Our Lady of Lourdes Mt. Maculot Virgin Mary Image on Rock Formation Seen from the Grotto

Mt. Maculot is a small mountain in the laid-back town of Cuenca of Batangas province in The Philippines. Formed by the explosion of Taal volcano in prehistoric times, the mountain is now a mountaineering site favored by beginner hikers and campers. But apart from camping, the mountain is also frequently visited by Catholics for the Stations of the Cross. These stations pass through a monkey sanctuary (found near the 10th Station) and reaches the top of a smaller peak where sits the Our Lady of Lourdes grotto. The shrine itself is a very humble structure made of concrete and rocks that feature a cross, a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes, and a niche for prayer candles. There's a crude restroom area on one side, the doors of which open towards a deep cliff (which gives new meaning to the saying, "I got to go..." if you're not careful).

At the grotto, you will notice a cluster of rotating solar panels. Beside this is a dirt trail going down from the grotto. You will see what appear to be shelters protected form the heat of the sun by tarpaulins. You'd think this is a campsite, but it's really a mountaintop food court where you can buy meals and refreshments (which can be a welcome surprise to pilgrims. There's even a secluded area where the local storekeepers wash up. Where they get the water is a mystery you can solve yourself by asking them where the water comes from. The traverse trail to the mountain peak and to what locals call "The Rockies" passes through these stalls. This might not be for everyone, but for those who are fit and psyched up to facing the challenges of the mountain, they can definitely go on to experience the rest of Mt. Maculot. But for most people, the grotto is their sole goal.

Our Lady of Lourdes pic by Dennis Jarvis

The view from the grotto is fantastic. From there, one can see almost the entirety of the province of Batangas including another famous shine, Montemaria, where you can visit the gigantic statue of the Virgin Mary at the foot of Mt. Banoi. But panoramic views aside, there's also an interesting feature in the opposite direction, and it's part of an exposed part of the peak of Mt. Maculot.

During my first climb to the Our of Lourdes grotto, the patch of rock face was what caught my attention. I don't think anybody has noticed it before, but if you look carefully, you will see what appears to be the image of the Our Lady of Lourdes Virgin Mary. If you want to be scientifically technical about it, it's what is called a simulacrum, which means the similarity might just be a quirk of nature and human perception (the image of the rock featured here has been zoomed in, switched to black and white, and color-inverted), but as a coincidence, it is short of miraculous to find it there. It is definitely something that could be attributed to more than chance by the Catholic faithful.

Outline of Our Lady of Lourdes

If you are interested in taking a look at the rock formation yourself at the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto in Mt. Maculot, do not expect too much since it is just a small feature visible from a distance that has remained unnoticed (since the grotto was built). When do do visit, make sure to register and pay the local village barangay administration fee, which, at the time of this writing, cost 10 pesos. You can start your climb from the Pinagkaisahan Barangay Hall or from the Mt. Maculot View Resort, where you can pay at the station where the trail starts to ascend.

Note that the barangay hall is not identified on Google Maps, but the resort is marked. If you will have trouble finding your way, then you can ask the local tricycle drivers or just hire them to take you there. The main tricycle station is near the intersection of B. Laqui st. and the National Highway. It's best to make the journey during the dry season, which is between December and May. Otherwise, the trail would be muddy and slippery, even though, for the most part, you will be climbing on concrete stairs.

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Our Lady of Lourdes Statue by Onyx

Spooky Chapel on Haloween Night

Every year, on the first day of November, known as undas locally, people in the Philippines flock to cemeteries to visit their dead. At this time of year, all roads lead to memorial parks and public cemeteries. Where there's a cemetery, there's traffic and people - lots of them. Thus, all other places are left almost empty. The roadside Catholic chapel pictured here is one of them.

Locked securely behind an iron gate, it sits mute, silent but still inviting in its call to the spiritual and religious in Catholics. The lights left switched on at night gives the small interior an eerie auria, making the statues of the saints shadowy and gloomy. Nevertheless, the open bars of the gate still permit devout Catholics to pray. They just have to stay outside by the road. This chapel is in Hagonoy, Bulacan.

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Kamay ni Hesus Church: Miracle Healing Place

At the Kamay ni Hesus Healing Center, in Lucban, Quezon, there is the church where miraculous healing takes place through Father Joseph Faller, a Catholic priest who found out that he was tasked by God to heal the sick. The church is supposed to be a place of peace and healing; a haven of rest for those in need. Although small, the church is only a part of the larger healing complex that includes a park with a replica of Noah's Ark, and a grotto at the top of a hill where the faithful can pass through the Stations of the Cross.

Shown here are the interior and exterior of the church. The paintings behind the altar are inspired by religious movies like The Ten Commandments starring Charlton Heston as Moses. The church is surrounded by gardens which inspire meditation, prayer, and introspection.Interestingly, the facade of the church faces a wall. It is the side entrance that is used by visitors, the front of which is a concrete pavement with the names and thanks of people who have found blessings through Father Faller and the Kamay ni Hesus Healing Center.

