25 Bulacan Churches for your Visita Iglesia (Part 1)

For many people, Holy Week is that time of the year when they would visit churches as their own way of penitence and observing the sanctity of the Christ's passion in the cross. Some would go to far-away provinces to visit different churches though many would prefer nearer churches, especially those who are from Metro Manila. Fortunately, Bulacan, a province just north of Metro Manila, has many churches which are perfect for a meaningful Visita Iglesia.

Bulacan is an averaged sized province and visitors would not be able to cover all its churches in a one day Visita Iglesia. Depending on what visitors prefer and from where they will come from, they can choose from three clusters of churches to be visited. They can choose Eastern Bulacan (Part 1), Southwestern Bulacan (Part 2), or Northwestern Bulacan (Part 3) Visita Iglesia.

Below is a suggested guide to a Visita Iglesia in Eastern Bulacan:

1. SAN LORENZO RUIZ DE MANILA CHURCH, San Jose del Monte City

A Walking Tour around Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur

(This is part of my Ilocos Sur townhopping last June 15-16, 2013)

Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur has always been known as the town where one of the four Baroque Churches inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage list can be found. But aside from the famous Santa Maria Church, there are other heritage structures still standing in this historic town for everyone to see.

I was greeted by a conspicuous town plaza arch upon arriving at the town. Said arch serves as the entrance to the town's spacious plaza where town events are held.

Santa Maria Church : A UNESCO World Heritage Site

(This is part of my Ilocos Sur townhopping last June 15-16, 2013)

From my fulfilling and successful Abra town hopping, I hopped onto a bus to continue my town hopping, this time in the Heritage Province of Ilocos Sur. I was so excited then because my next destination is the town of Santa Maria to visit and see the world famous Santa Maria Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Santa Maria Church. Baroque Church of the Philippines. UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Santa Maria Church is one of the four churches (the others being Miag-ao Church in Iloilo, Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte, and San Agustin Church in Manila) clumped as the Baroque Churches of the Philippines inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site List.