You've probably seen this chapel in movies, most notably in that Aga Muhlach-Regine Velasquez…read morestarrer from long ago. If you've been wondering where it is, you're in luck 'cause I'm about to tell you. Nestled in Mount Makiling, Los Banos, Laguna, about a 15-minute drive up the mountain from the University of the Philippines Los Banos, is Saint Marc's Chapel a.k.a. the National Arts Center Chapel, an open air beauty that would blow your breath away. Made primarily of stone and concrete, the altar, pews, and the ceiling/roof (if you could call it that) with an unconventional (read: artistic) giant cross designed by no less than National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin, the chapel is surrounded by forest. Words are not adequate to capture the tranquility and magic of the place so, no worries, I'll throw in a few photos. Regular Masses are not held here, though, but the Chapel may be booked (through the Cultural Center of the Philippines, if I'm not mistaken) for Masses or weddings. This is the perfect wedding venue for the lover of nature and art. If you're lucky, the nearby fire trees may be in full bloom during your special day and you could get to march to your beloved on a carpet of red and yellow.

The Philippines has no lack of religious and spiritual attractions, and Tagaytay is one of them. It…read morealso has a lot of meditation centers, shrines, and churches where you can find peace and solace. The tranquil Catholic church is the best church of them. It is the best paradise for prayers and reflection. Our Lady of Manaoag, Tierra de Maria, is a gorgeous shrine that epitomizes the aura of serenity and peace. It is a red/brown statue of Mother Mary standing 50 ft. tall, something which can't be missed. The walls decked with dried flowers and vivid images genuinely add to the beauty of the chapel, and the exquisite surroundings of the church add up to its grace and appeal. Our Lady of Manaoag is also known to be an ideal place of healing, relaxation, and meditation. One can easily miss this place as it is on a busy road with only on street parking available. It is a small chapel right across the DAP complex. It has a small chapel with a huge image of Our Lady of Manaoag in the exterior Inside the chapel there are images of the many variants of Virgin Mary, like in Lourdes, as Mother of Perpetual Help, Carmel and Guadalupe. The chapel is quiet and solemn and is a place for meditation. The small store in front should have been enough for the place and the ambulant vendors in the side are not really needed

Parks and shrines like this don't really seem to exist outside the Philippines. It's a very…read moreinteresting experience of religion and amusement, but a pleasant place to worship, I imagine. The shrine is clean and very beautiful. It's a lot like Kamay ni Hesus in feel. Open air church and pews. You can learn a lot about St. Padre Pio and his work here.

It's so easy to be calm and holy when you're in Tagaytay. Probably because of the cold breeze that…read moremakes us feel relaxed or the astounding view that makes us contemplate on God's beautiful creations. Tagaytay is home to a lot of retreat houses, convents and beautiful churches and chapels. One of my favorites is Chapel on the Hill. The place is actually located in Batulao, Batangas, but Tagaytay practically adopted that area because it's so close to their vicinity. Chapel on the Hill is a favorite for destination weddings because of its quaint interiors (no need for over the top styling as this place is already so lovely), the seating capacity is perfect for intimate celebrations (up to 200 persons can be accommodated inside the chapel), the lush greenery outside the church, and an access to a scenic view of the valley. Everything about Chapel on the Hill provides a beautiful backdrop for a dream wedding. But even without a grand event, it's still a nice place to visit for reflection when you go to Tagaytay.

I'm not really amused by chapels inside shopping malls. In Christianity, there's this story about…read moreJesus Christ cleansing the Temple of people who turned it into a marketplace. But I digress. What I really wanted to say is that, finally, there's a mall chapel that I'm willing to favor. The San Pedro Calungsod Chapel at SM Aura Premier is unlike other places of worship inside malls. For one, there are no retailers or restaurants near the chapel. True, the Samsung Hall (a performance theater) is located on the same floor but it's on the far opposite side of a garden strip. The chapel is an ideal place for devout senior citizens, especially during summer, because it's air-conditioned and easily accessible. There is a small elevator on the 5th floor exclusively servicing churchgoers. But during my visit, I opted to use the stairs instead to allow more space to the senior citizens who were lining up for the elevator. It was a steep climb but it was worth all my effort. The dome-shaped chapel is a feast for the eyes. Its modern architecture and the bright ambient lighting give it that holy ground glow which is nothing short of spectacular. Everything in it -- from the simple altar to the amphitheater layout and the great acoustics -- can surely move a person to be silent and say a prayer or two. Masses are held twice a day at 12:00 noon and 6:00pm from Mondays to Saturdays. During Sundays, five masses are held and scheduled at 10:00am, 12:00 noon, 3:00pm, 5:00pm and 7:00pm. Confessions are held daily after each mass. Baptisms, confirmations, and weddings are not allowed in the chapel.

