Church Hopping Redux

I think Cat already posted about this. Just my rundown:

Feb 26

Santuario De San Antonio

Nice church, indifferent staff. Could’ve been a good church for us, since it’s mid-sized, but regal – with the long aisle, elegant lights, and the breathtaking altar. Big plus, it has air-conditioning (I’m eyeing suits for the gents). But besides being quite as pricey as the Shrine (which didn’t have weddings on Mondays naman), our date wasn’t available for a 4pm wedding. The church facade was also obstructed by a needless gate.

Feb 28

Basilica Minore de San Sebastian

Frankly, one of my fave churches in Manila since I love medieval, gothic architecture. For me, it’s the most majestic church in Manila, and an excellent backdrop for the ceremony pictures. But somehow, I didn’t have the feeling here that I felt upon entering NSDG.

The steel church it is, it’s cold, and somehow didn’t reflect us personally, inside and out (which was Mendiola’s manic atmosphere). It was a great visit though to one of Manila’s overlooked wonders, 254 years old and still mighty.

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Shrine of Jesus

2 years ago at the Shrine

Ah, the Shrine…we go way back pa with this Church, Mall of Asia wasn’t even up when we would drop by here. Then, the esplanade area was ‘all ours’.

Photo borrowed from here

We actually visited the Shrine last January 17. Just want to include it here, since after all, it really crossed our minds that we’d get married here, as it was one the the two churches besides St. Jude Church that we frequent. The disappointing thing though is that they don’t have weddings on a Monday. Add the fact that the church is unpopular with the photo and video people because besides charging them P500 each for a ‘permit’, they are confined to limited movement under the church’s strict rules.

The church itself is huge, but has a light and airy (windy is more like it) feel to it, being a stone’s throw away from the bayside. The altar is grand, and the whole church serves as a bright, elegant backdrop for wedding pics. A bit pricey tho at 25K, but fair enough, besides the flowers and all, they already have a soloist at the ceremony included in their ‘package’.

and lastly, where we’ll tie the knot…

Nuestra Senora De Gracia

If there’s one part of the preps that came full circle, it’s the search for our church. NSDG was actually the first church we considered and visited (last January 10) among our options.

As with many events in our relationship, even the church’s introduction to me was no less serendipitous. I only came to know of it from a long-time colleague just a few days before we visited the church. He suddenly got in touch out of the blue (after 3-4 years I think) and offered me a job and take his place, but the thing that struck me instead is seeing his wedding picture on the Facebook message, and the image of NSDG.

‘Maganda roon’, he advised. I remember Cat asking me countless times that we visit ‘that church in Guadalupe’, having no idea where it is or what is it even called. So we even asked him directions going there while I decided to turn down the nice job offer. Destiny it seems.

Unknown to many, it’s a small, quaint, old church that sits in its own private compound hidden along the edge of Makati, which is a stone’s throw from the Guadalupe bridge and Pasig river. It’s massive adobe construction belies the delicate Spanish details of its inner beauty – arched white canopies, Castilian chandeliers, and a golden-lit recessed altar.

A favorite by wedding photo and video people, it’s one of the few churches in Manila that has a full, unobstructed view of the church, and lends an air of old world charm for the ceremony.

There was absolutely no fuss choosing NSDG, right from the start it felt like it has welcomed us with open arms. Our recent visit was most comforting, for we felt exactly at the right place where we’ll start our lives together.

We happily booked our date for a week or more. And yesterday, we finally decided and agreed NSDG was it, and plunked down the reservation payment.

Guess what, I just checked my Facebook and I’m writing this down on the same day – the 7th, that friend sent his message 2 months ago. Destiny it is.