Memoirs of a Visita Iglesia road trip on Byaheng Victory

MANILA, Philippines - Victory Liner, the nation’s favorite travel companion, recently organized “Byaheng Victory,” a series of group tours featuring destinations reached by Victory Liner.  Partnering with Victory Liner for the group tours was Travel Factor.  For its maiden tour, Victory Liner and Travel Factor offered “Byaheng Victory Visita Iglesia Road Trip.”

Last Maundy Thursday, two Victory Liner buses filled with excited travelers explored seven churches in Pampanga. Before the group started their Visita Iglesia voyage, they had a buffet breakfast at Everybody’s Café, where they were treated to a sampling of the culinary explosion Pampanga is famous for. With taste buds already rewarded with a flavorful experience, the group began their church visit. First stop was Sta. Lucia Cathedral in San Fernando. Santa Lucia is considered the patron saint of the blind and ailments of the eye. They then proceeded to the Immaculate Conception Parish Church in Guagua. Built in 1772, the group marveled at the resplendent altar created by prominent artist Willy Layug.

After completing the Stations of the Cross in this impressive church, the group moved to the illustrious Betis Church, also known as St. James the Apostle Church.  Declared as a national treasure by the National Commission for Culture and Arts, Betis Church gained national prominence for its rich ceiling murals. The immense explosion of colors inside make Betis Church a favorite subject for photographers and visual artists.

Another church the group visited was San Guillermo Parish Church. Covered by lahar during the Mount Pinatubo eruption in 1995, only half of the original façade of the church stands today. Beautifully restored retablos are located in the main altar.

The group also visited the San Bartolome Church, Sta. Catalina Church in Arayat and Holy Rosary Church in Angeles. An Agustinian church, San Bartolome Church was built in the 17th century and was moved to differ locations due to uprising and natural calamity.  On the other hand, the 157-year-old Sta. Catalina Church, one of the oldest churches in the province, proved to be a good sanctuary to the 90 travelers seeking respite from the heat wave. The group’s last stop was the Holy Rosary Church in Angeles.  More than a hundred years old, the church was built during the Spanish-imposed polo y servicios (forced labor).

Betis Church, also known as St. James the Apostle Church was declared as a national treasure by the National Commission for Culture and Arts.

Since the tour was on a Maundy Thursday, the group witnessed various processions of flagellants around Pampanga. Stripped to their waist, men whipped their backs with wooden sticks tied together by a knotted rope.  The sticks indicate the number of years the penitensiya will be performed; a stick is removed every year.

“Byaheng Victory’s Visita Iglesia Road Trip” was a celebration of faith as well as a salute to the culinary heritage of Pampanga. The guests ate their lunch at the home of Atching Lillian Borromeo. Like a dear elder sister, Athcing Lillian welcomed everyone with a warm smile and a table laden with some of Pampanga’s best cuisine. The group also enjoyed an impromptu demonstration of Atching  Lillian’s world famous San Nicolas cookies.

Before heading back to Manila, the group had a stopover at Angeles Fried Chicken, the oldest restaurant in Angeles City.

The next leg of Victory Liner and Travel Factor’s “Byaheng Victory” is Summer Fun with Adventure Camping at Nagsasa Cove in Zambales scheduled for this weekend. The group will camp overnight at Zambales’ Nagsasa Cove.

For information, call 746-5119, 0917-8475341 or e-mail at tours@travelfactor.org. Visit the Travel Factor website at www.travelfactor.org, “like” facebook.com/byahengvictory or follow at twitter.com/byahengvictory.