Monasterio De Santa Clara

Monasterio De Santa Clara, Saint Clare Monastery or Monasteryo ni Santa Clara in Katipunan is one of my favorite places of worship. I have been attending Sunday mass here religiously for almost two years but I haven’t blog about this beautiful place yet.

I love hearing mass here because the place is peaceful and solemn, Father Andres Ranoa who regularly celebrates the mass give thought provoking homilies and because every week I get to hear the  nuns in brown habit sing beautiful old Tagalog songs that are no longer sang in other churches during the mass. 

A lot of people flock to Saint Clare Monastery to offer eggs and prayers. Many came to her to ask her intercession for good weather, to be able to conceive, to pass board exams and other various petitions.

But why are eggs offered to Saint Clare? Clare means "clear'' so it only fitting that we asked for her intercession for clear skies, clear mind and clear conscience.Others add that “clara” in Spanish refers to egg white while in Castillian it means having a short interval of a fair weather in a rainy day so an egg is offered for a good weather. Eggs are associated with fertility and the egg whites are clear hence it symbolizes a clear mind.

Saint Clare (also spelled as Clair or Claire) of Assisi is a good friend and one of the first followers of Saint Francis of Assisi. They both came from noble and well-off families but both turn their backs from wealth and lead a life of prayer and sacrifice. She founded a religious order known as the Order of the Poor Ladies. Saint Clare’s mother, Ortolina, also entered this religious order as well as her sisters Beatrix and Agnes (who is also declared as saint). Her feast day is every August 11.

The Order of the Poor Ladies led by Sor Jerónima de la Asunción and other nuns

came to the Philippines in 1621 and established the Real Monasterio de la Inmaculada Concepción de la Madre de Dios de las Monjas de Sta. Clara (Royal Monastery of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God of the Nuns of Sta. Clara) in Intramuros, Manila. The monastery in Intramuros was destroyed in World War II when American soldier heavily bombed Manila to liberate it from the Japanese invaders. Because no structure was left standing in Intramuros except for the San Agustin Church after 300 years in Intramuros, the monastery transferred to Aurora Boulevard, Cubao, Quezon City. In the 1990s the monastery transferred again to the lot opposite the Aurora Boulevard site which is Katipunan Avenue because the monastery has to give way for the construction of C5.

Schedule of Masses

Masses are said at the Monastery everyday at 6:00 a.m. except for Sunday which is at 6:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Special blessings are said for birthday celebrants of that particular month every first Sunday of the month and special blessings of healings for the sick are prayed by the priest every second Sunday of the month before the mass ends. The intention for the successful board examination of a particular profession for that particular week is also prayed for during the Prayers of the Faithful part of the mass. During the feast day of Saint Clare masses are said every hour throughout the day.

The monastery is open every day from 5:30 am to 7:00 pm.

After the mass you can proceed to the area adjacent to the church to drop off your petitions and eggs, have your religious materials and board examination paraphernalia like pencils, calculators, etc. bless and kiss the relic of Saint Clare.

The area where people write down their petitions for Saint Clare

It is here where the eggs, prayer petitions are offered, where materials are blessed and where you can find the relic of Saint Clare

Picture taking of the relic is not allowed.

How to go to Monasterio de Santa Clara

1. Hop on LRT line 2 and alight on Katipunan Station South Wing. From there walk  towards Katipunan Avenue and turn right once you see the C5 fly over then you can see the monastery from there.

2. Ride a jeep in Cubao and look for those with Katipunan or Parang, SSS signboard and tell the driver that you want to get off at Santa Clara.

3. If you have your own car, drive along Aurora boulevard towards Marikina when you reach the Katipunan intersection turn right. The convent is at the left so turn left towards the first U-turn slot.

Other facts about Monasterio de Santa Clara and Saint Clare

In Jose Rizal's novel "El Filibusterismo" it was the Monasterio de Santa Clara that Maria Clara entered to become a nun.

