Yesterday I went to a different church for the first time. Well actually I planned to go there last year but only able to go recently. Wasn't expecting much actually so maybe that's why I got... shocked? 🤔 Why? Well read on and see for yourself.

Take a Look Inside...

Okay here's a photo of the interior first. Say hello to the design in front, at the altar area.

_{Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish (IHMP) in Quezon City. Filipino statements, English translation: You are my hope. You are my life and resurrection.}

What do you think of it?

Visually it's not like the usual Catholic churches I'm used to. Most of the time the sanctuary area (front/altar) has elaborate designs. Usually there are big paintings or structures with sculptures that most people are familiar with.

At Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Quezon City, you will see a very different church. There are a lot of straight lines in the circular building structure. Right smack in the "middle" of it all are two gigantic art pieces.

Most noticeable is the huge wooden cross with a Jesus raising His hand near the bottom of it. The elevated altar is just below, with a wooden carving of a seemingly typical nipa hut out in the elements. (Like, seriously??? At the altar, a nipa hut with coconut trees??? 👀) Turns out it's where the Eucharist is stored. And of course a really tall version of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in a baro't saya dress is seen to the left of it.

It all looks quite "native" to me. The big statues reminded me of giant anitos (local pagan gods or ancestor spirits). Well yes because an anito is usually carved in wood too but in normal or small size. That's why it's unnerving and not inspiring to see.

Wasn't able to take closer shots for details but here are some more interior photos.

_{View to the right, while facing the altar. Notice the sculptures near the ceiling and close to the walls.}

_{View to the left, while facing the altar. People walking out of the church after mass.}

There are other usual Catholic statues in there like Jesus Nazareno at the farther left from the altar. Didn't take any photos though.

Also, I saw another statue of Mama Mary near the entrance. It looked like it was wearing a wedding dress because of all the... lace? 😅 The clothing looked out of place from all the interior design.

Let's just say the visuals in there are mostly not to my liking. 😅

Why the Native Design???

To be fair I had to check on the history of this church. Why the heck does it look the way it does???

According to Claretian Philippines Bulletin on the IHMP website, Claretian missionaries came to the Philippines in late 1946. Eventually they established a school and church in Quezon City aside from other places. Construction of the house of God began in 1970.

_{Some stained glass art at the front left side, view from the pews.}

Apparently a Spanish Claretian artist priest made the 3 sanctuary design of the following:

• Immaculate Heart of Mary in Filipiniana
• Risen Lord (the big Cross)
• Tabernacle (nipa hut design indeed!)

Surprisingly the elevated sculptures along the side walls all look good and quite "warm" or homey to me. It doesn't have a modern feel at all so maybe that's why I like it. 😁 Turns out a National Artist created those 14 interior Stations of the Cross. Napoleon Abueva was also known as the Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture.

But let's go to the real reason I was able to see this church. Outside is another batch for the Way of the Cross.

What About the Outside?

Let's talk about the building itself first. The architecture reminds me of some of the structures in the University of the Philippines (UP), especially the waiting sheds. (Guess what? Those were designed by Abueva too! Haha.)

Also the shape is circular so I am reminded of Greenbelt Chapel in Makati City. Although of course this one seems bigger as it can hold a thousand people. It's higher too because it's like a "secret" two-storey building. You wouldn't know it until you notice the smaller rooms around it, from side to side.

I find the exterior more impressive than what's inside. Going up the walkway leading to the church, it's quite dramatic in an artistic way. 😁

_{Inclined and paved walkway towards the entrance of the church.}

And then you get inside, you see its high ceiling, spacious interior and then in front... uhmmm. 😅 Let's go to the sides and outside again. Haha.

_{Exterior of the church looks like a salakot (native hat) from the side. Screenshot from Google Maps}

The church itself was designed by National Artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin. It has a shell motif (budyong conch) and can be better appreciated from an aerial view. Looks like everything was intended to be a celebration of Filipino culture, inside and out.

Well no wonder indeed, it is quite artistic and different. I like how unique it looks, quite new to my eyes. As expected it was already dark when the mass ended. Sad my night shots don't do the place justice. 😁

_{It's dark but you should see the church name despite the foliage covering the view and a Mother Mary and Child Jesus sculpture.}

Anyway the only reason I went there was because they also do the Way of the Cross every Friday this Lent. I had an errand around the area and that's the nearest church, so I went there. 😁 Well I used my bike to go around so I couldn't go farther, to another church, even if I wanted to.

Why they chose to make an external version is beyond me. The church has been around since the 1977 inauguration so maybe parishioners got tired of the artistic sculptures inside? Haha.

_{One of the stations outside.}

Too bad I only had time to take pictures after the mass. My smartphone doesn't take the best autofocus photos... so anyway... 😆 Here's some of the outdoor stations.

_{Lighted Stations of the Cross}

The external set up at the church grounds are okay to me. 👍 It was nice and airy while we prayed from 5 pm onwards so I kinda enjoyed the experience. 🙏

After praying with other churchgoers, we then proceeded inside to wait for the 6 pm mass. So I spent quite a while in there, staring in front like I'm used to.

I still find it weird, looking at alienating big wooden figures. I wondered why they chose to put such contemporary and artistic sculptures for all the world to see. Only upon going home and checking their website did I find out the reason. (Already written above.)

Suffice it to say, if you're like me who prefer shiny or colorful things to look at, go to another church. In case you also like elaborate or the usual Catholic altar and reredo designs then you might not visually enjoy going to mass there. But if you're a lover of modern and contemporary art and architecture or minimalist design, you might feel at home.

Overall, it's not so bad at all. I just have an issue with the giant "anito" sculptures as they don't seem to fit my idea of best altar design to show glory to God. 😅

Outside and under the main church structure are the many rooms with various functions. I got a glimpse of the Adoration Chapel in one of them. Ugh I think it's quite nice in there but I just didn't have enough time to explore the entire church area.

Maybe next time if I'm able to drop by again, I'd go straight to it. I think I will like that part of the church better. Haha.

Anyway, have you seen other circular religious buildings like this before? What can you say about the art and architecture?


XOXO,
@artgirl