Liwanag [Bright, Light]

@ mirandablue

Ang liwanag sa bintana ng simbahan ay nagpahiwatig sa akin ng umaga.

Natural light through the church window made me realize it was morning.

Join us at Litratong Pinoy

"I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars." ~ Og Mandino

@ mirandablue

For Thursday 2 Questions - you are invited to answer and join:


1.  What is your favorite time of day, are you a morning or a night person?


2.  What is the most important thing you have learned this past week??

Standing [Photo Hunt]

Sta. Maria Church  @ mirandablue

16th century churches in Ilocandia remain standing after centuries of natural and man-made calamities.  On top is the bell tower of Santa Maria Church in Ilocos Sur, below is the beautiful Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte.  Both churches are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Paoay Church  @ mirandablue

Posted for Photo Hunt, hosted by TN Chick

Free Bird [Photo Hunt]

@ mirandablue

I have been listening and singing along with Lynyrd Skynyrd's Free Bird and remember this photo of a bird perched on a branch that sprouted from a wall of a 16th century church in Ilocos Sur.  Shooting birds has always been a challenge [for me, at least], and I was happy this little bird stayed awhile and allowed me to take his photo.

This post is linked to Photo Hunt

Private [Pribado]

@ mirandablue

Karamihan sa atin ay may kanya-kanyang pribadong santwaryo.  Isang sulok sa bahay o ligtas na lugar na pwedeng manihimik, magmuni-muni o magkape at magbasa ng walang istorbo.   May kilala ako na banyo ang kanyang dakong banal.  Doon s'ya tumatakbo kapag gusto n'yang mag-isip at syempre maligo.:p  Karamihan sa confessional ang punta kung saan pribado ang usapan (sigurado ka bang hindi bugged ang confessional?:p).  Ang iba naman dumederecho na para walang taong  makakarinig sa mga hiling nila.

Posted for Litratong Pinoy

@ mirandablue

Most of us have their own private sanctuary.  A corner at home or a safe place where we can spend some quiet time, meditate, enjoy our coffee and read in peace.  I know somebody whose private sanctuary is their bathroom.  It's his place of refuge when he needs to think or solve some problems.  Others go to the confessional where everything is private ( are you sure the confessional is not bugged? :p), while some of us pray directly so no man would hear our petitions.

For Thursday Two Questions:
1.  Where is your private sanctuary?
2.  Do you build walls around yourself, around those closest to you, and around your heart to feel secure?

LP: Makapal [Thick]

Sana di ka mahihilo habang tinititigan mo ang litratong ito.  Ito ang makapal na mga tukod (buttresses) sa dingding ng Santa Maria Church  sa Ilocos Sur.  Gawa sa tisa, ang mga buttresses ay nagbibigay suporta at nagpapatibay sa istruktura laban sa lindol.  Kadalasan, ito ay nakikita sa mga simbahang gothic ang disenyo.  Ang simbahan ng Santa Maria ay nasa listahan ng UNESCO bilang isang World Heritage site.  

This post is linked to Litratong Pinoy

Santa Maria Church [My World Tuesday]

Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion Church in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur is a historical landmark as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  It stands on top of a hill and we climbed 82 steps to reach the church.  

My first visit to this church was more than a decade ago, but it's beauty has never stopped to amaze me.  This church is a great attraction to both the traveler and the faithful---I'm more of a traveler.  

Santa Maria Church is not only a reminder of the 377 334 years of Spanish colonization but it's a unique structure built on heavy stones and mortar.  It's not as flamboyant  in scale and less stunning in the facade but I like its simple design, the reddish brick exterior, and the fact that it was built on top of a hill--giving visitors a panoramic view of the town, the green fields and the blue sea in the horizon.

One of the old Baroque churches in the Philippines, the church in Santa Maria was built in 1765.  Thick buttresses were added to re-enforce the structure to protect it from earthquakes. 

There were two Requiem masses when we arrived.  We waited for the funeral march to begin before entering the church.  Santa Maria Church is one of the 8 pilgrimage churches in Ilocos Sur.  The town is about 360 kilometers north of Manila.

stairway to heaven-- 82 steps

my walk to the altar

the pulpit

side entrance of the church

moss-covered buttresses

a hexagonal bell tower, built in 1810

This post is linked to My World-Tuesday