate your own country first. There's a lot of beautiful places here asides from malls. And kahit patuloy ang "Laban" na sinasabe ng pangulo nila, (anong laban ba yun honestly?), learn to appreciate what was made by your fellow country men, remember....


"Ang Taong Hindi Marunong Lumingon sa Pinanggalingan ay Masahol pa kaysa sa Malansang ISDA." 


Until next time!

Next part: Ongpin Street/ Sa Lido/ Sta. Cruz Church/ Kalye Escolta...(bahala na kung alin dyan ang uunahin ko hehe, wagas lang!) 

Tis,

from the YEE,
to the HAW!!!!!