A visit to the Municipality of Orani in the Province of Bataan, just a hundred or so kilometers northwest of Manila yields a treasure not commonly known.
The Parish Church of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary lying central in the town just beside the Municipal Hall, strikes you at first glance, as simply, old. But after being welcomed by the parish priest, the very kind Fr. Tony Bernardo, you'll find inside the centuries old church unique pieces of religious art, that while showing definite signs of age will surely enthrall for the very same reason. The very halls of the old kumbento, with its hardwood floors, high ceilings and whitewashed walls harken to an age when churches were the centerpiece of culture and richness in any town worth its salt. Not may know that this Parish Church was declared a pilgrim church by a 1959 Papal Decree or Bull.
On the way to Bataan's tourist havens of Balanga, Bagac or Morong, one would easily miss smallish and simple Orani. But to do so would be a great loss, a crying shame, if only for the richness of this old church, hidden behind its unassuming facade and simple looking town square.
for more photos by AttyMaj, please visit his Flickr site at https://www.flickr.com/photos/attymaj (c) all rights reserved
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