TravelswithCharie

Visita Iglesia (church visit) is a Catholic Lenten tradition which is widely practiced in the Philippines. Worshippers may choose to visit 7 or 14 churches on Maundy Thursday after the Mass of the Last Supper or on Good Friday and follow the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross). The Via Crucis consists of 14 Stations which traces the journey of Jesus Christ to his crucifixion and death.   Here are the prayers for the Stations of the Cross:   https://www.catholic.org/prayers/station.php?id=15 Here is a pictorial guide to nine churches for your Visita Iglesia in Capiz.  Our Lady of the Snows, Dumarao Nuestra Señora de las Nieves was razed by fire in 2009. The pink façade and belfry that dates back to 1728 are all that remain of the original structure. Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Roxas City The Cathedral sits in the heart of the cultural heritage sites of Roxas City. The current structure is from a reconstruction in 1954.  Santa Monica Church, Pan-ay T...

Bayanihan spirit I have a new video about the places you shouldn’t miss when visiting Capiz. Here’s the link:   https://youtu.be/09qkbWXzvNw?feature=shared . I am also posting the images I included in the video here. Old Railway Bridge, Dao Our Lady of the Snows, Dumarao Ivisan Coastline, Ivisan Ivisan Coastline, Ivisan Vineyard, Barangay Agustin Navarra, Ivisan Patio Beach, Ivisan Basiao Beach, Ivisan  Malinamon Falls, Jamindan* Puting Bato, Pilar Hinulugan Falls, Pilar La Playa de Balisong, Pilar Gugma Beach, Sapian Marugo Lake, Tapaz Baybay Beach, Roxas City Mantalinga Island, Roxas City Mantalinga Island Palina Greenbelt Eco-Park, Roxas City Boodle Fight, Bitoy’s, Roxas City Sunset, Baybay Beach, Roxas City Stay connected   ***** Images by TravelswithCharie with the exception of *Malinamon Falls which was taken by Bernadette Barrientos.

Beyond the sea-to-table cuisine that Capiz is famous for, the province serves a plateful of surprises to feed your wanderlust. Gugma Beach Aptly named Gugma (Love), this off the grid stretch of warm grey sand in Sapian ticks all the right boxes for a splashing good time with its expansive views of the coastline and striking rock formations by the shore. The White Sand Beaches of Ivisan Speaking of beaches, the town of Ivisan has fine white sand beaches bordered by palm trees. The laid-back vibe of Basiao, Ayagao and Patio beaches will please the consummate beachgoer. Pumpboats are available to explore the tiny shoreline of Maba-ay Island, just minutes from Basiao beach. Ruins of Railway Bridge Once upon a time, there was a railroad connecting Capiz and Iloilo. Buses eventually replaced the trains which were finally put to bed in 1985. There are remnants of the supporting approach to a railway bridge in Dao, about thirty minutes from Roxas City. Hardwood pylo...

Just when I thought I've explored Capiz enough, I'm finding captivating places off the beaten track. Some of these sites hit me with nostalgia like the ruins of the approach to a railway bridge while others took me completely by surprise (La Playa Beach and Marugo Lake). These new discoveries inspire me to wander down dusty roads and hunt for more local color. Ruins of Railway Bridge These hardwood pylons supported the approach to a railway bridge in Duyoc, Dao. This was constructed in 1910 and the railway extended for 117 kilometers from Capiz to Iloilo. Passenger service operations ended in 1985. Buses and private utility vehicles (PUV) now ply the highway between these two provinces.  These ruins are on McKinley Street in Duyoc, Dao. La Playa Beach There are so many beaches in Capiz but La Playa stands out for its serene surroundings. It's far from the noise and crowds of the city. If you appreciate a quiet time and a beach to yourself, this is the...

Lacaron Elementary School Continuing with our school distribution program, we went to Lacaron Elementary School in Dao, Capiz last July and reached out to approximately 240 children. The last time we were in Lacaron was in December 2011. It was really nice to be able to revisit Lacaron this year.  Typical of July weather, it was a hot and humid day and we stayed outdoors under the UNICEF donated tent classroom. With the school principal, Milagros Jore Derayo, we gave each of the children notebooks, pens and pencils. Some kids took home prizes like crayons, toys, pencil cases, coloring books and more school supplies for giving the correct answer to our math, spelling and history questions. Here are the young students raising their hands to answer a particular question we posed to them. The little ones are sometimes shy but generally eager to answer our questions. They are always excited to receive a prize. Everyone gets involved including teachers and parents who prod th...