Visita Iglesia Laguna and Rizal: Old Churches Route Guide

Going on a "bisita iglesia" tour around Rizal province and Laguna via the so-called Laguna Loop? Here's a snippet, names and suggested itinerary for your reference.

Traditional Visita Iglesia during Holy Thursday requires visiting seven churches possibly has its roots on the seven churches of Rome (the city of seven hills). Note that pre-war Intramuros has seven churches of which only San Agustin survived the second world war.

Suggested Visita Iglesia of Rizal and Laguna itinerary:

Antipolo Church, Baras Church, Tanay Church, Morong Church
Mabitac Church, Pakil Church, Paete Church, Longos Church (Kalayaan)

Catholic Churches of Laguna (Visita Iglesia):

Mabitac Church: Church of Nuestra Senora de Candelaria

Due to earthquakes, only the belltower of the old church of Mabitac remains and no attempt at restoring the old church was made.

Siniloan Church: Parish of Saints Peter and Paul (new church, the old one is gone)
Pangil Church: Church of Nuestra Senora dela Natividad
Pakil Church: San Pedro de Alcantara Church
Paete Church: San Santiago Apostol (St. James the Apostle or St. James the Great)
Longos Church: Parish of San Juan Bautista (St. John the Baptist Church)

the belfry of the old stone church


San Antonio, Kalayaan: San Antonio de Padua (Church of St. Anthony de Padua)
Lumban Church: St. Sebastian the Martyr Parish (San Sebastian)
Cavinti Church: Parish of the Transfiguration Church
Pagsanjan Church: Church of Nuestra Sra. de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Church)
Sta Cruz Church: Sta. Cruz Church
Pila Church: San Antonio de Padua (Church of St. Anthony de Padua)
Bay Church: San Agustin (St. Augustine Church)
Calauan Church: San Isidro Labrador

Nagcarlan Church: San Bartolome (Church of St. Bartholomew)
Magdalena Church: Maria Magdalena (St. Mary Magdalene Church)
Majayjay Church: San Gregorio Magno (St. Gregory the Great Church)
Liliw Church: San Juan Bautista (St. John The Baptist Parish Church)
Luisiana Church: Our Lady of the Rosary Parish
Alaminos Church: Our Lady of the Pillar Parish
San Pablo Cathedral: Cathedral Church of St. Paul, First Hermit

Calamba Church: San Juan Bautista (St. John the Baptist) (where Jose Rizal was baptized on June 22, 1861)
Sta Rosa Church: Church of Sta. Rosa de Lima
San Pedro Church: Santo Sepulchro (Holy Sepulchre Church)

Rizal Bisita Iglesia:

Baras Church: San Jose Church (Saint Joseph Parish Church)
Morong Church: Church of San Geronimo
Tanay Church: San Ildefonso Church
Antipolo Church: Nuestra Senora De la Paz Y Buen Viaje (Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage)

How to get there:

With Antipolo Church as starting point, it's easy to board jeepneys going to the churches (commute) or simply follow the road for directions (most towns only have two main roads: one is the highway, the other pass through the town center or poblacion). The route is clearly visible on various maps of Laguna and Rizal provinces.

UPDATED: April 2014

Related Posts:
St. Clare Monastery
Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage
Our Lady of Manaoag
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Lipa
Our Lady of the Pillar
Kamay ni Hesus
Visita Iglesia Manila