Your Visita Iglesia guide: Holy Week road trip destinations for those who want to drive

Aside from taking time off to commemorate the Passion of Jesus Christ, Filipino Christians use the Holy Week to bond with their families through various activities. One tradition that never wanes is the Visita Iglesia, or the vow to visit seven churches on Maundy Thursday.

Aside from being the perfect time for a road trip, this practice is also an ideal way to bond with your family, friends, and of course, your ride. 

Choosing the correct route can be daunting, as few know where to go and which churches are the best to visit.

With that in mind, we have created a list to help you find the right churches to visit this Holy Week holiday. For those who still need a plan on where to go, we have separated the list into northern and southern routes in case you want options. 

Southern Churches

Liliw, Laguna

Check out the Saint John the Baptist Parish Church in Liliw Laguna. It sports a Baroque-style design and is made from adobe and clay bricks. Parking is available for the church, however, note that it is limited, so try and visit during off hours before or after a mass.

Nagcarlan, Laguna

Another place you can drive to in southern Luzon is the San Bartolome Apostol church in Nagcarlan Laguna. It has a rich background as the church was rebuilt and upgraded multiple times. Parking is tight, but it is available, so please make sure that you visit during off hours.

Munting Ambling, Laguna

Santa Maria Magdalena Parish church should be another place you should visit on your Visita Iglesia road trip. Like many other churches on this list, it features Instagramable baroque architecture. Initially made of cogon and wood, it was later finished in sandstone and had a four-story octagonal bell tower with a square base. 

San Pablo, Laguna

Cathedral-Parish of Saint Paul, the First Hermit, is another excellent place to visit when you take the southern route. It was initially made in the 16th century making it one of the older churches on this list. It has undergone several upgrades in its lifetime, with the latest iteration restoring its facade while adding more modern materials.

Majayjay, Laguna

St. Gregory, the Great Parish, is a must-see on your Holy Week road trip. It has a rich history dating to the mid-15th century, as it served as the site of early Catholicism in Laguna. While it is far from what it originally was, as it was destroyed by a typhoon in the early 18th century, it has since been modernized. It is also declared a national cultural treasure by the National Museum. 

Pangil, Laguna

You probably noticed that the list has churches predominantly in the Laguna area. It is because the site has an abundance of churches that you can visit that all come with cultural or historical significance.

That said, Nuestra Senora de la Natividad Parish is another stop that we highly recommend visiting. It was founded as a visita or hermitage by Franciscan friars. It's a smaller church than the others on the list, with parking available.

Paete, Laguna

The San Santiago Apostol church is at the end of our Visita Iglesia list for the south. It was initially built in the mid-16th century until it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1717. A new church was made, and a convent was added later on. However, it to was destroyed by another earthquake and was subsequently rebuilt again, but this time facing Laguna Lake. 

Northern Churches

Marilao Bulacan - National Shrine and Parish of the Divine Mercy

We have you covered if you want to head north instead of traveling south for your Visita Iglesia road trip. First on our must-visit list is the National Shrine and Parish of the Divine Mercy. It's a famous spot for those going on road trips and is one of the more modern churches on the list.

Malolos Bulacan - Barasoain Church

Next up, we have the Barasoain Church in Malolos Bulacan. Like the many other churches on the list, it has a rich history but is a little bit younger as it was founded in the mid-18th century. Its history is fascinating as the church was separated from Malolos and was made into its own parish. 

It is also known as the seat of the first Philippine Republic, as it played an essential role in the Philippine Revolution during the Spanish-American war and in the Malolos Congress. 

Plaridel Bulacan  - Santiago Apsotol Church

Yet another church we highly recommend you visit is the St. James the Apostle Parish church in Plaridel Bulacan. The church was founded in 1602 and has undergone several versions due to fires and an earthquake. It also has a historical marker, which the National Historical Committee gave. The church also served as a military hospital and barracks for the Americans in 1899.

Lubao Pampanga - San Agustin Church

We leave Bulacan and head to Pampanga for our next recommended church stop. Our next stop is the San Agustin Church in Lubao Pampanga. The church is pleasing to the eye with its baroque and neo-classical styling and has a heritage designation as important cultural property. 

Angeles Pampanga - Holy Rosary Parish church

This church was founded in 1877, with construction finishing in 1896. It was destroyed during World War II but was immediately restored by the government and completed in early 1944. The church also serves as the main religious center for the area, with many visiting it for Holy Week. 

Tarlac - San Sebastian Cathedral/ Tarlac Cathedral

Another newer church on our list is the San Sebastian Cathedral/ Tarlac Cathedral in Tarlac City. It was the first parochial building of Tarlac, attributed to Father Agustin Barriocanal in 1740. A wood and stone church would later be created, but it was destroyed in 1945 during the war. A new church would be rebuilt using present-day materials. 

Manaoag Pangasinan - The Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag

You can’t have a northern Holy Week road trip without passing by the Manaoag Church or the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag. It is deemed a National Cultural Treasure thanks to its long history, and it is also a popular place to have your car blessed. 

Whether you venture north or south or want to take advantage of the traffic-less metro and visit churches within the capital region, we hope you find time to complete your Visita Iglesia road trip.