Visita Iglesia: Archdiocesan Shrine of Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life (Pasay City)

“Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life” - as we end this year’s Lenten Season let us contemplate on this mystery by checking out this church located just across Ikea in SM Mall of Asia (MOA).

The Shrine of Jesus the Way, the Truth, and the Life is the church nearest to SM MOA, which is perfect for mall employees and shoppers to unwind and relax their weary spirit.

As for me, I make it a point to visit this church whenever I go to MOA.

The Shrine got its name from the message of Pope John Paul II during the 10th World Youth Day in Rizal Park in 1995 where he highlighted Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life.

The land and the construction of the church was donated by the SM magnate Henry Sy, Sr. and his wife. The church was consecrated and dedicated in 1999 by Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin.

The church, despite being built during the modern era, is of classical church architecture. This is a plus point for me because I prefer old architectural styles like Baroque or Medieval. Churches with modern architectural styles tend to be ugly or banal because they look like an office or commercial building. Beautiful churches uplift the spirit because they mirror the beauty of God.

The church interior also didn’t disappoint. The altar is of classical church design but without the usual image of the Crucified Jesus.

The shrine’s altar features a painting of the Gospel scene where Mama Mary and Saint Joseph found the missing Jesus in the Temple. The designers of the Shrine chose this painting as it connects the young Jesus with the World Youth Day. The painting is telling young people visiting this church that Jesus was once a youth like them. This means that Jesus understands the challenges, joys, sufferings, and experiences of the youth. That Jesus will not belittle their prayers just because they are young.

The stained-glass window of this church features the patron saints of the youth: Saint Maria Goretti and Saint Dominic Savio.

There is also a beautiful stained glass art of the Virgin Mary.

The Shrine of Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life is the eighth and the last church that I featured for this year’s virtual Visita Iglesia. This is one more than the usual 7 churches I featured in the previous years. I did this because my Visita Iglesia journey leads to Easter. And the central figure on Easter Sunday is the resurrected Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

HAPPY EASTER to everyone!

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Mass schedules of Archdiocesan Shrine of Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday - 6 PM

Wednesday - 5 PM and 6:30 PM with novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Saturday - 5:30 PM (Anticipated Mass)

Sunday - 9 AM, 10:30 AM, 5:30 PM, and 7 PM

Weddings - schedule provided to Parish Office at least two months prior to the wedding date

Baptism - schedule provided to Parish Office at least two weeks prior to actual baptism date

Confession - 5 PM every day except Monday and Sundays

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Visita Iglesia is the Filipino tradition of visiting churches during the Holy Week. This virtual Visita Iglesia is my own tradition wherein I post about one church each day of the Holy Week.

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References

1. Brief History of Archdiocesan Shrine of Jesus, the Way, the Truth, the Life

Visita Iglesia: Saint John Paul II Chapel (NAIA Terminal 3, Pasay City)

Tucked beside the stairs in NAIA Terminal 3 is a place that I make sure to visit before I board the airplane. That place with a small space is none other than the Saint John Paul II Chapel of NAIA Terminal 3.

The Airport Chapel was established as a tribute to Pope John Paul II. I am not sure why they chose to dedicate the chapel the Pope. My only guess is that since Pope John Paul II is the pope that has most number of visits to the Philippines then that means that he has the most number of times of arriving and departing NAIA of all the Popes. 

Despite its small size, many people visit this chapel even in the wee hours of the morning. Air travelers, airport personnel, airplane cabin crew — I saw them all dropping by this chapel to pray and ask the Lord for safe flight.

My usual prayer whenever I go to this chapel is to ask the Lord for my safe journey, and also the safety of my family and loved ones who I will leave behind as I sojourn in other places.

There are images of Jesus, Mary, and other saints in many areas of NAIA Terminal 3 where people can pray to the Lord or ask the saints’ intercession. I, however, prefer going to Airport Chapel because it is a quiet place to pray.

I am thankful to the airport management for giving a space for a chapel inside NAIA Terminal 3. It is spiritually soothing for those in the airport who wish to pray and converse with the Lord before they fly.

For those who are looking for a church to pray before boarding the airplane, I recommend Shrine of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus that is just across the street from NAIA Terminal 3. I also recommend Our Lady of the Airways Church, which is also in the vicinity of the airport.

