Visita Iglesia: the Prelude

On March 24, 2016, the day we planned to visit seven churches to commemorate the seven wounds of Christ and to recite two stations of the cross at each site, our first stop was Paco Cemetery and Park.  Paco Cemetery and Park is famous recreation garden in  the metro.  It is also a popular dating place for couples who preferred to spend time with each other in a tranquil place.  The place is also a popular venue for wedding, at St. Pancratius Chapel, the focal point of the cemetery-park.

Unfortunately, the chapel was closed when we got there.  So, by tradition, since we were not able to recite any station of the cross in the place, we did not include this in our list of churches for visita igleasia 2016.  However, since we were already at the place, we stroll around the historical place.

Paco Cemetery and Park used to be the municipal cemetery in Manila during the Spanish era.  It has two circular cores made of 5-tiered niches.  The inner core was the resting place of Spanish aristocrats.  The outer core was added when there was cholera outbreak in Manila.  Interment in the place ceased in 1912.

Paco Cemetery and Park shares remarkable events in Philippine history.  It was the temporary burial of Philippine National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, after he was executed in Bagumbayan, now called Luneta Park.  His remains was later transferred at the exact location of Rizal Monument in Luneta Park. (Unfortunately, I was not able to take a photo of the site).  Filipino priests Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora, also known as GOMBURZA, who were executed for their alleged connection in the 1872 Cavite Munity, were also buried in the place.

Paco Cemetery and  Park is located at San Marcelino St., Paco, Manila and opens during Tuesdays to Sundays, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with an entrance fee of Php 10.00 per person.