Away from the noise and haste of Panagbenga, we headed to another quiet place where we can truly feel not only Baguio's idyllic charm but also remind us of our relationship with God. The Convent of the Most Blessed Sacrament or Pink Sisters Convent as it is more popularly known because of the pink habit that is worn by the cloistered nun, this place is not new to many. Because this is quite popular for religious devotees and pilgrims, it offers one of the thing that makes you come back again and again to Baguio, that is peace and silence--either to commune with nature and with your God.
As soon as we entered the place, we were greeted with a heavenly chant (and I regret that I did not take a video--maybe next time). The chanting is so beautiful that makes you ask "Sister, nasa langit na ba ako!?" [Sister, am I in heaven?]
Pink Sisters Convent never fails to calm me down. In fact, this was my favorite destination in my Baguio sojourn. It never failed to slow me down and took out the unnecessary worries and reinvigorates me from the daily humdrum. Aside from listening to the whistles of cold wind brushing against the pine needles, it was always a preferred nook. It was my refuge.
Being inside the chapel makes you oblivious to the noise and hubbub going on in Panagbenga (or the noisy downtown). Ironically though--while there were thousands of spectators--there were but a few who trooped to this place. To each his own, I guess. I think it would be better to keep this place as quiet and uncrowded as possible.
If you want to say a little prayer and a minute of rest for your tired bodies and souls, Pink Sisters is the place to be. In the coming long weekend after the holy week, it is my prayer that Catholic tourists of Baguio would troop to this place, too.
More photos at Flickr
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13 comments :
and this is the place to be when you are most weary spiritually and physically, I should say. I have never been to this and now, I will have an great place to visit when I am heading my way up to Baguio.
Thanks for this Ding.
Doc Wends, it is regrettable that some tourists leave this from their itinerary. I agree with you. The chanting makes you feel you are in heaven.
when you are inside the chapel, nakakahiyang magsalita ng malakas o kahit yung normal na boses, parang kailangan bulong talaga. one reason why not a lot of tourists are visiting the Pink sisters is its location, which for me, is very ideal for its purpose.
Zherwin, I was worried too of the noise ng click ng camera ko. LOL! actually malapit lang naman sya pero siguro factor din yun.
haven't been to the place lately, although it's only walking distance from our office's baguio cottage which is near leonard wood road. i think the last time we dropped by was 7 years ago.
Marami pa talagang dapat i-visit na places at mga structures sa Baguio. Maraming reasons para bumalik sa Baguio. Gusto kong i-blog lahat ang pwedeng ma-blog diyan! Hindi ko pa napuntahan to.
@Batangala, there will always be next time...
@Edmar, indeed, there are a lot more to blog about Baguio, only if we are keen enough to know these places that are often overlooked.
To comfort our restless souls from crowded place, this is really a place of our refuge. By saying our prayers, with deep meditation for short reflection, we also need some inner healing from various pressure and stresses caused by our demanding job.
may i know what time you dropped by here wherein the sisters were chanting? i would love to be there too when they sing...
@Anonymous, it was around 3:00 PM. I guess it was the 3PM prayer. thanks!
The hymns that they are singing are english version of gregorian chants - translated by the Benedictine Nuns in Ryde Abbey, UK.
They psalms that they chanted are all in the "Liturgy of the Hours" in English.
I used to join them when they chant vespers or evening prayer.
I visited their convents in Tagaytay, Baguio and Manila
This Convent is also blessed because the Holy Face chose to be venerated, honored and known here. The Holy Face of Manoppello replica is inside the reception room of the Convent. What is this Holy Face? It is the face size cloth made of a priceless silk cloth placed over the face area of the Shroud by the Blessed Virgin before the tomb was closed with big stones. On the 3rd day at the moment of the Resurrection..Jesus opened his eyes and smiled..leaving this beautiful and still showing bruises on this cloth. It was protected by Jesus Himself..; from Jerusalem..to Edessa (Urfo, Turkey) , to Istanbul and to Rome..in 1527-1600AD it was taken to Manoppello for protection and forgotten. Until Pope Benedict XVI learned about it and made that historic pilgrimage on 9/1/2006! Manoppello is 120 miles from Rome and you can view up the High Altar this most important Relic of Christiandom during church hours. The Shroud of Turin, you can see only once in 10 yrs and high security and temperature control storage..Come and visit the Holy Face VENERATED at Pink Sisters..we have a 3rd class Relic touched to the Original Relic. Come and see the Face of God!
Thank you for that information Daisy Neves.
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