Every Good Friday, it has been a family habit to visit fourteen (14) churches- eachย bethel a stop to aย progressive commemorationย of the fourteen (14) Stations of the Cross. This year, coveredย one of our favorite lenten itineraries we reverentlyย call, “South Cebu Church Trail“; offsettingย at our annual route’s unalterableย first three stops -Nuestra Senyora Birhen deย Regla, National Shrine of St. Joseph ย and Basilica del Santo Niรฑo – respectively situated in the cities of Lapu-lapu, Mandaue and Cebu, then advancing with the Friday driveย to Minglanilla down to our last church stop in Boljoon.
The travel path is roughly a 14-hour course,ย stopping over at each of the fourteen churches – memorializingย and meditating on Jesus’ sacrifice, sayingย prayers of gratitude and wishes and lighting candles for guidance. And right after kindling the candles at each of the churches, weย head to the vendorย standsย right outside the parish’ gate to purchase some local nibbles and refreshments. And yes,ย you figuredย it right – weย haveย fourteen (14) real-quick snack breaks, plus two (2) meals every annualย pilgrimage. hahaha. Four (4)ย ย of my personal favorite munchies from South Cebu are San Fernando’s buko pie, Sibonga’s salbaro, Carcar’s chicharon and Argao’s torta.ย ย To add to furor areย theย exquisiteย ruralย landscape, like the acacia coves in San Fernando and Carcar , and ย Ili Rock ย in Boljoon (it’s a bit heartbreaking to see Ili Rock’s current plight though). And ultimately, getting to see the fascinating churches of the south andย witnessing the firm faith of its people.
Abreast the family bonding and the food trip, theย Cebu Church Trail is a worthwhile traditionย that I eagerly look forward to every year.
Do you have any lenten traditions? Share it by commenting below! ๐
Read more about our South Cebu Church Trail on Cebu’s Lifestyle Blog, iLuvCebu.com.ย
To see short videos of the recent trip to the south – how to cook Sibonga’s ย Salbaro, ย cotton candy making in Carcar and waves crashing the shores of Boljoon with Ili rock as the background – visit iLuvCebu’s Instagram Account.
South Reclamation Project, Cebu City
Acacia Cove, Carcar City
Church of San Isidro Labrador in San Fernando Cebu
St. Catherine of Alexandria Church in Carcar City, Cebu
Nuestra Senyora Del Pilar Church in Sibonga, Cebu
Simala, Sibonga Cebu
Simala, Sibonga Cebu
Palawan Blossoms in Sibonga, Cebu
St. Michael the Archangel Church in Argao, Cebu
San Guillermo Parish Church in Dalaguete, Cebu
A view of the quarried Ili Rock in Boljoon, Cebu
No Comments