DOT lists 7 Pampanga churches for Visita Iglesia

ANGELES CITY — Doing the traditional Visita Iglesia in Pampanga on Maundy Thursday?

The Department of Tourism (DOT) in the region has issued a whole day do-it-yourself guide for those who plan to visit churches this Maundy Thursday in commemoration of the apostles’ vigil while Jesus Christ prayed in the garden of Gethsemane.

"The churches chosen for this year’s Visita Iglesia are blessed with historical and religious significance, reflecting the country’s conversion to Catholicism during the Spanish period, as well as their unique and ornate architecture," the DOT said.

Topping the DOT’s list for this year’s Visita Iglesia stop is the Holy Rosario Parish in Sto. Rosario st. in this city. The church was constructed from 1877 to 1896 by the townspeople through forced labor system known as polos y servicios imposed by the Spanish colonial government.

The next church is the imposing Metropolitan Cathedral in front of the city hall in San Fernando, some 17 kilometers south of Angeles. Built in the 18th century, the church is the seat of the San Fernando archdiocese.

For the third stop, the DOT recommends the Sta. Monica parish church in Minalin, located in the town’s highest spot, which local folk refer to as burul.

From Minalin, one can proceed to the San Juan Guillermo church in Bacolor, which is said to be one of the oldest and largest churches in Pampanga built by the Augustinian friars in 1576.

DOT regional director Ronaldo Totuico noted that "in spite of the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo whose lahar flows half-buried the church four years later, Masses are still held there every Sunday."

The fifth church in the DOT list is the Santiago de Galicia parish church, better known as the Betis Church in Guagua. Built in the early 1700s, its principal attraction is its main altar with an ornate ceiling that has been compared to the art works at the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.

Tiotuico noted that the government already declared the Betis church a "national treasure," one of only two churches bestowed such classification.

The sixth church is the Sta. Lucia parish church in Sasmuan. Tiotuico said that Sta.Lucia, for whom the church was named, has been known to bestow favors on folk who pray for her intercession at the church.

Last in the DOT itinerary is the St. Augustine parish church in Lubao, built in 1572 by architect Fr. Antonio Herrera. .