TARLAC | The True Cross at Monasterio De Tarlac
Tuesday, April 08, 2014
A thirty-foot statue of the Risen Christ towers over the rolling landscape of the Province of Tarlac. We were at the hillside retreat of Monasterio de Tarlac for Tara Quin Tarlac, a familiarization tour spearheaded by Microtel Luisita to open the floodgates of tourism in the region.
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| A MONK AT THE MONASTERIO DE TARLAC |
A monk from the Servants of the Risen Christ Monastic Community approached us, welcoming us to the Mountain of Resurrection where the monastery is built on. We asked a few questions and he gamely answered, explaining the origins of their order and the monasterio itself.
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| MONASTERIO DE TARLAC CHAPEL |
Monasterio de Tarlac is not as old as the monasteries most people have in mind. In fact, its construction concluded only in the year 2000. Very, very recent, considering most monasteries are centuries old; well, at least those we see in Hollywood movies, them medieval ones complete with hooded monks and cobwebby halls.
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| INSIDE THE MONSTERIO CHAPEL |
Monasterio de Tarlac’s claim to fame, besides the colossal statue of the Risen Christ, is the Relic of the True Cross which is enshrined inside the monastery chapel.
Remember Santa Cruzan? The story goes that when St. Helena dug under Calvary Hill in Jerusalem, he found three crosses. Unsure which one of the three was Jesus’, she asked a dying woman to touch all the crosses. The one that revived the woman was declared to be the True Cross.
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| BEAUTIFUL ARCHITECTURE |
Through the years, that cross was passed through many hands until it was split up into smaller and smaller parts. In 2007, a splinter of that said cross was brought from Germany to the Philippines. It now resides at the white Baroque chapel of Monasterio de Tarlac.
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| THE TRUE CROSS RELIC AT THE MONASTERIO DE TARLAC ~ PHOTO FROM THEIR SITE |
The relic, which is purported to be miraculous, is housed in an ornate golden box under the church altar. The faithful are allowed to touch only the enclosed box after every mass. However, open veneration of the cross also occurs twice every year during the 19th of January to commemorate its enshrinement and the 14th of September to celebrate the Servants of the Risen Christ anniversary.
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| AROUND THE GROUNDS |
Besides that heavy religious stuff, the Monasterio de Tarlac is beautiful in itself. Elevated three hundred meters above sea level, the air here is fresh and calming. Trees abound and the silence is a soothing change for frayed nerves; a perfect place to slow down and reflect.
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| DISNEY-ISH LIKE STRUCTURES AROUND THE MONASTERIO |
There are spots which looked a bit Disneyland-ish, but I guess it’s simply the Filipino kitsch that usually pervades most parks and open spaces. I honestly can do away with the castle-like parapets and turrets, but yeah, that’s just the snobbish me. I’m sure most Filipinos dig this kind of architecture.
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| FANTASTIC VIEW FROM THE CROSS |
As the mass ended, a queue started to form for the veneration of the True Cross. While my companions lined up with the rest of the faithful, I took the time to revisit the monolith of the Risen Christ, now blazing white with the mid-afternoon sun. I stared at the landscape below, following the gaze of the Risen Christ, and heaved a sigh of contentment.
Monasterio De Tarlac
Address: Mt. Resurrection Eco Park, Brgy. Lubigan, San Jose, Tarlac
Contact Number: +63 (45) 493-3002 | +63 (916) 250-8414 | Facebook | Entrance Fee: ₱50.00
Email: servantsoftherisenchrist@yahoo.com
Opening Hours: 10:30AM-12PM, Closed Thurs
GPS Coordinates: 15.4364524,120.4314414
58 comments
the guard at the entrance ask for the entrance fee of fifty pesos but according to this website entrance fee is free , i was there last 18 Jan 2016
ReplyDeleteHi Pacman, during the time we went it was free. Maybe they now imposed a fee. Thank you for the info, will update my post :)
DeleteHello Pacman,
DeleteThere is actually no entrance fee. Those with cars are asked to pay a packing fee of P50 for the up keeping of the place which is very good endeavor on thee part of the custodians of the Monaterio.
