CANDLE

A candle is a solid block of wax with an embedded wick which is ignited to provide light, and sometimes heat, and historically was used as a method of keeping time.

A candle manufacturer is traditionally known as a chandler. Various devices have been invented to hold candles, from simple tabletop candle holders, to elaborate chandeliers.

 For a candle to burn, a heat source (commonly a naked flame) is used to light the candle's wick, which melts and vaporizes a small amount of fuel, the wax. Once vaporized, the fuel combines with oxygen in the atmosphere to form a flame. This flame provides sufficient heat to keep the candle burning via a self-sustaining chain of events: the heat of the flame melts the top of the mass of solid fuel; the liquefied fuel then moves upward through the wick via capillary action; the liquefied fuel finally vaporizes to burn within the candle's flame.

As the mass of solid fuel is melted and consumed, the candle grows shorter. Portions of the wick that are not emitting vaporized fuel are consumed in the flame. The incineration of the wick limits the exposed length of the wick, thus maintaining a constant burning temperature and rate of fuel consumption. Some wicks require regular trimming with scissors (or a specialized wick trimmer), usually to about one-quarter inch (~0.7 cm), to promote slower, steady burning, and also to prevent smoking. In early times, the wick needed to be trimmed quite frequently, and special candle-scissors, referred to as "snuffers" until the 20th century, were produced for this purpose, often combined with an extinguisher. In modern candles, the wick is constructed so that it curves over as it burns (see picture on the right), so that the end of the wick gets oxygen and is then consumed by fire—a self-trimming wick.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candle

St. Michael the Archangel Parish- Mexico,Pampanga

St. Michael the Archangel Parish- Mexico,Pampanga;

St. Martin de Porres Chapel - Arayat, Pampanga

St. Martin de Porres Chapel - Arayat, Pampanga

CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE - MAKATI CITY

CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE - MAKATI CITY

HISTORY

Guadalupe Church or the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe is located along Guadalupe EDSA in Makati City. One of the oldest churches in the Philippines it was declared an Archidiocesan Shrine in 2002 and a National Shrine in 2010.

The church dates back to the 17th century. It was originally constructed as a rest house and hermitage for the Augustinians. Initially named Our Lady of Grace, the church was later named Our Lady of Guadalupe in 1803. Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patroness of pro-life, representing the unborn, the sick, the aging, and the disabled. She is also the patroness of the indigenous native peoples, of those who are aspiring for children, of the pregnant, the elderly, and even photographers.

The 1937 marker placed on the church by the Historical Research and Markers Committee states that the foundation of the church and the monastery were first laid in 1601 and was completed in 1629. The structure suffered earthquakes in the years of 1645, 1658, 1754 and 1863. In 1839, it served as a sanctuary for the Chinese during their upheaval. In 1880, the church's roof collapsed due to an earthquake and was rebuilt in 1882 under the supervision of Rev. Jose Corugedo, Order of Saint Augustine. It also became an orphan asylum and trade school for the children of the victims of the cholera epedemic that hit the Philippines in 1882. The church convent was the site of the historic Escuela de Artes y Oficios. In 1887, it the residence ofy governor-general Rafael Izquierdo. In 1898, it was burned by Filipino revolutionaries. It was repaired by the Augustinians in 1970.

Church facade

The facade of the church of Our Lady of Guadalupe is an neo-Romanesque-Gothic in style. Tits massive vertical buttresses are complemented by round windows, niches with statues, and the semicircular arch of the main entrance. Two Doric columns support the cornice and triangular pediment of the facade, which softened by the leaf carvings that embellish the main entrance and other openings. The architave is also decorated with strings arabesque designs.

