Free afternoons are always a great opportunity to visit places from which we could get historical tidbits. That was the case in our unplanned trip to the busy and buzzing center in Santa Rosa, Laguna: Balibago Complex.
* the façade of Chair of Saint Peter Parish Church
* floor design on the church ground resembling a sun
* seal of Chair of Saint Peter Parish
Nestled amongst the towering shopping centers and buildings is this pink church, rising like a flower amongst the concrete mazes of this city. The Church of the Chair of Saint Peter Parish, placed under the Diocese of San Pablo, was dedicated in a mass presided by Most Reverend Francisco C. San Diego, Bishop of San Pablo on December 15, 2008. With him were Reverend Father Reynaldo C. Hayag and Parochial Vicars Reverend Father Roy G. Reyes and Reverend Father Francis A. Calo.
* view of the church’s interior
* “Haec Aqua Benedicta+ Sit Nobis Salus Etvita” /
“May this Blessed Water+ Be our Life and Salvation”
* image of Jesus Christ
* view of the church’s retablo
* entrance to the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel
* interior of the Adoration Chapel
* Christ crucified
The facade of the church has modern touches to it but the bell tower is reminiscent of its possible Spanish era origins. I say possible because I was not able to get any notes regarding its earlier history. But the church’s seal is instructive: it carries the year 1969, perhaps the time the parish was actually established. Most of the interior has traces of recent makeover including the ceiling and the altar.
* candle stands on the gathering dark
* Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag Chapel
* view of the Manaoag Chapel interior
* angels
* lights up above
* a flower: gotta dig in the meaning of this one
A good find in the place is the adjacent chapel housing an image of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag. But not to be confused I think with the one found in Pangasinan. But this one certainly has its own reputation for even during the early hours of the evening, the image was still being visited by devotees. Outside there are still the usual vendors of religious mementos, a reminder that we still keep our old traditions on religion.
* the church bell tower at dusk
[How to go to Chair of Saint Peter Parish, Santa Rosa, Laguna: 1) From Manila you can find buses bound for Balibago Complex along Taft Avenue or at the numerous bus terminals around Gil Puyat LRT Station. 2) From the provinces or the areas of Laguna you can find jeepneys bound for Balibago Santa Rosa in Brgy. Turbina, Calamba City, Laguna or in Crossing-Calamba.]
