A Complete Itinerary for your Visita Iglesia in Bulacan

22 March 2022

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In addition to being the country's oldest province, Bulacan is also one of the country's earliest Christianized provinces. Bulacan's churches are among the country's oldest and most beautiful, so it's not surprising that they're located there. The churches in the province are a good example of the region's exceptional workmanship.

If you want to have your Visita Iglesia out of town, there are a lot of churches in Bulacan that make it a great destination for your Holy Week tradition this year. Although you might not have the chance to explore them all because of their great numbers, it would still be easier for you to pick the seven churches or fourteen churches in Bulacan that you would like to include in your itinerary.

Just a quick trivia though, an important part of the liturgical calendar in the Philippines is Visita Iglesia, which takes place during Holy Week and the Lenten season. Lenten practice for Catholics is to visit at least seven churches and pray the fourteen stations of the cross, which is a Spanish expression that meaning "to go to church."

So, without further ado, here are some of the churches in Bulacan that you can include in your Holy Week itinerary:

Saint Augustine Parish Church (Baliuag)

When the Parish Church of San Agustin was initially dedicated in 1801, it made Baliuag Church one of the area's most historic buildings and one of the oldest churches in the area as well.

Your Visita Iglesia experience in Bulacan will be one of a kind if you add this church to your itinerary list because of the fortress-like façade and interiors, both of which showcase the church's Baroque architectural style.

Supposedly built to resist rebel invasions, the huge limestone and brick edifice was supposed to last. The bell tower, which can be seen from a considerable distance, is the most striking feature of this church for travelers. During your Holy Week and Visita Iglesia in Bulacan, this is definitely one of the most important churches to visit.

Saint Augustine Parish Chuch is located at Benigno S. Aquino Ave, Baliuag, Bulacan.

Barasoain Church (Malolos City)

You may begin your Holy Week and Visita Iglesia in the province of Bulacan by visiting Barasoain Church, officially known as Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, which is located 42 kilometers from Manila.

This parish church, which was established in August of 1859, served as the first Philippine Republic administrative headquarters. The name "Barasoain" is derived from the Navarrean town of Barásoain in Spain, with which it shares a name. The church has a significant historical importance in the Philippines and has been referred to as the "Cradle of Democracy in the East, the most important religious building in the Philippines" because of this.

A great tip for a quick cultural and historical trivia: If you're visiting Bulacan during Holy Week or during the annual Visita Iglesia in the city, you may want to bear in mind the phrase "baras ng sulail," which means "dungeon of the rebellious," since it was a gathering site for anti-Spanish illustradors during the Philippine revolution.

The Barasoain Church or Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish is located at Paseo del Congreso St., Malolos, Bulacan.

Sta. Monica Church (Angat)

The Santa Monica Parish Church in Bulacan dates all the way back to 1758, making it one of the region's oldest churches in Bulacan.

We are sure that upon your visit here, the Sistine Chapel-like ceiling murals in this cathedral are one of the things that will astound you during your Holy Week and the Visita Iglesia in Bulacan.

The parish was built in 1693 by Augustinian monks, and its baroque architecture will transport you back in time. Filipino-Christian art forms like Simbang Gabi and Flores de Mayo are seen in the ceiling murals.

Rene Robles began working on the sculpture in 1998, and Jess Robles finished it in 2002. Don't forget to bring your camera or a smartphone with good photo quality with you throughout your Holy Week in Bulacan so that you can capture the beautiful church architecture and design after you made your devotions to the Stations of the Cross.

The Santa Monica Parish Church is located at Matias A. Fernando Ave., Angat, Bulacan.

San Isidro Labrador Parish Church (Pulilan)

An altar is located in Pulilan Church or San Isidro Labrador Parish in honor of Saint Isidore, the Laborer. Carabaos and other farm animals are compelled to kneel on the 14th or 15th of May as a respect to San Isidro, the patron saint of May. The longest Holy Week processions in Bulacan, with up to 90 carriages, will add an extra unique touch to your Visita Iglesia and Holy Week celebrations there. In addition, the neo-classical architecture in Bulacan will provide a dash of diversity to your Holy Week and Visita Iglesia.

The San Isidro Labrador Parish Church is located at National Road, Pulilan, Bulacan.

Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception or Malolos Cathedral (Malolos City)

The Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, also known as the Malolos Cathedral, can be found not far from the Barasoain Church. It is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. Founded in 1580 and this Bulacan church is one of the earliest still standing in the province today.

Fray. Melchor Fernández, on the other hand, began building the current church in 1814 and completed it in 1817.

The Malolos Cathedral, like the Barasoain Church, has a long and fascinating past. During Emilio Aguinaldo's presidency of the First Philippine Republic, which lasted from September 15, 1898, to March 31, 1899, the convent next door functioned as his official residence and the presidential palace. In addition to this, Aguinaldo also utilized the monastery as his office.

The Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception in Malolos became a Cathedral first before it was made into a Minor Basilica in 1999.

The Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception is located at Estrella Street, Malolos City 3017 Bulacan.

Nuestro Señor Jesucristo Parish (Bocaue)

Like San Isidro Labrador, the Nuestro Señor Jesucristo Parish was a relatively recent addition to the community of Lolomboy. Project Pangarap, an effort to create a bigger church near the Saint Andrew Kim Taegon Shrine, resulted in the construction of this church. It took many years for the church to be built, and it was finally finished in 2017. On January 1, 2021, St. Andrew Kim Tae-gon Parish was promoted to the Diocesan Shrine of St. Andrew.

The Nuestro Señor Jesucristo Parish is located at Project Pangarap, Bocaue, 3018 Bulacan.

