Mood: Inspired.
Yep, posting again. I thought of getting back to a little blogging and I remembered that I still have this account which I started few years back and I just had to dig deep into my memory (err records, old notebooks) for my user name and access pass. I am still organizing my thoughts and how to formally start this, So, let me do that with a 'blessed' post. Ha!
Pray, Hope, and Don't Worry
One cloudy Saturday, two of my dear friends and I had a quick trip to Padre Pio Shrine in Batangas. There was no lengthy planning involved. We just decided that instead of our usual get-together lunch at our fave restaurant then coffee/chikahan. we would do a quick Waze-guided drive south to Sto. Tomas, Batangas and have a little prayerful adventure. So, we did just that.
We did not have a hard time going there even if it was the first time for all the three of us to visit the Shrine. You can we were a bit excited about our little adventure. Trusty and ever-helpful,
Waze was cooperative enough to navigate us through Saturday traffic with our on-and-off WiFi. We drove down SLEX then exited at Calamba-Sto. Tomas, Batangas Exit and drove through the Sto. Tomas-Lipa Road for a little over an hour, We were glad to find signage and posters of Padre Pio along the road, as if He was telling us 'Do not worry. I will guide you'. We, then turned right to Barangay San Pedro. We asked a couple of friendly locals just to be sure we were on the right track. A few more minutes and we arrived at the Shrine.
The Shrine is beautiful and the place is serene. We arrived before 12 noon and there were already more than a handful of churchgoers and devotees in the area. An old lady who is a local told us that we were lucky that there is only a small number people considering it was a Saturday. She said more people usually comes in the afternoon. There was ample parking space but I would assume that it would be harder for people to find a parking space later in the day. The atmosphere was very peaceful even if some parts are under construction and men were working. One can really feel the holiness of the place. We prayed intently, took some photos, lighted candles, and got a bottle of blessed water each to take home.
The beautiful altar. The Church which is circular is made of bamboo and steel structures and it has no doors. It is open on all sides.
The Blessed Water Spring. You can buy an empty plastic bottle for PhP 20.00 at the store that also sells the candles. Or you can use any empty bottle you have. Candles are sold at PhP 10.00 each.
The different colored candles are symbolic for each intentions. I got all 9 and including the pink one, I lit it especially for my nephew and his wife who are having a hard time conceiving.
If I knew I would be posting about this I could have taken more photos. I already made a mental note to take more pictures the next time we make a visit.
St. Padre Pio (Francesco Forgione) O.F.M. Cap., (May 25, 1887 – September 23, 1968) was born in Pietrelcina, a farming town in Southern Italy. More about Padre Pio and the Shrine at
NationalShrineofPadrePioBatangas
You can also check the daily Holy Mass and confession schedules at their official site.
How to get there
Via Public transportation. From Cubao, Alabang, or Pasay. Ride a bus bound to Lucena. Advise the friendly bus conductor that you are going to Padre Pio in Sto. Tomas, Batangas. Signage/posters of Padre Pio will guide you along the way. After the bus ride on your right, near the corner of Barangay San Pedro leading to the Shrine, there are tricycles near the 7-11 Store that will bring you to the site.
If you are driving and is not equipped with a navigational app, you can take the Calamba-Sto. Tomas Exit via South Super Expressway (SLEX) and drive along Pan Pacific/Sto. Tomas-Lipa Road. Again, signage/posters of Padre Pio will guide you as you drive along. Turn right at the corner of Barangay San Pedro leading to the Shrine, There is a 7-11 Store at the corner and an overpass walkway, you won't miss it.