Noah's Ark in Lucban, Quezon, The Philippines

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Mt. Carmel Church in Lipa: Site of Rose Petals Miracle

This is the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Lipa. It was the setting of a miracle wherein a former nun became witness to an apparition of the Virgin Mary. Related to this are the dancing sun and rose petals that supposedly fell down from heaven. The dancing sun was witnessed and recorded on video by many witnesses. The petals that fell to the ground had iconic images like those of Jesus.

The event was investigated by the Catholic Church, but it came short of declaring the event as an official miracle. Now the investigation has been reopened and witnesses which have attested to being healed are being interviewed. Every year on September 8, the festival of the Virgin Mary, the faithful gather at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church to recollect the events that happened so many years ago. Many of them hope for a personal miracle or to be a witness to a new one.

Will rose petals ever fall from the sky again at the Mt. Carmel Church? Who knows? But for now, Catholics all over the Philippines and other parts of the world wait for the final ruling of the Church, hoping that it will declare the inexplicable events that happened there are true miracles.

Kamay ni Hesus Healing Center and Grotto in Lucban, Quezon

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Antipolo Church and Cashew Nuts Sold on the Street

This is the famous Antipolo church in Antipolo city in the Philippines. People from different parts of Metro Manila go here to hear mass, which is why it it almost always crowded on Sundays. Because of the number of people who hear mass, the receiving of holy communion is allowed on the church grounds where lay ministers go around with the Sacramental bread for the faithful to accept. It can be hot, especially in summer, but the trip for Catholic worshipers is worthwhile.

In the street that fronts the church, vendors sell all sorts of sweets and fruits. There are lots of cashew nuts being sold and a few vendors even sell fresh cashew apples. Antipolo is one city in the Philippines where you can find cashew nuts and fruits in abundance and . Elsewhere, you may find cashew nuts (which can be expensive), but rarely cashew apple fruits, which do not sell well.

Cashew Trivia

Unknown to many people, the cashew apple is only a pseudo fruit and is essentially just the enlarged portion of the branch that holds the fruiting organ. It can be eaten raw when ripe. It's fruit acid is highly astringent in the mouth but it is high in Vitamin C. It's not usually used for cooking, but by the taste of it, it may be a good substitute for kamias or kalamias as it is called in some parts of the country. The cashew apple may be turned into a sweet preserve or wine, which is popular in Africa. The cashew apple is rich in tannins which cause it to ripen quickly after picking.

The cashew nut is extracted from the bean-shaped shell (which is really the actual fruit) by burning the fruit in hot coals. Be warned that the oil and fumes from the shell of the nut (not the apple) is toxic and can cause allergies in people. The smoke reportedly readily kills fowl. DO NOT INHALE CASHEW SHELL NUT FUME OR ALLOW IT TO COME IN CONTACT WITH YOUR SKIN. Also, do not touch the oil from the shell because it can cause skin irritation. Wash your hands thoroughly if this happens.

In spit of the toxicity of the oil in the cashew nut shell, the oil from the edible nut itself can be used to treat warts and other skin growths. If you chew some raw cashew nuts and place the resulting poultice on a pesky wart regularly, you will discover that your wart will dry up and fall away eventually. Do exercise caution when chewing, because if you chew for too long, the inside of your mouth may experience the same drying and exfoliating effect of the cashew nut oil. DO NOT MISTAKE THE CASHEW SHELL FOR THE CASHEW NUT (which is inside the shell). THE CASHEW SHELL IS POISONOUS; THE CASHEW NUT, ON THE OTHER HAND IS THE ONE THAT'S EDIBLE.

If having to deal with the toxic cashew shell is too much for you, then you can just use the sap from the cashew apple on your skin. You can slice the cashew apple thinly and use the slices to massage your face with. The juice will serve as a mild astringent to your skin. But again, exercise caution and do not overdo it. Try the sap on a small patch of skin on your arm first for a few days before trying it out on your face. See if you do not have any allergic reactions.

It's a fact that some people are allergic to cashew sap and you could be one of them! Also see if the sap produces discoloration or darkens your skin as a result of its tannins that darken when exposed to air. Generally, the sap should give a mild tightening and exfoliating effect on your skin. But use it at your own risk! It's always better to consult a dermatologist than to experiment with topical things you know nothing about.

  

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Holy Week Catholic Procession in Quezon City

Holy Wednesday night at a church in Sikatuna Village in Quezon City (earlier photo, top and left). The procession of the holy icons is ready to begin as the mass inside concludes (photo; bottom). Such processions are held all over the country during Lent in the Holy Week. Procession like these go around the community of the church with the participating parishioners carrying candles and praying in recollection of the sacrifice and death of Jesus Christ as the savior of humankind. In some processions, the faithful also sing, even when the usual church songs are sung in a different tune.

Unfortunately it is also during the Holy Week that Filipinos also flock to the beaches to unwind and spend time with family in outings planned months ahead. For many Filipinos who have to work, the four days of holy days are the only time in summer that they can have a break apart from any leave of absences they may still have left. It's a commpn quandary in the Philippines, whether to focus on the spiritual first or to satisfy the needs of the body and mind in order to recuperate from the stresses of work.

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