15 Rizal Churches for your Visita Iglesia (Part 2)

Every year, Visita Iglesia has been part of many Filipinos' tradition of their observation of the Holy Week. The faithfuls visit seven to fourteen different churches, depending on their own preference and custom. Many would go to far-away provinces while some prefer to do it near their home, especially those from Metro Manila. Rizal, a province which can be found just at the vicinity of Metro Manila, has many churches perfect for a meaningful visita iglesia.

Rizal is an average-sized province and visitors would not be able to cover all its churches in a day. Depending on what visitor's prefer and from where they will come from, they can choose from two clusters of churches to be visited. They can choose either the Northern Rizal (Part 1) or Southern Rizal (Part 2) Visita Iglesia.

Below is a suggested guide for a Southern Rizal Visita Iglesia:

1. ST. CLEMENT CHURCH, Angono

Church details : The Parish of St. Clement was officially established in the 1933 but the church, the town, and its history goes back longer than that.

Location : Dona Aurora St., Brgy. Poblacion Ibaba, Angono, Rizal

How to get there? From EDSA Crossing (Mandaluyong), you may ride jeep or buses passing by Angono Town. You can also ride FX/Van in their EDSA Central terminal.


2. STA. URSULA CHURCH, Binangonan

Church details: It is an old church of which construction was started by the Franciscan missionaries in the latter part of the 18th century.

Location : Brgy, Libid, Binangonan, Rizal

How to get there?  From Angono, ride a jeep going to Binangonan. Ask the driver to drop you off at a place where you can easily reach the church.


3. OUR LADY OF THE HOLY ROSARY CHURCH, Cardona

Church details : This church was said to be founded in 1872 by the Franciscan missionaries. The church was linked to a story wherein an image of the Our Lady of the Holy Rosary enshrined in it would mysteriously disappear and then appear later.

Location : Rizal St., Brgy. Real, Cardona, Rizal

How to get there? From Binangonan Church, take a tricycle to bring you back to the national road, and from there, ride a jeep going to Morong, which would pass by Cardona.


4. ST. JEROME CHURCH, Morong

Church details : The church was built by Chinese artisans in the early 17th century. This is one of the oldest church in the whole province and was a witness to many skirmishes between the Filipino and Spanish troops during the war. It's unique characteristic is that its very beautiful bell tower also serves as its facade.

Location : Turentigue St., Brgy. San Juan, Morong, Rizal

How to get there? From Cardona, take a jeep going to Morong. Ask the driver to drop you off at Morong Church.


5. ST. JOSEPH CHURCH, Baras

Church details : The Franciscan missionaries started building the first church in 1595 and finished it in the early years of the 1600's. The present church was finished in 1686.

Location : San Jose St., Brgy. San Juan, Baras, Rizal

How to get there? From Morong, ride a jeep going to Baras. Alight in front of the old Baras municipal hall and take the road on its left going to the church.


6. SAN ILDEFONSO DE TOLEDO CHURCH, Tanay

Church details : The building of the present church was started in 1773 and finished in 1783. It has a beautiful retablo and a set of an antique wooden  bas relief of the 14 stations.

Location : M.H. del Pilar St., Brgy. Plaza Aldea, Tanay, Rizal

How to get there? From Baras, ride a jeep going to Tanay. Alight at the side of Tanay Church.


7. SANTA MARIA MAGDALENA CHURCH, Pililla

Church details : This church was completed in 1673 but some alterations and renovations were done in the recent century. The foundation and most of the stone walls and buttresses are still original.

Location : Brgy. Imatong, Pililla, Rizal

How to get there?  From Tanay, ride a jeep going to Pililla. Ask the driver to drop you off at the street where you can easily access the church.


8. SAN MIGUEL ARCANGEL CHURCH, Jala-jala

Church details : This present church is of modern construction but there are reports of an older stone church built in the early part of the 18th century.

Location : C. Villaran St., Jala-jala, Rizal

How to get there? From Pililla, ride a jeep going to Jala-jala. Ask the driver to drop you off near the church.

Jala-jala Church is the last part of your Southern Rizal Visita Iglesia. You may also opt to do the Northern Rizal Visita Iglesia.