How to get to Barcelona Church and the Old Ruins of Barcelona in Barcelona, Sorsogon

the landmark of Barcelona, Sorsogon

The Old Ruins of the Presidencia Building 

The Barcelona Church

During the Spanish Colonization, the town of Bulusan was strategically one of the fortress of the regime. They built a lot of watchtowers to guard the island from being invaded by the Moros, Pirates and the likes. At that time Barcelona was one of the Villages of Bulusan. That’s why Barcelona has significant to the history. One of the evidences are the Old ruins and the church.

Getting to the place now a days is hard because there is no much public transportation that go there often. There is a schedule of jeep departing from Sorsogon city. Barcelona is a secluded area. You should brace yourself for the longer waiting time if you would take public utility vehicles.

To those who want to explore the place in a convenient way you can hire a van ranging from 2,500 up. It depends upon your haggling skills. By the way the nearest airport is the Legaspi airport from there you can take van for hire or public transportation like van or bus. Usually the van is good  for an 8 hours trip although it depends upon how you can agree on some terms that would be favorable on you.

For those who would be coming from the airport, you can take tricycle and ask the driver to bring you to the bus or van terminal going to Sorsogon City. The tricycle fare is 50.00 pesos one way trip, the capacity of it is 4 persons.

From Sorsogon City look for a jeep going to Bulusan and tell the conductor to drop you off in Barcelona Church across the church is the Old Ruins of  the Presidencia Building and the School Building. Most of the time jeeps going to Bulusan are few so you can take the jeep going to Gubat then from there you can take a jeep again going to Barcelona or Bulusan.

Ask the jeep what would be the last trip in going back to Sorsogon City that is if your hotel is in there. But if you are in the mood to explore the nearby town, Gubat or Bulusan or Irosin will be the best place to find the hotel. Hotels are cheaper in these area. Have a great adventure!

St. Joseph Parish Church or commonly known as Barcelona Church

St. Joseph Parish Church of Barcelona, Sorsogon was built in the year 1874 by Franciscan friars. It is also known as Barcelona Church. The church is made of coral stones, lime,  beaten egg whites mixed with tuba, a local wine coming from coconut trees.  Barcelona church is one of the oldest churches in the Bicol Region. There are repairs done but most part of it are original. It is also one of the most photographed old churches in the region.

The facade of the Barcelona Church

The church has a tunnel connecting to the Presidencia Building or the old municipal building, which is now a ruin. It is just across the street but the priests closed it in order to avoid thieves from stealing the precious religious relics inside the church. 

the altar of the Barcelona Church

The Aisle of the Church

This town is named after the second largest city in Spain, Barcelona, the conquistador said that the natural arrangement of the place is like of that city.

Statue of the Patron Saint St. Joseph outside the Church

St. Andrew's Cathedral

The Cathedral Parish of St. Andrew, is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines, which was established in 1580 by Spanish Augustinian friars. This Church is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Parañaque. It comprises Parañaque City, Muntinlupa City, and Las Piñas City. It is located in Quirino Avenue, La Huerta, Paranaque City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

St. Andrew’s Cathedral is also the Diocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso. Last September 8, 2000,  the image of Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso was canonically crowned as the Patroness of the Parañaque City.

Quirino Avenue, La Huerta
Parañaque City, Philippines
Tel. +632826-1760
Fax: +632820-7178

Santa Rita de Cascia Parish-Baclaran Paranaque

Santa Rita de Cascia Parish-Baclaran Paranaque is a small church but I love to attend the mass every now and then in here because just few parishioners coming over. It is in the heart of Bacalaran, where many bazaar are located. Santa Rita de Cascia parish is part of the Diocese of Paranaque. It is Located in Quirino Avenue, Baclaran, Parañaque City, Metro Manila

Quirino Avenue, Baclaran, Parañaque City, Metro Manila

Tel. Number s - +632832 1525; +6328323505

The National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help also known Baclaran Church

The National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help also known as Redemptorist Church and commonly known as  the Baclaran Church. It is located in  Baclaran, Paranaque city, Metro Manila, Philippines.

This is the  shrine of one of the largest Marian churches in the Philippines, which features the icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. The devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help is popular amongst Filipino Catholics. Every Wednesday too many devotees who flood the church to attend Mass and pray theNovena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help. Wednesdays are considered as "Baclaran Day" due to congested roads brought on by pilgrims to the shrine.

The liturgical feast day of the Mother of Perpetual Help  is celebrated on 27 June,.

Baclaran, Parañaque City, Metro Manila

telephone number:  +6328321150 / +6328321151 / +6328335016

Malate Church

Malate Church also known as Malate Catholic Church is a Baroque-style church, which faces the Rajah Sulaiman park and Manila Bay. The church is dedicated to  the patroness of childbirth, Our Lady of Remedies or Nuestra Señora de Remedios.  The statue of the Virgin Mary in her role as Our Lady of Remedies was brought from Spain in 1624 and to this day it is still there.

At this moment it is undergoing a restoration that’s why it is bare.

This church is popular place for wedding and baptism.

2000 M.H. Del Pilar St., Malate, Manila City, Metro Manila

Telephone Number:  523-2593 / 523-3168 / 400-5876

Malate Shrine or Nuestra Señora de Guia Church

The Our Lady of Guidance or Nuestra Señora de Guia Church enshrined the 16th-century Roman Catholic image of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the traditional image of the Immaculate Conception that is widely venerated by Filipino Roman Catholics. It is believed to be the oldest Marian image in the Philippines, the wooden statue have been originally brought by Ferdinand Magellan along with Santo Niño de Cebú. The saint is venerated as patroness of navigators and travellers. It is Located in Ermita, Manila City. This church is also known as Malate shrine.

I happened to see this when I went to the St. Lukes Medical Center Extension, it is near the United States Embassy and other Maritime Company, which makes this Church a place to pray for those who want to work overseas or who want to travel.

 

The Central United Methodist Church-Metro Manila

The Central United Methodist Church is the first Protestant church in the Philippines. It is located along T.M. Kalaw Street,Ermita, Manila, founded on 5 March 1899 during the American Occupation. Central Methodist Episcopal Church was its originally named.

The Manila Cathedral

The Manila Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica commonly known as  the Manila Cathedral. It  is a Roman Catholic Basilica located in Plaza de Roma,  Intramuros, Manila City, Metro Manila, Philippines.  This church is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the Principal Patroness of the Philippines. This cathedral serves as the seat of the archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila.

The cathedral was originally built in 1581 but it was  damaged and destroyed several times .  The retrofitting and restoration were completed last April 9,2014.

Cabildo corner Beaterio, Intramuros, Manila, Metro Manila 1002 (02) 527 3093