MANILA, Philippines — Nine churches and chapels within the Walled City of Manila will be open for the traditional Visita Iglesia this year, according to the Intramuros Administration (IA) and Department of Tourism (DOT).
IA and DOT officials said in a press briefing on Monday that the nine prayer grounds would be open to pilgrims and visitors from Maundy Thursday, April 18, to Black Saturday, April 20.
These were the Manila Cathedral, San Agustin Parish Church, Fr. Willman chapel at the Knights of Columbus Building, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila chapel, Mapua University chapel, Lyceum of the Philippines University chapel, Colegio de San Juan de Letran chapel, St. Matthew’s chapel at the Bureau of Internal Revenue building and Guadalupe Shrine at Fort Santiago.
Only seven of the venues were open during Holy Week last year. On regular days, only the Manila Cathedral and San Agustin Church are accessible to the public.
Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross installations will be displayed on General Luna Street, from Beaterio to Muralla (side of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila), on April 18-20.
Also included in the Holy Week activities is the Penetencia to be staged by the Cainta Nazareno Inc. on Plaza Roma in front of the Manila Cathedral at 7 p.m. on Maundy Thursday.
To manage traffic within Intramuros, General Luna Street will be closed to all vehicles from the night of Holy Wednesday until Good Friday. There will be designated areas for public parking in different locations.