Hello everyone! After a long hiatus on this site, I am getting back to update you on what I visited just last Saturday. This is very new to me because we never do that at work. I don't know who gave us the idea, just one day my officemates told me that they will be going there. I have never been to that place so imagine the eagerness I have inside me to be there, just for once.

Our first stop is Padre Pio Shrine in Santo Tomas Batangas. St Padre Pio is known to be the patron of charity and piety. He was known for exhibiting his stigmata and his bodily wounds are the same as the wounds of Jesus Christ. I learned from my manager that she goes here when she wants to have peace of mind.

Since it was my first time, I already got my phone to capture some great scenery there. It was a long drive I think 2 hours because of the heavy traffic. We went there last April 29, 2023, and the heavy traffic is caused by the long weekend.

This is the Padre Pio Shrine. There are scheduled mass that is happening here every day, and if you want to know you can check online. One of the good reasons we are here is to attend the healing mass but we failed because we arrived there at 10 in the morning and the mass just ended. I think it started at 9 am.

This is Padre Pio.

We walked around instead and went to this. It is the new Shrine of Padre Pio. It is where the mass is held. It is cooler here compared to the old shrine, though.

After this one, we went to the fountain. It is called Fountain of Hope and Prayer Locks.

There is a big fountain where you can touch the water and spread it to the part of your body that have an illness. You can also fetch water in your water bottle. There is a little store in the middle that sells water bottles if you just want to bring them home.

This one is Light a Candle. There are different colors of candles for specific prayers. You can buy different colors of candles in the same store. I bought all the colors to make it lesser hard for me to figure out what I will pray. Candles and water bottles are very affordable.

We ended our short trip walking around, sightseeing, and mesmerizing our eyes looking everywhere. Below is the picture of Mary Mother of Belfry.

Our last stop is this from the Shrine and we went out to buy some goodies outside. There are different stalls to buy food and souvenirs for a very affordable price.

My Insights

Since this is my first time going there, I felt being near to the Lord. I felt I am a big sinner that is going back home. I can feel the spirit of the place is welcoming me with open arms. I feel guilty for all the sins I had done. When I went there, I can't remember all the prayers I am praying every night. I am stunned by how big the pictures of the saints there. The altar is really big. It makes me look small as a person. It makes me feel guilty being a sinner.

What is amazing is that I felt lighter after saying most of my daily prayers. I am able to remember all I want to say to God while we were roaming around. Good thing there is a light-a-candle place. It gives me a chance to say everything to God. I feel good after. It is the kind of place that I want to visit when everything seems not getting better. I have lots of stress regularly and I want to give all my worries to God. I felt that I deliver everything and handed it over to God. I felt I am now in good hands. I hope I can come back soon.

All images are mine.
All original content by @grecyg