Saint Clare of Assisi is the same patroness of Obando, Bulacan  that people go to to perform fertility rites.

Leona's Art Restaurant

Leona’s Art Restaurant offers Mexican Italian dishes. It is located at # 45 Matimtiman Street Quezon City.  This restaurant is not easy to find since it is not found along Maginhawa Street and their signage outside the restaurant is not that big and visible. We’re glad that the tricycle driver who brought us to Leona was familiar with the restaurant. We just told the driver that we wanted to eat at the restaurant that offers pizza all you can promo.

The place is small which is similar to most of the restaurants in the Maginhawa area. It can sit 20 to 30 people.  There are also some tables and chairs outside the restaurant but we opted to dine it because it was a hot summer night. I like the homey and cozy feel of this restaurant.

My siblings wanted to try the pizza all you can promo of Leona’s; sadly it ended a few days before our visit. We wanted to really have the pizza all you can promo because we wanted to know how many pizza slices we can eat. Hehehe. Sobrang takaw. The food attendant then offered their other promo which was the 3 pizza promo for 499 – 14’’ three cheese pizza, pepperoni pizza and  a choice of any of their other pizza.

So we had the 3 pizza promo. For our third pizza we ordered the ham and mushroom pizza.  Aside from our pizza order we also had the roasted chicken promo for 499 – roasted chicken with its salsa and gravy sauce, Mexican rice and a pitcher of Coke.

Everything served to us was delicious. But I like the three cheese pizza the most because I love cheese. It was cheesy and crunchy.  With the roasted chicken I hope they can cut down on the herbs they put into it because a few hours after our dinner I can still taste the herb.

The waitresses at Leona’s were attentive to us and they offered to take our group pictures when they saw us clicking the camera.

I would love to go back to Leona's and try the other dishes in their menu.

Fine Dining at Via Antonella

For our anniversary date, my boyfriend and I had dinner at Via Antonella.

Via Antonella is located at 189 Maginhawa Street corner Makadios Street Sikatuna Village, Quezon City. If you are coming from Anonas, take a right turn on V. Luna Road where SaveMore Supermarket is located and then straight ahead and turn left on the first corner; it is a few blocks to your right.

The restaurant look simple yet elegant.  It has high ceiling that gives a very airy feel to the place. The place is really cozy.

The food servers were very attentive and the waiter that was assigned to get our order gave us suggestions on what to order.  The service was very fast.  We don't have to wait too long for our orders.

For starters, we had Cream of Shiitake and Leeks Soup which was served with Garlic Bread.  It was pureed shiitake that was sauteed in butter and leeks and simmered in chicken stock and cream.  The taste of the soup was bland but the garlic bread was good.

Cream of Shiitake and Leeks Soup P125.00

My boyfriend had Lamb Caldereta.  This dish was really superb.  The meat was tender and the sauce was really good.  The serving was huge and a cup of rice that went with it was not enough.  Sobrang malasa kaya bagay sa maraming kanin.

Lamb Caldereta P235.00

I had Wagyu Burger Steak.  So this was grilled burger steak made from Wagyu beef and then it had mushroom gravy sauce.  There was nothing really special about my order.  The mushroom gravy sauce was okay.

Wagyu Burger Steak P235.00

We both ordered their House Blend Tea for our drinks.  The tea was okay.

House Blend Tea P68.00

What I liked about the food is that the serving was huge and that it was price just right.

Would I be coming back to Via Antonella?  Definitely, I'll be back to have their Lamb Caldereta and try their other best sellers.

Bewitched at Gayuma Ni Maria

My boyfriend and I were already full from our anniversary dinner at Via Antonella,  but I couldn't miss the chance to see what Gayuma ni Maria was all about.

We went there on a Monday night and there were not so many patrons at that time.  There were only three couples including us.

The restaurant had this shabby chic interior.

