Save San Sebastian: Free tours offered

SAN SEBASTIAN Basilica in Quiapo, Manila, will be offering free historical tours to visitors on Maundy Thursday as part of the campaign to promote the conservation of the 125-year-old church.

The 10-minute tours will highlight the basilica’s status as the first shrine of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, as well as its role in the traditional “dungaw,” wherein the iconic Black Nazarene of Quiapo “meets” the image of the Virgin Mary while in procession every Jan. 9.

Samantha Pacardo, project manager of Save San Sebastian Foundation, said the tours will be conducted from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 24.

For families who will go on Visita Iglesia in the coming Holy Week, the foundation suggested the following itinerary in Manila: Start with the “twin churches” of Our Lady of Loreto and Saint Anthony on J. Figueras Street; followed by Our Lady of Montserrat Chapel on Mendiola; Saint Jude Church and San Miguel Church on JP Laurel Sr. Street in Malacañang, followed by Quiapo church, and finally San Sebastian Basilica.  The foundation guided tours of the basilica for a fee throughout the year. Interested parties may contact the foundation  at 7085122 or [email protected].