AT KAYONG LAHAT AY SA AMIN SUMAMA
BAKIT? SAAN BA TAYO PUPUNTA ?
SA ANTIPOLO NA LAGING MASAYA!
CHORUS :
TAYO NA SA ANTIPOLO
AT DOON MALIGO TAYO
SA BATIS NA KUNG TAWAGIN
AY HI.. HI.. HINULUGANG TAKTAK
AT DOON TAYO KUMAIN
NG MANGGA, SUMAN, KASOY AT BALIMBING
KAYA'T MAGMADALI KA
AT TAYO'Y TUTULOY NA SA ANTIPOLO.
II
DOON SA ANTIPOLO INYONG MAKIKITA
ANG MAPANGHALINANG TANAWING KAY GANDA.
AT SA MAYUMING MGA DALAGA
SA SULYAP LAANG MABIBIHAG KA NA.
Listen to it here: The Antipolo Song
I have been to Antipolo City here in the province of Rizal many times in the past two years. My business is based here, but surprisingly I have never really set foot in the city's most important site - the pilgrimage center of our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. So when a client asked me to do an ocular of the cathedral, I gladly took it upon myself to go and visit.
FROM Manila, you can just leave your cars either in Binondo or Recto and take the LRT 2 (Purple Line) to Santolan. From the last station, there are many jeepneys and FXs that will go straight to the Cathedral. The FXs from Cubao take the Sumulong Highway route, but FXs coming from the LRT Santolan Station take the streets inside Cainta first before proceeding to the winding road that goes up to the cathedral.
The pasalubong center is already to your left before you get to the gate. Drop by here before you leave the Antipolo Cathedral area.
And finally, the moment of truth. No idea if the church that was completed in 1632 is the same as this one since this structure is all concrete. That first church was destroyed by an uprising by the local Chinese community and the subsequent structures were eventually destroyed by several earthquakes. I will still have to find out the reason for the uprising.
The nave is pretty short for a cathdral - it's just 16 pews long, but the size is compensated by an awesome dome. When I got here, a Requiem Mass was ongoing and there were ten (10) coffins at the altar. Freaky.
Detail. The ceiling.
Natural light enters from the stained glass windows so the church doesn't require lights during the day. it's very bright and airy.
Another view of the altar.
The choir is across the altar on the second floor.
The Assumption of Our Lady into heaven. Each of the cathedral's windows feature a famous title of the Virgin.
Detail. The altar up close. The sun rays of the Holy Ghost mimic that of the Augustinian style, although Franciscans and Jesuits ran this church in its early years.
Detail. The image of our Lady, brought to Manila from Mexico in 1626 and turned over to the Jesuit-run Antipolo church in 1633.
Detail. Christ's Resurrection. This is the right panel of the altar.
Detail. Christ's Crucifixion on the left side. I didn't ask anyone, but the style is very familiar. Can anyone please confirm if these panels were by Carlos "Botong" Francisco?
The half-empty cathedral after the mass. Beautiful!
5 comments:
Nice details of the church ceiling...
I also have visited this church sometime in the past but wasn't able to make it inside.
All nice photos you've got here ;)
dear dylan,
im so happy that at last, you were able to pay homage to the virgin of antipolo! she it is who guides us in the WAY who is her Son.
just a few notes:
+ one of the panels in the sanctuary isn't of christ's transfiguration. rather, it is of his resurrection.
+ next time, it will be very beautiful if you go up the back of the church to see the museum of the image and of the shrine (just go to the back of the church. there are signs that lead to the museum. if nada, just ask people around). this chance comes with a chance to touch the mantle of the virgin.
all the best to you and to all your endeavors (including all your blogs!) this great 2008!
a big fan :-)
hi superpasyal, have you confirmed if the crucifixion painting was indeed an artwork of Botong? Regards, adrian
The paintings of the the Crucifixion and the Resurrection on the left and right side of the retablo of the newly renovated Cathedral of Antipolo were done by another Angono artist, Nemi Miranda. These two paintings were commissioned by Antipolo Bishop, Gabriel V. Reyes a few years back when the retablo was being done by Architect Joey Amistoso.
hi, i'd like to ask for permission to use one of the pictures here for a presentation we have in school. the source will be duly credited. thanks in advance.
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