The Church is a Community

Steemit Antipolo gained good reviews from local and foreign steemians as well as different communities in steem because of the Photography-Feature writing contest that was held last week. As we browse through the comment section, we gladly read each and everyone's opinions. There were numerous inquiries about the featured tourist sites, and people kept asking for information and more details regarding the places they chose as their travel destination. So, to wrap things up, we were pleased to introduce to you another historic, famous site that was featured on the said contest.

The second-placer @acinad highlighted the Boso-boso church
Featuring-antipolo in boso boso church

HISTORY

Nuestra Senora de la Annunciata Parish, popularly known as Boso-boso Church can be found at Old Boso-boso Brgy SanJose, Antipolo City. It is a Roman Catholic church which undergone a lot of trials.

The original church was established by the Franciscans as part of their mission during early 16th century to early 17th century. By 17th century the Jesuits took over of the mission and started building a new church out of stones and bricks. It was in the expulsion of the Jesuits in the country that the seculars spearheaded the said church. That was around 1768.

By 1880, a major earthquake made a remarkable damage on the church. Because of the diminishing population of the place, the damaged portions were not augmented.

In 1930, during the American colonization period, people were asked to leave the place to start the construction of a dam that will serve most of the inhabitants of Rizal Province. Sooner the project was canceled due to the discovery of a fault line. Even though the inhabitants didn't go back not until the arrival of Japanese Occupation. The Japanese burned the remaining parts of the church. What was left was only the lower portion of the original church facade.

As the people start in settling down again in Boso-boso, Camillians took over the parish administration.They helped in the reconstruction of the church. It was accomplished by 1995 but the rebuilt part was patterned accordingly to the original structure of the church. There were no significant changes in the design. The old simple sparse architecture of the original structure was maintained.

As rich as our colonizer's influence, the Church is the result of Spanish-American-Japanese style in both architecture and design. Traditional Spanish chapels are purely made of bricks and left unpainted to showcase natural beauty of their brick-binding technique. The gate somehow shows the culture of Americans that displays transparency, proving that there is nothing to hide in this structure. And the front doors of the Church were depicted from Japanese imperial majesty which suggests strength and honor.

As of mass schedules, regular mass is conducted at 05:30 in the evening from Tuesdays to Fridays. An early morning mass of 06:30 is being held at Saturdays. Sunday worship services start at 9 o'clock am and final mass of 05:30 pm to cater devotees coming from different distant provinces. Duration of each ceremony is about an hour and extends about 10 to 15 minutes depending on other announcements made by the commentators.

For us Filipino Catholics, we uphold our cultural tradition of Holy Week by doing Visita Iglesia or what others refer to as visiting different Churches from different places. It was most likely done during Maundy Thursdays and Good Fridays which serves as their panata or holy vows. This custom passed on from generations to continue ongoing practices of worship. For many believed that when you have completed visiting 7 different Churches on 7 different towns, your wish or most likely desired will be granted. But for some, they consider it as their vacation and traveling to different parts of the region. Enjoy the journey of the travel while sightseeing on captivating views with your families and friends. It is assuringly advantageous for employees who are looking for an escape on their routinary work.

The Church of Nuestra Señora de la Annunciata Parish holds a capacity of 200 persons that can be accomodated during ceremonies. The place of worship does not only cater to holy mass but it can also be suited for weddings, baptisms and funerals. Schools near the area also chose Boso Boso Church for the first Communion of their elementary school students. This would be a perfect location for both public and private ceremonial events. The quietness of the Church adds a feeling of formality and solemnity to the guests. The calmness of the atmosphere augments Church-goers to the sincerest of their prayers. The simple but purely primordial structural design authenticates the chapel from typical Spanish-patterned constructions. Eventhough it undergone restoaration, there were no traces of gaps, cracks and crannies that can be found on the chapel. The trees surrounding the area adds shade to visitors who were not able to proceed inside due to innumerable people congested.

The Bell Tower

Besides the chapel, another part of Nuestra Senora de la Annunciata is its bell tower. The thick concrete foundation of the tower patterned from checkered bricks was also from the influence of our Spanish colonizers who brought Christianism to the Philippines. Before the mass, the bells purpose is to call on the people and signal them that the mass will start. During the mass, they are often heard when used within the liturgy of the church service to signify to people that a particular part of the service has been reached. And after mass, the bells' loud sound is heard to give acknkwledgement and to express gratitude to our Lord. The bell tower of Boso Boso Church holds two bells. A number of steps from a pivotal staircase leads to the rope positioned to ring both bells. And a narrow lane, which is always left unlit, is the only passage heading to the stairs where the bell is hung. The exterior of the bell tower has so many gaps of crumbled bricks. The chapel seems to have none, but the bell tower is the one who suffered most of the damage from earthquakes, strong typhoons and extreme heat. Thus, having holes left as proof of nature's wrath.

And to enlighten everyone, the Church is not a building, a structure, a place for prayers, a confession room, candle-litting corner, display of venerated icons, artworks for stations of the cross, or a ceremonial site for events. The Church is a community of believers, of patrons, the religious and the faithful, and those who seek God as the center of their life. This comprises the Church. Like all of us at Steemit Antipolo, the purpose of the community is to establish good relations to its members.., Provide them with resources suitable for their needs.., Educate them of information they have to comprehend.., And teach them on how to distinguish right from wrong and how to deal with them. The Church is similar to Steemit Antipolo as how we fulfill our purpose in the community. We may be of different religions, but sharing the same purpose unites us as one.

"To GOD be the greater glory."