Tradition and history on Holy Thursday

MANILA, Philippines - Churches are monuments of a people’s faith and testaments of a place’s past. On April 1, Holy Thursday, Inscribe Tours brings the faithful to some fascinating shrines in the historic province of Pampanga.

Seven churches – some centuries-old with beautiful colonial architecture and a few modern ones – make up the itinerary of Inscribe Tours’ annual visita iglesia.

The tour starts with breakfast at Hotel Stotsenberg inside the Clark Freeport Zone, then heads to the town of Mexico and its Sta. Monica Church. Next stop is St. Anne Church in Sta. Ana, a 157-year-old church featuring a massive, hexagonal, four-story bell tower. The tour then goes to St. Andrew Church in Candaba, built by the Jesuits in 1575, making it one of the oldest in the country.

Heading towards Arayat, one will notice the striking figure of Sta. Catalina, known as St. Catherine of the Wheel, standing astride a large wheel at the entrance to the town’s Sta. Catalina de Alexandria Church. The next stop, San Bartolome Church in Magalang, has an interesting history. Built by the Agustinians in 1605, it was the site of a battle between Spanish troops and revolutionary forces of Andres Malong in 1660. Today, it’s the seat of the Archdiocese of San Fernando.

The tour returns to Hotel Stotsenberg for lunch, then proceeds to The Church of Our Lady inside Clark Field. Last stop is San Rafael Parish Church in Mabalacat.

For those who would like to witness the traditional Good Friday Lenten rites in San Fernando, Inscribe Tours is also offering an overnight package at Hotel Stotsenberg.

For bookings and early-bird rates, call Karla or Gerry at 840-5912 and 575-8370.