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Visita Iglesia is a Catholic tradition of visiting seven or fourteen churches during Maundy Thursday. For each day, this Holy Week, I will feature one church as a sort of virtual Visita Iglesia.

Read about the churches that I visited this year

Palm Sunday: Immaculate Conception Church in Concepcion Uno, Marikina

Holy Monday: Santo Niño de Paz Chapel in Greenbelt, Makati

Fig Tuesday: Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Chapel in SM Makati

Spy Wednesday: Santa Rosa de Lima Church in Santa Rosa, Laguna

Maundy Thursday: Saint John Paul II Chapel in NAIA Terminal 3

Good Friday: Minor Basilica of San Lorenzo Ruiz in Binondo, Manila

Black Saturday: Quiapo Church in Manila

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A Night in Copacabana Apartment Hotel

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Copacabana Hotel Apartment is one landmark that I usually look at whenever I pass along south EDSA. I never knew back then that it will have a connection to our wedding. Copacabana Apartment Hotel is the place where we stayed in the night before our wedding day.

Weeks before our wedding day, Lei and I searched for hotels where we can do our pre-wedding preparatiosn. We visited Herald Suites, Avitel Hotel, and Copacabana Apartment Hotel. It is Copacabana that impressed us the most that’s why we booked it.

Copacabana Apartment Hotel. (Source: PCG Auxiliary)

We were allowed to check the rooms during our visit and I was impressed. What I liked with Copacabana Apartment Hotel is the space. Since it’s an apartment hotel, Copacabana’s rooms are spacious. The rooms have dining area, kitchen, living area, and, (of course) bedrooms.


For me and my family, we booked the 1 Bedroom Suite while we booked the 2 Bedroom Suite Deluxe for Lei and her family.

We got the promo rate of 2,975 pesos for the 1 Bedroom Suite. However, Copacabana allows only 2 persons for that room so I had to pay 650 pesos for the extra person. Mother and Little Sister accompanied me in my overnight in this room.

Our bedroom in Copacabana Apartment Hotel.

Our room have a small table, where we ate our very late dinner, and the sofa is just close to it.

I will never forget that night I spent doing the last-minute preparations (seating arrangement for the reception, guest cards, and the program for our wedding reception). I sleept around 3 AM and woke up around 5 AM.

The kitchen is on the other side our room. It has a stove, water heater, and refrigerator that contains the money trap of canned soft drinks, bottled water, etc.

See my bed?

Lei, the Biyenans and, our make-up artist stayed in the bigger 2 Bedroom Suite Deluxe room. We paid the 6,800 pesos promo rate for this room. Their room also has kitchen, living area and dining area.

Lei brought three of her pamangkins because Copacabana don’t charge extra payment for kids.

Lei's bedroom. Look at her wedding gown.

Lei’s room is bigger because this is where they did the make-up and photography.

Some Criticisms about Copacabana Apartment Hotel

I have few negative comments to this hotel, and the first of it is about the receptionists. It seems like the receptionists don’t know how to smile. They are not outright rude but I can see in their body language that they’re not “customer friendly”.

The next worst negative comment is about their “promise” about photo-shoot inside the hotel. During our first visit, we asked the receptionists if photoshoot is allowed inside the hotel, particularly at the lobby. They just answered “yes”. I asked them again about it on our wedding day and their answer is “no”, specifically at the places outside of our room.

I get mad at this sudden prohibition. Good thing that our photographers were not daunted by this turn of events and took our photos and videos at the corridors and stairs of the hotel. They even took photos and videos of Lei at the lobby and the hotel people were not able to stop them.

My last negative comment is the noise in our room. I know that many people book Copacabana Apartment Hotel because of its convenient location. The hotel is just beside EDSA and few minutes away from SM Mall of Asia (SM MoA) and the airport.

A view of EDSA from our room in Copacabana Apartment Hotel.

The consequence of this convenience is the noise from vehicles, particularly the buses, running in front of the hotel. Loud hoots from buses outside will be enough to wake you up. Guests are warned that Filipino bus drivers are very inconsiderate with their horns.

All in all, our stay in Copacabana Apartment Hotel was OK despite of the negative comments that I had. I recommend this hotel for soon-to-be-wed couples who are looking for a place to stay before their big day. The good thing about Copacabana Apartment Hotel is the big rooms. The bellboys are helpful and courteous too. Copacabana Apartment Hotel allowed our photographers to come in but the problem is they tried to prevent our photoshoot from happening.

