Religious icons

This scene reminds me of Quiapo. Beside the Antipolo Church is this long stretch of vendors selling religious icons and images.

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My lady

I was chasing a boy. A boy I barely knew except his name which I fondly call every now and then, mostly in my dreams. One day, out of the blue...he showed me a photo and with a glee in his heart he said: "Meet my lady!" That day, my heart was crushed into pieces.

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CALERUEGA: The Transfiguration Chapel

I’ve known and heard of the place way before I even had the chance to actually be there. I had little knowledge of the place and what actually it is. I had an officemate who’s been a frequent to this place and I asked him: What is there to see? He would say: A lovely chapel. It’s beautiful there!

A few weeks ago, I had the chance to actually be there and experience the place. Located in Brgy. Kaylaway, Batulao in Nasugbu, Batangas you’ll find Caleruega-- “the seedbed of preachers and the cornerstone of spiritual inspiration”.

People who seek silence, solitude, and harmony with nature find them here in Caleruega. That kills me. How could I miss such a place?

To end such disgruntling deprivation, Charl, Tet and I went there a few weeks ago. According to the brochure that was handed to us after we paid 30 pesos (each) for the entrance, “Caleruega is a house of prayer and renewal.” It is also a venue for various group activities like retreats, renewal workshop, youth camps, seminars, art, music, and more.

Being a big fan of churches (architecture-wise), our obvious stop was the Transfiguration Chapel, a very famous landmark in Caleruega.

The façade of the chapel is an actual reproduction of the original chapel in Caleruega, Spain. The whole structure breeds symbolism and meanings which were all based in the Holy Scripture.

The chapel highlighting its hut-shaped roof is in remembrance of the temporary sheds that the apostles wanted to build for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah during the transfiguration.

Façade of the chapel showing the seal of the Dominican Province of the Philippines aS depicted in stained glass in the upper portion.

At the back of the administrative building, this serves as the main entrance going to the other attractions of the place i.e., garden, koi pond, hanging bridge, etc.

Visitors coming and going into Caleruega.

Inside the chapel is the main altar featuring the stained glass that depicts the Transfiguration of Jesus as witnessed by Peter, John, and Luke.

Another transfiguration image located at the facade of the chapel.

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This ship is taking me far away

Far away from the memories

Of the people who care if I live or die

Starlight, I will be chasing the starlight

Until the end of my life

I don't know if it's worth it anymore.

~Muse's Starlight~

Someone wants to make amends...

...but do not know how.

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Shot to the heart, and you're to blame...

Outside the St. John the Baptist Church in Liliw are various statues of Roman Catholic Saints. Attending a Catholic Church in high school enables me to become utterly familiar with most of them. We have a religion subject specifically for learning faith and catholicism (as if faith can be learned, huh?).

So anway, one of the statues that really caught my eyes was St. Sebastian. His iconic image has always been depicted in literature or photos as the youth tied to a post and shot with arrows in most parts of his body. Exactly like this.

The Roman Emperor ordered his death. Left for dead with these arrows burrowed in his flesh, Sebastian recovered but was later beaten to death on the order of Diocletian.

Such horrid depiction was a favorite subject among Renaissance painters. Even today, such image is still popularly referred to whether in movies, music videos, musical lyrics, theatrical plays, etc.

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Buying idol

I am in no position to judge nor to reason why people must resort to buying and acquiring idols just to prove their faith; just to prove that they believe in something or someone.

I was raised by Catholic parents, attended a Catholic secondary school (that spends most of the entirety of the semester praying the rosary, novena, 3 o'clock habit, angelus, going to first Friday mass, etc.). I live in a predominantly Catholic country (the only one in SE Asia)...so I should know.

But simply, I am amazed because I used to believe in them. Idols.

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