A Very Short Baclaran Church Visit

It was lunch time, and I asked the driver to take us to SM Mall of Asia because that was the nearest mall I know of coming from the Las Pinas Church. It was quite a long drive, but when we passed by a big church somewhere and K made a comment, the driver asked us if we wanted to visit Baclaran Church before going to the mall, and since I haven't really set foot inside the church and K wasn't feeling hungry yet, we let the driver take us to the church.


The National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, also known as the Redemptorist church, popularly known as the Baclaran church is a prominent Latin-rite Roman Catholic church in the Philippines.

The shrine is one of the largest Marian churches in the Philippines, authorized by the Holy See to remain open 7 days a week for 24 hours a day, and houses one of the most venerated and celebrated Marian images in the country, called Our Mother of Perpetual Help, to which miraculous powers and historic events are ascribed. The shrine serves as the main headquarters for Redemptorist priests residing in the Philippines, headed by its rector, Victorino "Ino" Cueto, C.Ss.R.

Religious devotees flock to this sanctuary every Wednesday in what has become popularly known as Baclaran Day, and participate in a popular Marian novena offered for the Virgin Mary's reputed miraculous aid and intercession. - Source: Wikipedia

It wasn't a Wednesday during our visit, so there weren't that much people. I didn't know if taking pictures inside the church was allowed (Quiapo Church in Manila doesn't allow it), so I knew if I had to take pictures, I had to be quick and discreet.


The aisle leading to the altar.

The center aisle was very slippery. I think it was because devotees would go to the altar (and back) on their knees so the fabric of their trousers or dresses would polish the floor. Of course, people are also allowed to just walk to the altar if they want to, and that was what K and I did. We just had to hold each other's hand as we walk so one of us would catch the in case one slips.


Going back, I asked K if we could stay a little so I could say a short prayer of gratitude. There were so many things I was grateful for that time, even if part of me was sad that this holiday was about to end real soon.

I received a text message from the driver that he couldn't find a parking spot near the church, so he would just drive around until we come out. I told K we had to leave so the driver won't use much of the van's gas.


On our way out (taking the right side door), we saw this. There was water flowing, but I wasn't able to capture it using my cell phone's camera, but part of me was happy to be able to visit this church. It may be far from our house, but very accessible, and yet I never had the chance to visit it until this day.

I told K he was lucky it wasn't a Wednesday, and he just held my hand as we walked out of the church's vicinity waiting for the driver to pick us up.

Bamboo Organ Museum Tour

Just like what I said last post, K and I were about to leave the St. Joseph Parish Church when we checked the little gift shop located at the right side entrance of the church. Checking some items we might want to buy, a church staff approached us and asked if we wanted to tour the museum. Of course we gladly accepted the invitation.


First to greet us was this bell, one of the original bells of the church.


At the time of our visit, the museum was still a little bare, but blogs featuring pictures taken months after our visit showed a big transformation.

Textured with Kim Klassen's "Chamomile," set to Screen at 50%

One of the precious items in the museum was this - the original keyboard of the Bamboo Organ.


There was also this mini replica of the Bamboo Organ, which the guests can play. Yes, it emit sounds, too!


Walking further, the staff guided us to the choir loft, which gave me a view of the church from upstairs.


The very close encounter with the Bamboo Organ.

Tidbits about this National Treasure:
"The Las Piñas Bamboo Organ in St. Joseph Parish Church in Las Piñas City, Philippines, is a nineteenth-century church organ with unique organ pipes; they are made almost entirely of bamboo. It was completed in 1824 by Father Diego Cera, the builder of the town's stone church and its first resident Catholic parish priest.

After age and numerous disasters had rendered the musical instrument unplayable for a long time, in 1972, the national government and the local community joined together to have the organ shipped to Germany for restoration. For its anticipated return in 1975, the home church of the bamboo organ and the surrounding buildings were restored to their 19th-century state by Architects Francisco Mañosa and partner Ludwig Alvarez in time for its scheduled return. The annual International Bamboo Organ Festival, a music festival of classical music was started to celebrate the music of the reborn instrument and its unique sound." Source - Wikipedia


The staff asked us if we wanted to hear the sound of the Bamboo Organ. Who were we to decline that? Another church staff came and played the Bamboo Organ and it sounded so beautiful! Hearing the music, it was quite amazing to hear sounds coming from bamboo pipes. This image (forgive me if it looks eerie) was actually a screen cap of the video I took while the staff was playing the Bamboo Organ (neither one of us were able to take a still photo). I wanted to share the video I took, but the staff asked us very nicely not to share it online, and of course we wanted to grant their request.

If you want to hear the magnificent sounds of the Bamboo Organ, there is an annual Bamboo Organ Festival every February, which is attended by different choir groups worldwide. Since K was leaving the country the day after our tour and couldn't travel back for the festival, he just bought the CD copy of the last festival so he could listen to it at the comforts of his home.

The tour costs about p50 (slightly over 1usd) per person, with free postcard. I on the other hand, bought a key ring at the souvenir shop, to add to my collection.

St. Joseph Parish Church - Las Pinas

As soon as K and I entered the van from the Sarao Jeepney Factory (check last post), it was as if the driver has read my mind as to where we will go next. I truly am not familiar about the places this side of the Metro, but when one speaks of Las Pinas, the only place I wanted to visit is the church, as it is home of the very famous Bamboo Organ.


Some things to know about this church:

• Plan to construct a church in this small town happened on 1795.
• Soon after Christmas of that year, construction for the church started, using adobe (volcanic) stones. The church was patterned after the Earthquake Baroque style.
• Calamities damaged the church - earthquakes in 1880 and a strong typhoon blew off the roof of the church in 1882. Reconstruction started in 1888.
• Between 1972 - 1975, renovations at the church took place, and with the help of the parishioners from here and neighboring towns, as well as the help of Franciso Manosa (National Artist of the Philippines for Architecture) and architect Ludwig Alvarez it was transformed back to its 19th century look. {Source - Wikipedia}

Pictures I took inside the church:


The aisle leading to the altar, and the altar up close.


The look inside the church.


Thick walls, bamboo lined ceiling, and a unique chandelier made using bamboo poles and capiz shells.


At the left side of the church's main door, this can be seen.


The very famous bamboo organ.

Seeing the bamboo organ was already enough to make me happy, but as we exited the church, we stopped by a little gift shop near the right side entrance of the church, and we were approached by the church staff asking if we would like to check the museum. It was more than we could hope for, so we let the lady lead the way. Pictures from the museum, as well as a very unexpected surprise to be shared tomorrow. :)