Cathedral of Our Lady of Penafrancia, Naga City

The Clairvoyant went to Naga City with her father to celebrate with their relatives the occasion of the 80th birthday of her aunt, who is also our godmother in our wedding. Our cousin, Fr. Sonny, con-celebrated a Mass for his mother where in attendance were representatives of several generations of their clan as well as close friends of the family. Cousins flew in from Australia, Hong Kong and the US for the reunion. My father-in-law was in Naga for the first time in many years and so was also excited by the get-together with his siblings, nephews, nieces and grandchildren.

The Clairvoyant took the homecoming as an opportunity to snap up a lot of photos and among them are of the old cathderal dedicated to Our Lady of Penafrancia. I was only able to visit the new cathedral during my short trip to Naga back in 2009 and so wasn't really able to go around.

The old cathedral dedicated to Our Lady of Penafrancia where our priest-cousin celebrated Mass for his mother

The gazeebo at the plaza in front of the new cathedral

The arch at the pier at the river with the image of Our Lady on top. This is where the fluvial parade ends during the feast day in September.

Another look at the dome with stained glass canopy featuring religious scenes

The cathedral facade up close

Inside the cathedral, the ceiling provides a very impressive example of church architecture similar to those in Europe.

The main altar of the cathedral.

Ceiling detail and stained glass windows

Image of an angel holding holy water at the entrance to the cathedral

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Dauis Church

Dauis Church was founded by the Augustinians in 1692. It is among the old churches that are part of the heritage of Bohol Province, and the Philippines as well. We missed going to this church during our previous visit to Bohol where we were able to see parts of the churches of Loboc, Baclayon and Albuquerque. Unfortunately, we were only able to enter Baclayon Church and were only able to appreciate the exteriors of the other two. This time around, we made sure that we spent some time at Dauis Church including coming back on Sunday to hear Mass at the church prior to our flight back home. It helped, of course, that our late afternoon visit to Dauis was in part to view the picturesque sunset from the pier behind the church and also to dine at the highly recommended Cafe Lawis in the church complex in a building which used to be a convent.

Bell tower

National Historical Commission marker describing the history of Dauis Church

Front of Dauis Church as seen from the town plaza

Church facade - the photo does not give a good view of details such as inscriptions

The church as seen from the driveway on the side

NHC marker describing the church complex

Rear side of the church featuring another bell tower, which also served as a watchtower as the rear of the church faces the strait between Bohol and Panglao Islands.

Close up of the rear of the church - the door leads to a counter where one can get bottled water that is derived from a freshwater spring located beneath the altar of the church.

Main altar

Dome above the altar

Choir balcony

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Brunch at Marche Vivo City

We had brunch today at Marche in Vivo City. We were actually planning to have an outdoor brunch at a place somewhere near Clarke Quay but the weather didn't cooperate. The rains brought us instead to Harbourfront and Vivo City, the latter supposedly the largest mall in Singapore. We decided to go to Marche, which we enjoyed eating at their branch at Somerset 313.

Large glasses of lemonade and freshly squeezed orange juice

Mushroom and asparagus pasta in cream sauce

Parma ham and rocket salad pizza

Three scoops of ice cream (From top to bottom: maple walnut, strawberry and caramelita)

Enjoying the ice cream

Posing at the doorway to our corner table

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