el toro bumingo

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

The Shrine of the Virgin Mary at Regina RICA

The huge statue of the Virgin Mary at Regina RICA (Rosarii Institute for Contemplation in Asia) is the biggest I’ve seen. It could house a small number of devotees inside for a mass or prayer vigil. I first heard about this place from my fellow mountain bikers and finally, a few months ago, me and my photography friends was able to visit it.

The huge complex of Regina RICA is complete with Mary’s Sacred Trail, a chapel, Stations of the Cross (on a hill), gardens, Columbarium, a place to eat and a place to stay. It’s a great destination this coming Holy Week 2014.

The marker below the huge statue of the Virgin Mary reads:

The Dominican Sisters of Regina Rosarii gratefully acknowledge all those who helped build Regina RICA and have made it possible for Our Lady, Regina Rosarii to stand on top of this hill:
Jesse & Wilma Ignacio and family

Tess and Jerry Zenit and family

Evelyn & Bobby Malazarte and family

Delia & Frank Abueva and family

St. Ignatius Charity Foundation Inc.

Aid to the Church in Need, Germany

ATM Members, Adopt a Tree Movement

ROCA, Regina Rosarii Contemplative Association

ROSA, Regina Rosarii Service Assistants

Club 513

Other mission partners and anonymous friends whose names are known to God alone.

Unveiled and blessed by Fr. Eladio Neira OP, Vice Provincial of the Dominican Province of the Holy Rosary, and the Most Rev. Francisco M. de Leon DD, Auxiliary Bishop of Antipolo, on the feast of our patron, St. Joseph, March 19, 2010, a special Year for the Priests.
Designed and sculpted by artist, Jose Barcena Jr.

Regina RICA is located in Tanay, Rizal.

Details of the largest Marian statue I’ve ever seen – the Regina Rosarii at Tanay, Rizal, Philippines.

The marker of the Regina Rosarii shrine at Tanay, Rizal.

Each color of these candles have a specific function or prayer.

Detail of the cherubim at the statue of Regina Rosarii, Tanay, Rizal.

The Chapel at Regina RICA. It has a huge pyramid-like roof.

One of the Stations of the Cross at Regina RICA.

Regina RICA also has a Columbarium for our dearly beloved who passed away.

A nice view of the surrounding areas from the Chapel.

The main altar at the Chapel in Regina RICA.

Wonderful painting at the Chapel in Regina RICA, Tanay, Rizal.

The Statue of Regina Rosarii is the biggest statue of the Virgin Mary that I’ve ever been to.

The Chapel and the Marian Statue.

Regina RICA has several houses like this one. I believe it’s for devotees who wanted to sleep over, for a fee of course.

Statue of Christ, our Shepherd.

One of the Stations of the Cross at Regina RICA, Tanay, Rizal.

Regina RICA is full of flowers – lots of it.

BuzzNet Tags: Regina RICA,Tanay,Rizal,Virgin Mary

Monday, March 31, 2014

Marilao Church (St. Michael the Archangel Parish)

I grew up in Baliuag, Bulacan and I studied high school there. Then I went to college in Malolos, Bulacan. I spent 13 years in Bulacan before eventually living here in Pasig City. During those 13 years, I rarely went out of Baliuag and visit the neighboring towns.

Now that I have a DSLR, I had this dream of taking pictures of all the major churches in Bulacan (the ones located in the town’s Poblacion). Now that I’m courting Kel from Marilao, Bulacan, I would definitely spend a lot of time in my boyhood province of Bulacan.

Yesterday was our First Date and we visited the Marilao Church (dedicated to Saint Michael, the Archangel). It was closed yesterday since it is Monday but the caretaker of the church allowed us in to take pictures of the interior. He said that there are a lot of weddings happening in this church because it has a long aisle (for walking down the aisle). I also noticed that the main altar of the church depicts the Archangel Michael defeating Lucifer and on the other side, shows the Virgin Mary being crowned by the Trinity as Queen of Heaven and Earth.

The marker on the church’s façade reads:

Simbahan ng Marilao
Sa simula ay kapilya lamang. Ang simbahang ito ay unang ipinatayo ni Padre Vicente de Talavera noong ika-21 ng Abril 1796 kasabay ng pagtatatag ng bayan at parokya ng Marilao. Iniluklok na pintakasi ng parokya nito si San Miguel Arkanghel. Sinimulang baguhin at palakihin noong 1848 at natapos noong 1868. Nasunog noong 1899 nang panahon ng digmaang Pilipino at Amerikano. Sinimulan ang pagsasaayos noong 1902 at ibinalik sa dating laki 1922. Natapos ng hustong kayariaan noong 1967 sa pangangasiwa ni P. Jose M. Salas.

This is my rough translation for my foreign pal Honza and my foreign blog readers:

Marilao Church
In the beginning, it’s just a chapel. This church was first built by Father Vicente de Talavera on April 21, 1796 along with the founding of the town and the parish of Marilao. This parish church was dedicated (consecrated) under the protection of Saint Michael the Archangel. The renovation and expansion of the church started in 1848 and was finished in 1868. The church was burned in 1899 during the time of the Filipino-American war. It was rebuilt in 1902 and was restored to the original size in 1922. It was finally completed in 1967 under the supervision of Father Jose M. Salas.

The Marilao Church (Saint Michael the Archangel Parish Church) is under the Diocese of Malolos.