TRIP UP NORTH DURING THE UNDAS BREAK: Part Five - CHURCHES OF NUEVA ECIJA

 On my recent road trip through the provinces of Aurora, Quirino, Isabela, and Nueva Vizcaya, we passed through four towns in Nueva Ecija, three of which I had never visited before. This trip allowed me to complete my visits to all the towns and churches in Nueva Ecija. The churches we visited belong to the Diocese of San Jose, Nueva Ecija, and include those in Pantabangan, Carranglan, Lupao, and Muñoz. Following the suggestion of Bishop Elmer Mangalinao, we also visited the parish church of Sto. Niño de Puncan in Puncan, Carranglan. He shared that Puncan was actually the original población of San Jose before it was relocated to its current site. The church is now a pilgrim shrine dedicated to the Sto. Niño de Puncan.

ST. ANDREW THE APOSTLE PARISH
Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija

ST. NICHOLAS DE TOLENTINO PARISH
Carranglan, Nueva Ecija

The town of Carranglan is twelve kilometers away from the main Maharlika highway. We were glad however, to have made this detour as we saw a beautiful brick church which we did not expect to see. 

The  Porta Santa  on the left side facing the church with the carved image of St. Nicholas de Tolentino. 

STO. NIÑO DE PUNCAN PARISH
Puncan, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija

ST. JAMES THE GREAT PARISH
Lupao, Nueva Ecija

ST. SEBASTIAN THE MARTYR PARISH
Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija

It was fortunate that we passed by the church of Muñoz as I noticed that they have already built a beautiful retablo from the simple crucifix that adorned the altar before. 

For the other churches of Nueva Ecija under the Diocese of San Jose click here.

THE CHURCHES OF NUEVA ECIJA. Part Two: DIOCESE OF SAN JOSE

The Diocese of San Jose, Nueva Ecija comprises of the city of San Jose and the Science City of Muñoz and 12 other municipalities in Northern Nueva Ecija.  I visited eleven of the fourteen towns and cities. 

CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOSEPH

SAN JOSE, NUEVA ECIJA

 The painting at the dome of the Cathedral

 Picture with Bp. Bobbit Mallari of San Jose, Nueva Ecija when we passed by on our way to Quirino and a picture above taken ten years earlier. 

SAN SEBASTIAN PARISH

SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH

LLANERA, NUEVA ECIJA

ST. JOSEPH THE HUSBAND PARISH

RIZAL, NUEVA ECIJA 

 ST. DOMINIC PARISH

STO. DOMINGO, NUEVA ECIJA

OUR LADY OF THE HOLY ROSARY PARISH

LICAB, NUEVA ECIJA 

HOLY FAMILY PARISH

QUEZON, NUEVA ECIJA 

 What was distinctive in this church were the big root trunks of acacia trees which were made as base of the altar, tabernacle and lectern. At the convento, the big dining glass table had also acacia root trunk as the base. I also noticed that there were Bibles in the pews of the Church. It is my first time to see many Bibles for the parishioners to use. 

ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST PARISH

GUIMBA, NUEVA ECIJA

 In Guimba, I saw a sign pointing to the town of Talugtug. When I checked the map it was only 15 km from Guimba and even nearer than Cuyapo, my next destination which was 20km away. So I decided to go to Talugtug. It was a small town with their church on an elevated part of the town.

OUR MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP PARISH

TALUGTUG, NUEVA ECIJA

From Talugtug the next destination was Cuyapo. Checking maps.me a road was given which would no longer go back to Guimba and was 11 kilometers shorter. So I took this road. After about five or so kilometers the cemented road became unpaved. Further along the way we met a woman and asked her if the road was unpaved until reaching the highway to Cuyapo and she said yes. There was still about 13 kilomters to go. Then the road ended with only muddy tracks ahead. I got out of the car and walked ahead to see if it was just a short distance. I noticed that further on was a more difficult road that the only option was to go back. Then I saw that on the other side of the irrigation canal there was a gravel road.  Upon asking I was told that indeed it was the only passable road. So I had to make a u-turn and get to the other side of the irrigation. 

ST. ROCH PARISH

CUYAPO, NUEVA ECIJA

DIOCESAN SHRINE OF THE HOLY FACE OF JESUS OF MANOPELLO

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH

NAMPICUAN, NUEVA ECIJA

 The church of Nampicuan has become a popular site for pilgrims visiting the only replica of the ‘One and Only, Unique and Most Precious Relic of the Resurrection’ kept for centuries at the Basilica del Santo Volto in Manoppello, Italy. The veil has long been acknowledged as the “sudarium” or burial face cloth of Jesus together with the Shroud which covered the body. It is the cloth that was put on the face of the dead Jesus when he was buried, in accordance with Jewish tradition. While the Shroud of Turin imprinted the negative image of the Dead Christ, the positive image of the Resurrected Christ was imprinted on the Veil. The image remains perfectly visible from either side.  The replica was enshrined on Sept. 16, 2014. The town of Nampicuan is only more than a kilometer away from the town proper of Anao, Tarlac. 

The replica of the Holy Face of Jesus of Manopello is enshrined on the side altar of the church of Nampicuan, the face of which is also transparent and can be seen at the back of the altar (below).