Its ok to pay entrance fee for the improvement of Monasterio
ReplyDeleteI agree Renz, and the entrance fee is not the expensive too :)
DeleteIs there any place to eat some foods like a picnic? What is the schedule of the mass on Sunday?
ReplyDeleteHi Jonathan, there are places you can eat inside the complex, as for picnics, I'm not so sure though. :)
Deletepaano po pumunta jan from manila na naka bus lang? san bababa na malapit mismo sa monasterio de tarlac? meron ba masakyan na public bicycle going mismo sa monasterio? please need answer..
ReplyDeleteHi Angel, I'm not sure if there are public transport going to the Monasterio de Tarlac. I will update this post if I find one.
DeleteThanks Christian Sangoyo...nakarating na dn ako last june 19...
Deletepano punta pag commute lang? is it possible? thanks po
ReplyDeleteYes, kasi kmi nag commute lng dn from manila...sakay ka any bus bsta going tarlac siesta terminal, from terminal sakay ka tricycle going terminal ng jeep papuntang san jose. Dn sabihin u nlang sa jeep driver na ibaba ka sa me sakayan ng pa monasterio.. tricycle dnnun paakyat going monasterio need u lng kausapin un driver na pti pagbaba antayin kau kc wla kau masakyan pababa..nun kmi kinontrata nmin un driver na paakyat at pababa til bus terminal ng tarlac city kc wla na dn jeep going city..kung meron man cguro madalng lng kc nun kmi wala tlga kc 3pm na kmi nababa..magtanong lang kau kc nice nman un mga tao dun.. medyo mahal un tricycle pero worth it nman.. hopefully makatulong to sayo.. salamat☺
DeleteHi Angel! Thank you for sharing those information, it would surely help a lot for those planning to commute to the Monasterio de Tarlac. :)
DeleteWelcome Christian☺
DeleteHi angel.. Can u translate to english about the information that u stated above about the public transport going to the Monastrio de Tarlac. I'm sorry i can't understand because i'm not a philipines. Thank u so much...
DeleteHi angel.. Can u translate to english about the information that u stated above about the public transport going to the Monastrio de Tarlac. I'm sorry i can't understand because i'm not a philipines. Thank u so much...
Delete1.Take a provincial bus going to Tarlac Siesta terminal.
Delete2.From the terminal, take a tricycle ride going to jeepney terminal with San Jose route (you can also ask the tricycle driver if he can bring you back and forth to Monasterio, to avoid the hassle of several change of transpo, but might be costly...otherwise proceed to next step).
3.Take the San Jose jeepney and alight on the road to Monasterio (just tell the driver, he knows).
4.Finally, take another tricycle that will bring you upto Monasterio.
note:there are low number of transportation back to bus terminal in the afternoon... you might need to ask the tricycle driver who'll bring you to Monasterio to wait for you so he can drive all the way to bus terminal...locals folks are kind hearted and willing to help, you can ask for assistance.
Thank you Christian, It almost 60 km or 1 1/2 hours travel from our place. I'm from Licab Nueva Ecija. We will visit the place maybe 2 week of July since we have a car now. Also SM Tarlac is near in Siesta Bus Terminal along Romulo Highway.
ReplyDeleteHi Jonathan! Enjoy your trip to Monasterio de Tarlac! :)
DeleteThank you Christian. I will.
ReplyDeletemakakaakyat kaya ang bus dun if i bring my pilgrims group? bus or coaster?
ReplyDeletedpo ba masyado matarik ang daan
Yes, I think a bus or a coaster can navigate the road with no problem :)
DeleteHi, Me and my Friends would like to Visit and Attend mass there...?
ReplyDeleteCan You help me out..?
Thanks ������
Hello,
DeleteYou may view the mass schedule here:
http://monasterio-de-tarlac.weebly.com/events.html
Hi, I would like to know the mass Schedules of the Monesterio..?
ReplyDeleteHi Carla,
DeleteYou may view the mass schedule here:
http://monasterio-de-tarlac.weebly.com/events.html
hello... I'm a teacher in Saint Columban's College.Hope u'll help and guide us for we will visit the monasterio this coming dec. 2,2016 .We will be there around 10-11 a.m We have 160 students.God bless... Can't wait to be there. Salamat po
ReplyDeleteHi teacher! Unfortunately, I'm not from the monastery, maybe you can request a guide once you get there. :)
DeleteHi Teacher, you may contact them for your guidance. Hope this will help.