National Shrine

On 31 May 2010, the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe was declared a national shrine by the Philippine Catholic church. The petition which was first submitted on 5 August 2005, was approved by the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines.

http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Our_Lady_of_Guadalupe_Church

St. Clement’s Church, Iloilo City

St. Clement’s Church, Iloilo City

St. Clement’s Church boasts its modern design as both appealing and simple. The church’s facade is adorned with white balusters lining the balcony outside. Another exterior feature is the four-storey high tower located at the right side of the building. On the outside, the garden surrounding the church usually serves as an extra space for mass-goers when the church is full.

The interior of St. Clement’s is also simple, yet elegant. It provides an atmosphere for meditation and prayer as there are few distractions in the design. I find the lines and curves of the altar seem to lead to the big image of Our Mother of Perpetual Help at the center of the altar. I feel like the patterns are designed to lead us to the great image.

Saint Clement’s is managed by the Redemptorists or the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer with their Mother House located at left side of the church. The church was completed on 1931. The first Perpetual Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help in the Philippines and Asia was celebrated at the church on May 13, 1946.

The Mother House of the Redemptorists at La Paz; also used as a retreat venue

Saint Clement’s Church is located at La Paz, Iloilo City.

http://beautifulchurches.blogspot.com/2012/06/st-clements-church-iloilo-city.htm

Sta. Catalina Church- ARAYAT PAMPANGA CHURCH

ARAYAT PAMPANGA CHURCH

Sta. Catalina Church was built in honor of St Catherine of Alexandria. Fr. Jose Torres had the present church restored in 1858. This was continued during the term of Fr. Juan Tarrero and completed under the supervision of Fr. Urbano Beduya in 1892. Several renovations have been conducted since then. The church measures 70 meters long and 16 meters wide, 12 meters high and was done in three-level Renaissance style facade.

SAN GUILLERMO PARISH CHURCH - BACOLOR PAMPANGA

San Guillermo Parish Church - BACOLOR, PAMPANGA

San Guillermo Parish Church is named after San Guillermo, the patron saint of Bacolor, Pampanga, the Philippines, where the church is erected. The church was originally constructed by the Augustinian Friars in 1576 – also the town's founding – with Fr. Diego De Ochoa, OSA, as the town's first parish priest.having been installed as such two years after.

In 1880, the church was destroyed by an earthquake only to be rebuilt by Fr. Eugenio Alvarez in 1886. On September 3, 1995, lahar flow from the slopes of Mt. Pinatubo which erupted into world notice on June 15, 1991, buried the church at half its 12-m height prompting its more than 50,000 town residents to evacuate to safer grounds in resettlement areas

History

Bacolor is one of the oldest towns in the Philippines. ^The first church was constructed by the Augustinian friars in 1576 on the lot of Don Guillermo Manabat, a rich landlord believed to be the founder of Bacolor. An earthquake destroyed the edifice and a new church was erected by Fr. Manuel Diaz in 1897. It has a central nave and well-lighted transept with windows. The main retablo, side retablos and pulpit are gilded with golf leaf. The richness of the docoration of Bacolor church depicts advanced stage of baroque and rococo. In spite of the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo which half-buried the church on October 1, 1995, the structure is still being used as place of worship. It was already a world renowned tourist destination prior to the lahar tragedies; now more tourists flock to the church which remaining features are being preserved and maintained

Description-

The church boasts of having main retablo, side retablos and pulpit that are heavily gilded with gold leaves. The rich decorations of the church depict the Baroque style of architecture. Only half of the original facade of the church can be seen today due to the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 which half-buried the church. After the volcanic eruption, the town’s people painstakingly excavated the altar and the retablo and relocated it under the dome in order for the tall wooden retablo to fit. The retablos niches are filled with centuries- old statues which were saved from destruction of the lahar. The citizens of Bacolor take pride in their rich heritage which is why they carefully excavated the ornately carved main and side altars and restored in its immaculate condition. The church is already a world famous tourist destination prior to the lahar tragedies and present has remained being so

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

STO. NINO DE CEBU - BINAN, LAGUNA

 STO. NINO DE CEBU - BINAN, LAGUNA