Tags: Churches and Places of Worship
By Anna Valmero
MAKATI CITY, METRO MANILA – A small chapel within Makati’s central business district is a spiritual refuge for busy workers. Fondly called the Greenbelt Chapel, this chapel was inspired by the Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.
The Greenbelt Chapel is officially named Sto. Niño De Paz Community after its patron saint. It was inaugurated in 1983 by the late Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin but its conception goes as far back as 1977 when Fanny Del Rosario Diploman, former dean of the Institute of Social Work and founder of Centro Hispanico (Languages International), wanted a chapel in Manila patterned after the famed Saint Patrick’s Cathedral.
Diploman visited the New York chapel with her husband in 1977 and upon her return to the Philippines, she talked with church officials and the Ayala Group to build the church in Makati.
A tablet on the chapel’s entrance facing the altar states the goal of Diploman that the chapel is built for “the busy office employees and working people, right in the heart of Makati’s Business District.”
The dome architecture of the chapel was designed by Filipino artists such as architect Willie Fernandez and Jess Dizon, who rendered the circular pattern of the building, according to Ma. Chona Salvaña of the Evangelization of the People of Makati Continues, who also wrote the chapel’s history in the Greenleaf Anniversary 2010 Issue.
Renowned glass sculptor, Ramon Orlina, fabricated the ceiling, tabernacle, altar and the giant cross at the entrance, the sacristy, and the God the Father image on the dome.
It is because of this unique design that Time.com’s Travel list featured it as one of the top ten things to do when visiting Manila along with eating halo-halo and visiting the museums in Metro Manila.
In my years of travel to different churches, this is one of the open dome-shaped churches that I love owing to its unique style and use of open walls to create the illusion of depth and blending with the well-manicured garden and lagoon outside.
The predominantly white walls and ceilings also help reflect the natural light during the day so the chapel does not need much artificial lighting from lamps. In fact, this adds to the charm of the little community chapel especially during the late afternoon when the soft rays of the setting sun offers a dramatic lighting inside the church.
Since the church is open throughout the day, you would often see workers here offering a short prayer or lining up for confession during their one-hour lunch break. Some job hunters – a lot of them in Makati since it is home to some of the biggest and most prestigious companies – also pass by to ask for guidance before going to their prospect companies for exams or interviews.
During the Christmas season, the chapel also offers Misa De Gallo late in the evening so that busy workers could still complete the nine novena masses if they cannot go to church at dawn.
If you are looking for a place of spiritual refuge in the metro, consider going to the Greenbelt Chapel.
Get more information about Greenbelt Chapel
Related stories:
Was the first Catholic mass really held at St. James Church in Bolinao?
Miag-ao church is an architectural treasure of Iloilo
Rizal’s ‘iglesia bonita’ is a source of pride for Ilonggos
Historic Palawan church offers spiritual refuge for visitors
Quiapo Church is a center of Holy Week pilgrimage
Attractions Beaches and Water Activities Churches and place of worship Churches and Places of Worship Environment Festivals and Fiestas Historical Places Hotels and Resorts Indigenous Culture Malls Museums Natural Wonders Parks and Recreations Travel Concerns and Advisories Travel Tales and Tips Vacation Zoos and Animal Sanctuaries
WP Cumulus Flash tag cloud by Roy Tanck and Luke Morton requires Flash Player 9 or better.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