DeleteEmail Address: fr.archie_cortez_src@yahoo.com * servantsoftherisenchrist@yahoo.com
Mailing address: Servants of the Risen Christ P.O. Box#21, Tarlac City 2300
Telephone: (045) 493-3002 * 0916-250-8414 (mobile)
When will be the public veneration of the cross this coming year?
ReplyDeletePlease contact them directly po :)
Deletepano po pumunta dyan?what route po nang jeep?mangagaling po kami nang angeles city.thankyou.
ReplyDeleteHi, you may use the map I provided for the route going to the Monasterio de Tarlac :)
DeleteIs it going to be open this day? around 2pm?
ReplyDeleteHi, please contact them directly for their opening schedule :)
DeleteWe just went there yesterdday January 1.. Wala pong entrance. at 10:30am po ang mass except Thursday po ata..
ReplyDeleteThat's good to hear! :)
DeleteOur parish is planning to visit the monasterio as part of our Lenten pilgrimage.
ReplyDeletePlease let me know if the road up there & the place can accommodate tourist buses.
Salamat po
Jun V
OLUP-paranaque
Hi Jun, yes the road to Monasterio de Tarlac can accommodate buses :)
DeleteHi sir christian!
ReplyDeleteso pwede po umaykat ang mga sasakyan hanggang sa taas? may lakarin po ba na pataas going to the monastery chapel? we are planning to include the place for our visita iglesia this year and we have a senior citizen with us so we are just a bit worried na mahirapan sya kung may mga pataas or mahabang lakarin. thank you po!
Hi Jhing, yes you can bring cars to the top of Monasterio de Tarlac. You still have to walk for a few minutes, but it is very managable walk.
Deleteask ko lang po kung may mga makakainan po ba dun?? or need po mag pack ng pagkain po??
ReplyDeleteHi Rose, if I remembered right, there are some snack houses within the compound :)
DeleteAsk ko lang po if pwd mag short dun?kung may mga bawal po bang dalhin?may makakainan po ba dun?
ReplyDeleteHi, you can bring your own food. I think the only thing prohibited is bringing of alcoholic beverages. Yes, there's a snack house within the compound.
Deletetanong ko lang po kung mataas ba aakyatin papunta sa monasterio? hirap po kasi ang mother sa paakyat?
ReplyDeleteYou can easily reach Monasterio de Tarlac by car, from there it's pretty flat, your mom won't have a hard time :)
Deletehi!
ReplyDeleteWe are planning to visit your place on March 17, 2018. We are pilgrims from Manila, we're five in a group.
What could be the best time to visit the place? and we are also planning to stay there overnight, do you have a place for pilgrims like us?
Thank you.
I'm not sure if you can stay overnight in Monasterio de Tarlac. Morning and late afternoon (for the sunset) would be the best time to go. :)
DeleteHi, may i know if there is an entrance fee? TIA
ReplyDeleteHi, there's no entrance fee at Monasterio de Tarlac :)
DeleteCorrection, we just went there yesterday. At the entrance, before we went up to Monasterio de Tarlac, we were asked for 50 pesos as fee. No receipt issued. No idea if Monasterio is aware of this.
ReplyDeleteHi, it was years since I last went to Monasterio de Tarlac, I guess they're now asking for entrance fees. Will update this article. Thank you for sharing that info.
DeleteI went there also and they only ask those with cars to pay Parking fees of P50 which is proper. There are people taking care of the place, and the road construction is not yet finished. The place has to be maintained with money and one does not expect God to drop money from Heaven to maintain the place.
DeleteGood day Sir/Mam,
ReplyDeleteWe are the group of Pilgrims from National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima at Valenzuela. May we have your contact nos. please. We cannot reached the nos given at your website. Thank you very much.
Hi, you may also try to contact them at the Monasterio De Tarlac Facebook page
Deletehttps://www.facebook.com/MonasterioDeTarlacPh/
Okay lng po b ung tricycle ang sasakyan papunta po Jan monasterio?galing po kmi Basista,Pangasinan..tnx po en God bless..
ReplyDeleteHi there, yes there are tricycles going to Monasterio de Tarlac
Delete