Whenever my nieces and nephews stay over for the weekend, they ask me to take them to this church…read more See, the first time I took them Our Lady of Beautiful Love or OLBL, the nuns were conducting Sunday School for the children. They really loved it because they did arts and crafts and they weren't bored. The second time I took the kids to OLBL, there was no Sunday School. I found out that they only have it once a month. Sometimes on the first Sunday of the month. Sometimes on the last. So the kids and I had to sit through mass. The thing is, OLBL is a parish for families. So no one will glare at you if your kid suddenly runs or cries to talks loudly. It's like they're used to having kids in this parish. Another thing that I like about this parish is their choir. They sing so well! I'm not that into God, but their songs uplift me.

I went to Nature's Church yesterday again after failing to visit after more than a year, and I…read morecan't believe I've forgotten how beautiful this place was. From its entrance down to the minutest details, this church has the whole nature concept established. The altar and pews are made of fallen trees, Capiz lanterns shaped as doves accentuate the Anahaw ceiling. Surrounded by lush tropical plants and under a canopy of mango trees, Nature's Church is one of the nicest, most unique churches I've seen here in Manila. This place caught fire a few years ago, but it's wonderful how they have still restored its beauty. The church looks magnificent, but I'm assuming it's not that popular for weddings because it has no long aisle in the middle. The small chapel at the entrance of the church, the Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel, is even more breathtaking. It's so quaint and intimate; I remember wishing I got married here. I should really come here more often, and take my daughter with me because she'll definitely love roaming around here while we're hearing mass.

Two of my friends got married here and the place was impressive! It's a bit of a workout if you're…read morecoming up from the fountain but it's worth it. The greenery is beautiful and so is the church itself. Regardless of its size, it still looks terrific! The location is remote and stress-free! (October 2017)

Traffic gets more unpredictable and it piles up in any day of the week. The influx is worse during…read moreweekends especially every payday and during long holidays. Slowdown of vehicles becomes more terrible but places like this makes all the traffic bearable. It took us 4 long hours from Manila to reach Batangas. Usual travel time is from 2-3hours. Calaruega is a small town in Spain where our patron Saint was born. The simplistic architecture is derived from the spanish colonial. Enter the building in the entrance gate and walk towards the garden stairs leading to the scenic Chapel. It is indeed a visual spectacle. The chapel has been a popular venue for private weddings with rates ranging from P15,000-20,000 depending on the season. Holy Mass is open for public every Sunday at 11:00 in the morning. Calaruega is not merely a solemn place of prayer but a destination to unwind. The other side of the fountain is a long stretch of road for the Station of the Cross. It is filled with blooming flowers and the picnic grounds is located downhill where people can rest. There are different sights to see. Families will find peace in the manmade falls, koi ponds, and hanging bridge. The entrance fee of P30 per head collected upon reaching Calaruega is for the maintenance of the entire property. The location is easily reachable. From Tagaytay-Nasugbu Hi-way facing south, turn left at Batulao Road. Chapel is 1.5km from the Hi-way. Roads are rough but the view is simply breathtaking. There is a parking fee of P40 paid directly to the attendant. You can also travel to Calaruega through Nasugbu-bound buses and take a tricycle from the main road.

I've had the opportunity to hear mass at St. Jerome's. It's that parish or church (not sure what…read morethe difference really is) that's near Alabang Town Center. The church celebrates mass sometimes in Tagalog and sometimes in English and on most occasions Taglish. I wish I could give you guys a schedule, but I'm not even sure anymore whether the schedule still holds up. What I do know is that there are morning masses as well as masses for the afternoon and the evening. A word of caution though. A lot of people go to mass hear on Sundays. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that the heavy traffic that goes on every Sunday is due in large part to this place. I strongly recommend anyone who goes here to think about parking and the amount of traffic that they'll encounter. If not, you might just regret it later on.