Our expedition in Tanay marks our first trip as connubial
travelers and what better place to start with than a spiritual journey to Regina
Rica in Tanay, Rizal where one can see the biggest image of the Blessed Virgin
Mary in the Philippines.
Being devout Catholics and both afflicted with a life-changing ailment made us prepare for the inevitable. Contemplating on your trespasses is definitely something you will be doing and seeking the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary would always be included. I would be lying if praying for healing in this beautiful place is not one of our itenerary in our bucket list.
I have been reading
a lot about this new religious place of prayer in the highlands of the Sierra Madre. This place has also been featured in some
television shows in many occasions. I
had once the opportunity to visit this place last summer together with my
sister and her daughters but when we arrived at the place late in the morning
before noon, the place was already crawling with pilgrims and devotees, the
parking was spilling over along the roadside that we decided to just put off
the visit for some other time. If was
also very sunny that day that a noontime pilgrimage would be like going on “penitensya”
during the Holy Week.
It was still early in the morning when Malen and I arrived
in the place and we were able to bring the car to the closest parking possible
so that the uphill trek towards the image will be short. There was really no entrance fee to the place
but we were charged with something like
a maintenance fee. Anyway if all for the
sake of serenity and peaceful contemplation, it’s worth the payment. Parking was no problem since there were only
few vehicles in the parking area.
As we alight our vehicle, the venerable statue can be seen
from afar standing humbly in the Sierra Madre slope. As she stares piously across the landscape,
one can really feel the divinity of the moment as people were very silent and
in meditation as a sign of respect to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The ascent to the image begins upon entering the gate of the
Prayer Hill. The walkway going up is
already paved and as you trudge along the trail, the sight of a luscious garden
of different varieties of plants and would preoccupy a weary climber that no
sooner than you think that the destination is still far, you realize that you’re
already there. The view of the statue is
awesome up front. It makes you feel as
sense of holiness is afloat in the air.
The air became peacefully calm and everyone seems to be in meditation
trying to feel the presence of the Holy Virgin.
We were mesmerized by the beauty of the place and felt so humbled by the
towering figure reaching out in the Sierra Madre sky.
We started taking pictures without attracting the attention
of a group of people being oriented by a nun.
But suddenly one of the nuns approached us and told us that women should
wear shawls over their legs because Malen was wearing a long loose camper
shorts. Incidentally, she was wearing a shawl over her head and she immediately removed it to cover her legs. We went over the base of the statue to join
the group being oriented by the nun.
After the orientation, pilgrims were instructed to remove their slippers
when ascending the prayer room located deep in the interior of the statue. There was a ladder leading upstairs but we
were not allowed to take pictures while in the prayer room because the room
should be kept sacred and is purely for prayers only. While in the room, I began to construct a
prayer particularly for Malen who had just finished her chemotherapy and I
asked for intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary to help her recover from
her ailment and help us both live our lives normally again. Praying has always
been a part of our lives ever since we have finally settled down to begin our
lives as husband and wife. We took a while praying in the sacred room and really made time to contemplate on what the future might have in store for us.
When we left the
prayer room, a walkway led to a balcony high up in the statue where one can
have a panoramic view of the Tanay
countryside and picture taking is allowed.
It was really a good thing we came here on a bright and beautiful
morning and what’s terrific in this trip is that we spent it together which
really made the difference. No more
thought of “sana nandito din siya kapiling ko”.
This trip is signed, sealed and delivered in terms of being memorable,
spiritually gratifying and simply awesome!
As we descended from Prayer Hill, stations of the cross were erected along the way and there was a newly constructed Adoration Chapel at the bottom of the hill and a well were water was continuously flowing up.
We were delighted with the thought that this
would really be a great place for pilgrimage during the Holy Week because the
spiritual traditions of the Roman Catholic church are genuinely addressed by
the developers of the place.
Finally, a canteen greeted us at the bottom of the hill and the food they serve are healthy and organic food. We treated ourselves with porridge and ginger bread and washed it down with turmeric tea.
The price of the food is quite cheap and the experience of eating organically is gratifying as well. The visit to this spiritual place left me wondering why the place is called “Regina RICA”. When I googled the name it turned out that the complete name is Regina Rosarii Institute of Contemplation in Asia.
The place is run by Dominican
Sisters and I feel that the pilgrimage to this place will soon balloon out of
the sky in the coming years ahead. This is definitely the most important and
awesome itinerary in our Tanay adventure.
The feeling of experiencing a memorable event or visiting an
unforgettable place together with the one you love really topped all journeys
and travel. I can say this probably
because I’m in love. But truly having traveled alone in the past makes you realize the
difference and no matter what you say how great a place is, nothing beats
telling everyone that you had a great time because you experienced the awesome
moment with someone special in your life.
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