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Visit the Copacabana Apartment Hotel website for more info about this hotel.
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Like a Little Child in Aircraft Wonderland

Mural backdrop inside PAF Aerospace Museum.

The “last minute cancellation” policy of PAF Aerospace Museum is a big downer. Good thing that this museum has real planes that made my heart beat with excitement.

I always play make-believe wars when I was a child. I had toy soldiers, toy aeroplanes and toy ships. I set them to make a scene – a battlefield.

I felt like I was reliving my childhood when I walked beside the war planes displayed in PAF Aerospace Museum. I felt that they are my toys, only that they are much bigger than me!

I had to control my enthusiasm or else the museum guard might think I’m crazy and throw me out of the place.

So, I just walked and took photos and, of course, touched the war planes.

And now! Yes. As in NOW! I can now say that I touched a warplane.

The airplane at the front is the Italian-made SIAI Marchetti SF-260. Philippine Air Force acquired this plane in 1967. Airplane of this type is currently being used as trainer planes by the PAF Flying School.

The warplane that was painted to look like a shark is also cool.

It is appropriately named as the Shark of Zambales.

Hanging from the ceiling is the Cali 233. It also served as trainer aircraft of the Philippine Air Force.

The fourth airplane that is on display inside the PAF Aerospace Museum is the Boeing Stearman.

One weird vehicle that is on display in the PAF Aerospace Museum is this white conical metallic object.

It is a replica of the Apollo 11 Command Module. Apollo 11 is the space mission executed by NASA that landed the first man on the moon.

Another airplane hanging from the ceiling is the replica of Flyer, which is the first airplane built by the Wright brothers.

Of the many vehicles on display, I think that the best is the Dodge Command Car that was used by President Marcos during parades and ceremonies.

There are other big warplanes, commercial planes and helicopters displayed on the grounds at the back of the museum. Unfortunately we didn’t have time to check those out because our mission that time is to inquire about wedding reception venues.

I promise, however, that I will bring my son or even my daughter to PAF Aerospace Museum. I am sure that my child will enjoy this place. The PAF Aerospace Museum will be perfect for bonding time of our (future) family.

How to Go to PAF Aerospace Museum

I have been to NAIA Terminal 3 and passed in front of the PAF Aerospace Museum a lot of times but I didn’t know that this cool place exists!

Vicinity map of PAF Aerospace Museum.

Commuters coming from MRT – Taft Station can reach the museum by riding the jeepney with “Nichols” placard. Just alight at NAIA Terminal 3 then ride the Villamor Ikot jeep to reach the place. Just tell the manong driver that you want to go down in front of Air Force museum.

Take note that the PAF Aerospace Museum is just across the street from Remington Hotel.

Entrance Fee and Business Hours of PAF Aerospace Museum

Entrance fee to the museum is just 20 pesos. It seems, however, that this fee is not strictly collected since no one asked us to pay the entrance during our visit.

The museum is open from 8 AM to 5 PM during weekdays (Monday to Friday). It is only open from 8 AM to 12 noon on Saturdays. The museum is closed during Sundays and holidays.

Wedding Prep: PAF Aerospace Museum

Who would have thought that a museum can also be a venue for wedding reception?

I know that museums are good for educational trips or as stop-over for tourists but never as a venue for parties. So I was surprised and little bit excited, when a photographer that we met in the Wedding Summit told us about the Philippine Air Force (PAF) Aerospace Museum.

I scoured the Internet for information about the PAF Aerospace Museum and my mind was blown away by beautiful pre-nuptial photos that I found. An example would be a prenup shot in Makeup Artists Philippines. Cool photos posted by Anton Diaz on Our Awesome Planet blog enticed me more to visit this museum.

So, one Saturday, me and my Beloved visited the PAF Aerospace Museum to inquire about renting the place for our wedding reception.

I felt giddy the moment we entered the museum. Warplanes welcomed me!

These planes will be good for photos and I bet that our guests will be delighted to see this.

We were immediately informed that the function room of the PAF Aerospace Museum is not allowed for civilian use. To sidestep this prohibition, we were told to look for a backer in the military. The backer or sponsor can be an officer, enlisted man or even a retiree.

What actually enticed us to check this museum as venue for wedding reception is its 5,000 pesos rental fee for 5-hour use. This is quite cheap as compared to other places that we checked, like SM MoA's The Venue that have astronomical price. Another thing is the presence of the old warplanes, which will give our reception a unique feel.

