Greenbelt - Ayala Center, Makati City
+63 (02)729-8173 / +63 (02)729-8174
14 September 2010
Thankful to the GCs I won a few months back, the family decided to use it for mom's birthday celebration. After the sumptuous lunch at Mr. Jones, we thought it was still very early to travel back home, so we just roamed around Greenbelt so mom could see the place, too. She rarely travels this far (as her office is just 15 minutes away from home), and it was a great time to show mom different parts of the Metro.
Walking around, we saw the chapel from afar, and being Catholics, we decided to enter the chapel to say our prayers of gratitude, especially for another year in mom's life.
Inspired by the St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, the chapel was inaugurated in 1983. The structure was designed by The structure was designed by Architect Willie Fernandez, and then enhanced by Jess Dizon, who rendered the circular pattern of the building. Noted glass sculptor, Ramon Orlina, fabricated the ceiling, tabernacle, altar, and the cross at the entrance, the sacristy, and the God the Father image on the dome. (Source)
I worked in Makati City years ago, but I never really had the chance to visit this chapel because of my schedule. Sure, during my day shift (8am - 3pm), I had ample time to visit, but because our house was way too far from here, all I wanted then was to get home as early as possible. It took me about three more years after I resigned before I finally set foot inside the chapel, and it didn't made difference as to how I felt back then and now... I still am in awe of the place.
Aiming to provide a place of worship for the busy office employees / working people as well as residents of Makati City, Eucharistic Celebration is held several times daily:
- Monday to Friday - 7:15am | 12:15nn | 5:45pm | 7:00pm
- Saturdays - 12:15nn | Anticipated Mass - 4:30pm | 7:00pm
- Sundays - 7:15am | 9:00am | 10:30am | 12:00nn | 3:00pm | 4:30pm | 6:00pm | 7:30pm
It was already past 1:00pm when we entered the chapel, but we couldn't wait for the 5:45pm mass, so we just said our own prayers before we continued our roam around.
Our feet took us to Landmark, where we spent the entire afternoon shopping for kitchen wares. Then we headed home. It was a nice change of pace - celebrating mom's birthday like this.
