Pope Francis Parish Church

The initial title that I wrote for this story was "Palo Archbishop's Palace. But I changed it to "Pope Francis Parish Church" as that is purportedly the official name, so I learned from a nun at the church.

The story is... this place (not just this church) has been very well-known to many Catholics for being the "Archbishop's Palace". But this edifice I visited is not the palace. This is a church built very recently and beautifully, together with an orphanage. So where is the palace? Up at the hill above this church!

Anyway, I was just passing, and saw that this gate was open. I said to the driver "let's check it out"!

And so we did! Driver initially parked at the side of the road, but an old man told him he can drive his car in and park there instead. I left them to it and already proceeded inside by that open gate at right.

You know, this compound now has two big gates that are a bit of an angle instead of a straight side-by-side fashion. This one with the logo is the "left side" and new; after that white post is the older gate of the same size and another logo but you can't see it in the photo since it was open - where I entered!

I guesss this left gate is meant for going to the orphanage and the church, while that right gate (the original) is for going up the hill to the Archbishop's Palace. But, it's one same space inside any gate!

So I was inside the compound and marveled in awe at this new church - small but beautiful...

For my layman's terminology, I would call this a chapel. But probably because they named it a "parish", and its in honor of Pope Francis who visited this place last January, it thus, became a "church". I think!

Oh, that explains the curiosity - mine and that of many others. These structures (church & orphanage) are fairly new, built in time for the Pope's visit. But (I heard) not that the diocese built these to impress the Pope. It's the other way around - meaning the Pope donated millions of pesos for them to build an orphange and elderly home. Well, maybe eto ang pasikat, pinagkasya ang pera with a church to boot!

Pwede, di ba?!

And this is how the church interiors looked as I stood from the entrance... bright but serene...

Not cluttered yet (though starting to be)! At left side of the altar, there's a big picture frame laid on the floor leaning on the wall. Feeling ko wala sa pari yan - probably sa mga matatandang tsu-tsu yan na parish-something-officers pang nineteen-kupungkupung ang aesthetic sense - sabit dito sabit doon!

Peace Lola/Lolo, Peace!

I think the canopy-like thing above the altar looks interestingly unique. Ah, this time I see an altar table that does not have the last supper hehe! I have nothing against the last supper, I just noted many altar tables have that! The stained glass murals instead of a retablo are modern and tastefully done too!

Here are two other stained glass art up at the gable. These are big, especially the lower one...

Am not sure I understand everything that those 'rosy' designs are trying to say. But, I think, I remember that rose (the flower) is supposed to be associated with, or representing Mama Mary, and even Jesus.

Out of the church, I saw this... the other new edifice made recently... the orphanage...

Nice new buildings. I wanted to peep in, but I couldn't see any human being outside or nearby. I didn't want naman to just open any door, barge-in and say "hello, waray ako kinahanglan, mag-oosyoso la"!

So I took satisfaction enough at taking a picture of this signboard by the entrance...

I heard on the news last year (before the Pope's arrival), that this facility (there are many buildings ha), is/was to be managed by a Korean missionary sisters with a 'hard to pronounce' group name hehe.

View from the orphanage as I was about to leave. Foreground is back of the church sacristy (I think).

That building up the hill (where the arrow points) is the "palacio" as most locals would refer to it. THE Archbishop's Palace, the original and only structure in this compound then. A big imposing building.

I have a little trivia... did you know, that the church authorities in this diocese (Palo) publicly requested (before the Pope's arrival) that people stop calling it the "Archbishop's Palace" but instead refer to it as "Archbishop's Residence"? They were probably trying to look humble. Wah'evuhr, di ba Padre Damaso?

Driver beside me, proceeding to the car asked "makadto kita sir"? I wanted to, but I said "no, waray kita tuyo ngadto ngan waray kita kilala didto" [we have no business there and we don't know anyone there].

I've been away from this region for too long, I don't anymore know anyone anywhere! But believe me, it is such a grand place up there as I've been there a number of times when I was a kid. It has wonderful views all around, overlooking Palo, even from outside the building. Well, it is THE Archbishop's Palace!

Anyway, on our way out, we were confronted by these two funny and fun "security guards"...

They are too noisy they could easily raise alarm to the real (human) guards when anything or anyone goes by those gates! In that picture, they were "barking" at the gate when a vehicle was awaiting entry.

They move to the side whenever people or vehicles are about to pass... but they don't stop shouting!

That is for all movements whether coming in or going out! They don't "bite", but their sound raises hell!

I saw proof this time! A friend told me sometime ago that there are residences and establishments in this country that have geese in their compounds to actually serve this kind of purpose - making noise when anything or anyone attempts entry! These 2 were evidence enough! Hehe, who needs doorbells?

Anyway, I loved this visit. Discovery of things new with a little nostalgia on the side...