The fee is OK. The presence of old airplanes great. Too bad that I have second thoughts in renting the place because of the horrors that I read on Maqui's blog. I read that the museum admin cancelled her reservation 27 days before her son's birthday party. What's worse is a commenter saying that their reservation was cancelled a week before the event.

Such last minute cancellation is scary and I don't want to experience that. I can't imagine the stress if PAF Aerospace Museum will suddenly cancel our reservation.

We went to the museum despite our knowledge of these horrors. We were hoping that the cancellation policy was already scrapped.

Our hope was dashed to pieces because I read in their “Revocable Permit”, and I quote:

“The PAF Museum Management reserves the right to cancel prior arrangements and to reimburse payments including reservation fee made by the renter for reasons of Command Requirements/Activities. Likewise, the management shall immediately inform in advance the renter of such cancellation at anytime the requested event come into conflict with the Command Activities”

This is disheartening. My decision was final the moment I read this condition in the permit. I will not rent the function room of the PAF Aerospace Museum.

I'd rather forego this unique setting for our wedding reception venue than take the risk of last-minute-cancellation.

Our second attempt to book a wedding reception failed. At least I got the chance to see old warplanes and I will talk about it in the next blog post.

Little Discoveries Inside NAIA Terminal 3

I usually choose the early flights whenever I travel. The reason for this is that I want to spend maximum time to the places that I will be visiting. The more time that I have means that I have time to roam around.  More time means more travel experiences for me.

So, for my second visit to Cebu I chose a flight around 7 AM so I can reach the Queen City of the South early. The problem with early flights is that I am forced to go to the airport very early. Airlines usually require their passengers to be at the airport two hours before the estimated time of departure (ETD). I am fortunate because I chose to fly with Cebu Pacific and used their Web Check-in that allowed me to go to the NAIA Terminal 3 forty-five minutes before ETD.

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NAIA Terminal 3 is the newest terminal of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines and other airlines use this terminal. The old NAIA terminal is currently being used by the Philippine Airlines. I like NAIA Terminal 3 because it is cleaner and better looking than the old terminal. Another plus points for this terminal is it is spacious enough to accommodate the passengers that come and go in NAIA.

I got time to roam around NAIA Terminal 3 before my flight to Cebu City and I saw many interesting things.

 

NAIA Terminal 3 – the Unofficial Hotel

 

Going to NAIA for an early flight is a hassle, especially for those who live in places that are far away for the airport. Because of this, many people choose to go NAIA Terminal 3 the night before their flight and do this:

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If you have an early flight then I suggest that you sleep in NAIA Terminal 3 instead of checking into some hotel. The advantage of this is that all you have to do is to wake up few minutes before your boarding time. There is no need for you to rush from the hotel to the airport. This is also perfect for those who don’t have money for a hotel room. All you have to do is to find an unoccupied floor anywhere in NAIA Terminal 3, place some cloth and use your traveling bag as pillow. Voila! You have an instant “hotel room” right within NAIA Terminal 3. Just make sure that you stick to the wall so that you don’t block the path of other people.

 

NAIA Terminal 3 – the Mini-Mall

 

Passengers got bored when they wait for their flight. That’s why I think it is a good that NAIA Terminal 3 was developed to have a space for stores and food shops. NAIA Terminal 3 is now a mini-mall thanks to the presence of various restaurants like ever-present Jollibee, 7-11, Ministop, Pancake House and Yellow Cab.

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Shopaholics can spend their waiting time by visiting the Mini-mall of NAIA Terminal 3 at the third floor. Assorted things can be found at the mini-mall.

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Looking for a bag? Find it in NAIA Terminal 3.

ATMs of BPI and BDO can be found inside the terminal. RCBC also has a branch in NAIA Terminal 3.

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NAIA Terminal 3 Chapel

 

I am delighted to discover that there is a chapel inside NAIA Terminal 3. I took the time to pray inside the chapel. I asked God to keep me safe during the whole duration of my travel.

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Inside NAIA Terminal 3 chapel.

I highly suggest that you visit this chapel before you board your plane. 

It is time for me to leave after my visit to the NAIA Terminal 3 Chapel. I went to the boarding gate confident that God will be with me throughout my voyage.
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