Since we ate dinner already, I asked for their desserts.  There were only two desserts available at that time which was their Twisted Pavlova and Beat Sex Any Day cakes.  And I ordered both plus their Darjeeling tea.

While waiting for our food, we went over to their naughty nook which sells sex toys. hehehe.

We opted to eat at their outdoor dining area. It had low tables and cushions to sit on.

The Twisted Pavlova was a meringue dessert. It has peaches and grapes as toppings. The cake is light and fluffy, and it has the right amount of sweetness. I really loved it.

Twisted Pavlova - P95.00

The Beat Sex Any Day Cake is too sweet for my liking.  But I bet chocolate lovers will definitely like this chocolate cake with chocolate syrup.

Beat Sex Any Day - P95.00

Too bad we weren't able to order their dishes. I would love to try their naughty sounding dishes like - Threesome, Nilasing ni Eba si Adan, Tuliro, Secret Lovers, Lover's Delight, etc.

But we'll definitely be back to try out the said dishes.


Gayuma ni Maria is located at 124 V. Luna Extension Sikatuna Village Quezon City.  If you are coming from Anonas, turn right to the first street adjacent to Savemore Supermarket.  It is on the same side as Savemore and a few blocks away from Savemore.

At The La Mesa Eco Park

La Mesa Eco Park

La Mesa Eco Park - is a sprawling 2000 hectares of forest that surrounds the 700 hectare water reservoir of the La Mesa Dam in Quezon City.

Before I visited this place I never thought that this kind of lush greenery still exists in Metro Manila. It is indeed the lungs of the city that provides clean air to its residents.The La Mesa reservoir provides clean drinking water to the 12 million inhabitants of Metro Manila.

My siblings, my boyfriend and I visited the park last April 16, 2011.

WHAT TO DO AT THE PARK:

1. Have a picnic at the Lopez picnic grounds and pavilions or just placed your picnic mat and blanket under the shades of the big trees of the park.

2. Ride a horse at the Petron Amphitheater while touring the whole park

3. Hike at the mini-forest and marvel at the beauty of nature.

4. Exercise and challenge yourself at the 17 exercise stations of the Petron Fitness and Bike Trail.

5. Enjoy a paddle boat ride at the Superferry Boating Lagoon.

6. See and climb the steps of the Shell Flower Garden Terraces. The 2 hectares of garden terraces is actually the dam wall of the water reservoir.

7. Swim at the Pool and Bath House or at the Aquatic Center.

8. Scale the outdoor wall or try the Zipline and the rapelling wall

FEES:

Entrance Fee:P50 for non Quezon City residents and P40.00 for residents with a valid ID indicating that the owner of the ID has a Quezon City address.

At the Pool : P80 for those above 3ft and P40 for those below 3ft.

Boat Rental: P100/30 minutes, the boat is good for 4 people

Bike Rental: P50-90/ hour

Horseback Ride: P50/ 30 minutes

You may bring your own food and drinks to the park. There are many stalls that sells food, beverages and souvenirs at affordable prices.

PARK SCHEDULE:

Open daily from 8:00 am to5:00 pm. The park is closed only on December 25 and December 31.

LOCATION: La Mesa Dam Compound, Greater Lagro, Quezon City

Travel along Commonwealth Avenue,right after Sandiganbayan and Litex Road, on your left is the East Fairview Subdivision, enter the subdivision and then turn left on the first street, at the end of that long street which is Dunhill Street (the streets inside this subdivision were named after cigarette brands:) ) is the La Mesa Eco Park.

If you don't have your own car, just alight from the bus or jeep that travels along Commonwealth Road at the East Fairview Subdivision Gate; there are many tricycles parked in front of the Subdivision that can take you to the La Mesa Ecopark.

AT THE SHELL FLOWER TERRACES

PETRON AMPHITHEATER

BEAUTIFUL TREES INSIDE THE MINI FOREST

Breathe in the clean, cool air of the La Mesa Park and feast your eyes with the beauty of nature right at the heart of the city.