Diocesan Shrine of Saint Andrew Kim Taegon (Bocaue)

There is no way to finish a visit to Nuestro Senor Jesucristo Parish unless you visit the shrine. This lovely shrine and retreat center dedicated to Saint Andrew Kim Tae-gon, the first Korean saint, is only a short walk from the church. A museum dedicated to the life and death of Saint Andrew Kim Tae-Gon has been installed on the ground level of the building.

Koreans call him Saint Andrew Kim Taegon since he was the first Korean-born Catholic priest and the patron saint of their country. When Andres Kim was contemplating entering the priesthood, he visited Lolomboy, Bocaue, Bulacan, where he temporarily resided during a period of persecution for Korean Christians. In 1846, at the age of 25, Taegon was condemned to death in Korea for being a traitor and tortured and decapitated outside Seoul on the Han River.

Since the Diocesan Shrine of Saint Andrew Kim Tae-gon is only a few walks away from Nuestro Señor Jesucristo Parish, it is also located at Project Pangarap, Bocaue, 3018 Bulacan.

Santiago Apostol Church (Plaridel)

Santiago Apostol, a.k.a. Saint James the Great, was chosen to preside over the dedication of the church. Plaridel, formerly known as Quingua, was ceded to Malolos in 1599, long before it was renamed Plaridel. The church, which was built in 1602 and has a distinctive exterior, is likely to be of interest. Baroque-style Baroque and Moorish embellishments are seen in the stone and brick church now in use. Trempe d'oeil-inspired murals grace the church's ceiling, which is ornamented with ornate carvings.

The Santiago Apostol Church also known as St. James the Apostle Parish is located at Gov. Padilla Rd, Plaridel, Bulacan.

Saint Joseph the Worker Church (San Jose del Monte City)

In terms of Bulacan's history, it is regarded as one of the oldest churches. As of 1854, the church had its beginnings. With a three-story belfry and a massive bas relief depicting the figure of Saint Joseph and the Virgin Mary with the Holy Child Jesus, it greets you with a modest but well-preserved façade. The inside is as beautiful as the outside. The Blessed Carlo Acutis pilgrim figure and his relic are also on display during our visit to this church.

Saint Joseph the Worker Parish Church is located at National Highway, Poblacion, NH 44, San Jose del Monte City, 3023 Bulacan.

San Isidro Labrador Parish (San Jose del Monte City)

After your visit to Saint Joseph the Worker Church, you may come upon this church on the side of the road. While San Isidro is the patron saint of Saint Joseph The Worker Parish, this newer congregation is devoted to the patron saint of San Isidro.

The church was established in 1998. And since we are now on Alert Level 1, devotees are once again welcome to visit this church and have a look around its interior. Inside the church, they have a magnificent altar to display for their second patron, Our Lady of La Salette. Outside the church, there's a big statue of San Isidro Labrador to be seen, too.

San Isidro Labrador Parish is located at Linawan, Muzon, San Jose del Monte City, 3023 Bulacan.

St. Michael the Archangel Parish (Marilao)

Marilao Church, also known as the St. Michael the Archangel Parish, was built in the 19th century and is the second stop on your Holy Week and Visita Iglesia in Bulacan. When St. Michael appeared in an Italian cave and commanded the cave to be dedicated in his honor before the local bishop, rock chips and bits of fabric were left behind. This chapel now holds these relics, making it a one-of-a-kind place. During your time in Bulacan during Holy Week and Visita Iglesia, you'll see a church with a baroque exterior suggestive of a barn.

St. Michael the Archangel Parish is located at 174 Sandico, Marilao, 3019 Bulacan.

St. Francis of Assisi Church (Meycauayan City)

Baroque churches are everywhere in Bulacan during Holy Week and the Visita Iglesia. The Saint Francis of Assisi Parish Church, also known as the Meycauayan Church, is the biggest parish in the province and was built before the Barasoain Church. The first group of Franciscans to arrive in the Philippines in 1578 built a charming chapel out of palm leaves and bamboo, which was later replaced by a more modern structure. After being destroyed by a storm in 1588, the church was rebuilt three times, the third of which was finished in 1956. If you're one among the 80,000 faithful who visit this historic place each year during Holy Week and Visita Iglesia in Bulacan, you'll feel quite at home here.

The Saint Francis of Assisi Parish Church is located at Meycauayan City, Bulacan.

Bulacan, a province to the north of Metro Manila, is a popular tourist destination. It was in this province that the longest Spanish occupation in Philippine history occurred, as well as the emergence of a democratic Philippines. There are many churches built in the Spanish colonial period worth seeing during your time in Bulacan during Holy Week and Visita Iglesia.

Bulacan is more than simply a land of towering stone cathedrals; it is also a land of bustling agricultural and aquaculture enterprises. The months of November to April in Bulacan are often dry, despite being rainy for much of the rest of the year. May has the highest average temperature in the province, while February is lowest.

You can also enjoy some sumptuous dishes in Bulacan such as their famous ensaymada Malolos, inipit de leche, pastillas, minasa, and barquillos.

Travel in Bulacan with much convenience this Lenten season with its various infrastructure developments such as New Manila International Airport, Pulilan-Baliuag Diversion Road, Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT 7), Tutuban-Malolos Railway Project, Malolos-Clark Railway Project (MCRP), Ciudad de Victoria Interchange Bypass Road, 4-lane Angat Bridge along Plaridel Bypass Road, San Jose Del Monte-Doña Remedios Trinidad (SJDM-DRT) Bypass Road, Pandi Bypass Road Project, and the San Rafael-San Ildefonso-San Miguel Bypass Road.

Saying all these developments in the province is enough to make you interested in a home investment in Bulacan. Gladly, Lumina Homes currently have 5 existing communities in the province:

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