a s t i g !: Architectures

From Naga city airport, we were fetched by on-time hotel accommodation staffs , unfortunately plane arrival was the other way around, we noticed this plaza right away in the center of the busy streets, surrounded by different establishments, St. Francis de Assisi church and in front our hotel, 'New Crown'.

Tablet below the statues for the fifteen Martyrs of Bicol.

The place was good, no beggars and little children around like in Manila. It was like a piece of nature surrounded by urbanized blocks of cement, hehe.

The middle of plaza is a monument with three female statues above and a dead man carried one of them at the center and tablet that is seen below which commemorates fifteen martyrs in Bicol.

Viewed near from St. Francis de Assisi Church.

Like what I said, the greeniest part of the city serves as the balance for the whole area because of the ample piece of nature that gives tourist and locals a place to rest and relax for awhile.

After we got back fromour city tour, we ask our guide to just drop us off in the nearest area where we could buy some food which wasn't quite far from our hotel, then we landed on this spot, in front of the plaza.

Sun starting to set.

We look for a better place to eat, but then we just decided to buy and take it to hotel because of so much tiredness got from CWC boarding. I planned to wait for the sunset but my muscles started to sore and just took my best subject for the Naga city plaza, the blue Volkswagen Beatle MT.

July 31, 2011

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BICOL │ St. Francis de Assisi Church

St. Francis de Assisi church.

San Francisco Church is one of the oldest churches in Bicol and the oldest in Naga City. I noticed that it is surrounded by so many establishments like mall, market, hotel, restaurants and park, "Naga Park"

Church interior.

Because of so many commercialized establishments over the area, it has lot's church goer's here. Once you've entered, you will notice it's nice ceiling and area space. Of course it is much smaller compared to other churches we visited at Naga but it has unique characteristic.

It's ceiling.

The Altar.

I so love much the ceiling. It is like a pool of water above the Altar. It adds to the solemnity and tranquil feeling of the place. So unique.

Colored panes and columns on the sides.

St. Francis of Assisi and the historical tablet.

Outside the church, the statue and church's history tablet is situated and can be viewed.

July 29, 2011:

St. Francis church was our last church to visit in Naga City before we push to our next stop, Caramoan Islands. :)

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BICOL │ Our Lady of Penafrancia Church

Our Lady of Penafrancia Church

Our Lady of Penafrancia Church was also visted in our Naga city tour last July 2011 that made me more realize how people there love their religious heritage. We've been to Metropolitan Cathedral and headed to this particular church where temperature then was totally hot.

Church's Isle and cielings.

Our city tour guide said that hand painted ceilings and fine architectural design are well preserved for Ina's devotees and tourists since it was constructed. It was built by Rev. Miguel Covarrubias in 1711 in fullfillment of his vow that housed the original image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia first which is now situated at Basilica Minore.

The Altar.

The Virgin of Penafrancia was so miraculous and cured a lot of people from the time Her image was brought in this church during 1710. Honestly, because I'm not into news and current and historical events, I was clueless about INA's abouts.

Altar's ceiling.

It was then I knew that there's a fluvial procession and translacion what they called before her feast day. Translacion which means transfer of Our Lady of Penafrancia image transfer from one church to another.

Miraculous icon of the holy face on left. Tombstone planted I found inside the church (right).

Actually I was amazed because there was such religious celebration here in the Philippines, not to mention I'm helpless unupdated person about PH, even it's map. It made me realize how people are really devoted to Her from preparations of 9-day novena, fluvial procession and translacion which are not usual on other feast here

Outside the church, Mysteries placed on walls.

Once you entered the church you will also feel the oldy feeling from it's structure from walls, ceilings and floor. Even it was late regular day morning, where no church goers usually present, it was still open to everyone unlike here in Cavite which is usually seldom. Upon checking the area, I accidentally saw this tombstone planted on the the church's floorings and promptly asked it to our guide. He said that there were a total of 4 tombs inside the church which were priests' and I just said...ahh but when I looked closer on my pics, they weren't. Well I just noticed that some of his answers were not justifiable, tsk..tsk..

Candles for Ina and our loveones.

Upon exiting the church we went to the candle area and alley to cemetery that actually surprised me. It's unusual to see this kind of setting that made me ask the tour guide again, he just said that it was there prior to church construction and previous priests were buried there, then I just said...ahh. Because of lack of time, we didn't entered the cemetery, we had to go to next house of Ina, Basilica Minore.

Cementery at the back of the church.

There were lots of vendors outside the church offering candles and a copy of Our Lady of Penafrancia mini Prayer and they kept on following potential customers, tourists. As we went to the candle area, we bought candles to lit and refused to buy the prayer which I can just take a photo of it situated just beside the church.

Our Lady of Penafrancia Parayer Tablet.

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1/10/2012

BICOL │ Penafrancia Basilica Minore

Facade of Basilica Penafrancia Minore

Peñafrancia Basilica is one of the oldest church in Naga City, Bicol which houses an image of the virgin Mary that was sculpted in 1710. It was made by Miguel de Cobarrubias who moved to the Philippines from Spain with his family and believed that the virgin Mary had helped him numerous times in his life. The image was housed in a small chapel until the Basilica Minore was built.

Basilica's outside structure.

The Altar.

Basilica's ceilings.

Panes at the Basilica's Facade. Left one was taken outside which design is unnoticed; right was taken inside the church where panes were beautifully seen due to light reflected on those.

The dome.

Dome's ceiling and floor.

Ceiling up close.

I was amazed by the ceiling design. I think this describes how Our Lady of Peñafrancia influence so many people and how they celebrate it.

July 29, 2011, House of Ina at Naga City Camarines Sur Bicol, Philippines visit.

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BICOL │ Metropolitan de Naga Cathedral

Metropolitan Cathedral facade.

This is our first historical spot to visit in Naga City, 'Metro Naga'. Naga Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist is one of the oldest cathedrals in the Philippines built in 1595 and was established during Nueva Caceres Diocese. The church gone so many nature challenges and able to restore for three times. The present structure was destroyed by fire in 1768 and was restored by 1843. Then it was damaged by a typhoon in 1856 and by an earthquake in 1887.

St. Francis of Assisi carved at Cathedral's front door (left). Columns and ceiling (right)

Every month of September, the Feast of Peñafrancia, the largest and most famous feast in Bicol Region is celebrated. Our Lady of Peñafrancia Image is transferred inside the Cathedral coming from the Basilica Minore . This process is known for “Traslacion”. Countless devotees are present to the nine-day-novena as a celebration of Virgin Mary’s annual festivities.

The Pavilion.

This is the pavilion in front of the Cathedral. It serves as shelter for the image of the Our Lady of Penafrancia after the major processions: Traslacion (First Friday of September along the streets of Naga City from the Basilica to the Cathedral) and the Fluvial procession (8th day of the devotion, from the Cathedral to Basilica through the Bicol River).

Holy Rosary Minor Seminary in front of the Cathedral.

Outside Cathedral.

July 29, 2011

Sad to say, I wasn't able to take plenty of pictures inside because of wedding mass going on, see that cute bridal car on my left? It was like everybody's looking at me and wanted to ask "who are you? why you're in shorts?" haha.

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a s t i g !

Pages

1/12/2012

NAGA-CARAMOAN │ 2-Day Itinerary

1/11/2012

BICOL │ Naga City Plaza

BICOL │ St. Francis de Assisi Church

BICOL │ Our Lady of Penafrancia Church

1/10/2012

BICOL │ Penafrancia Basilica Minore

BICOL │ Metropolitan de Naga Cathedral

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