How to Get Your Car Blessed in Antipolo and Manaoag
By Andrea Nicole
Posted on Jun 22, 2020
So you got a new car. What now? Well, for Catholic Filipinos, one of the first things to do upon getting a new car is to have it blessed. There are several parishes offering car blessings in exchange for voluntary donations. Two of these parishes are the Antipolo Church and the Manaoag Church.
Car Blessing in Antipolo
Many people say that it is good luck to have your car blessed in the Antipolo Church. This is because the Antipolo Church enshrines the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. With this, a large number of motorists visit the cathedral just to have their car blessed. Below are some tips on how to get your car blessed in Antipolo.
Schedule
Car blessing is entertained on all days. However, the office closes during lunch break so make sure to be there at 7:30 AM - 11:00 AM or 2:00 PM - 5:30 PM
How to Get There
The Antipolo Cathedral is searchable in both Waze and Google Maps. The keywords that can be used are either “Antipolo Church” or “Our Lady of Peach and Good Voyage Shrine.”
Once in the vicinity, it is best to find a parking spot that is close to the church. Several vendors try to persuade motorists to park near their stores to sell souvenirs and food to them. In a disclaimer, however, the church warned its patrons that no one is obliged to buy anything from these stores.
How to Proceed with the Car Blessing
Here are the steps to follow for the car blessing:
- Enter the church and look for the registration hall
- Fill out their form
- Give a voluntary donation
- Get in line according to the parking area
- Proceed to the car parking with the priest
- Start the engine and open all doors, the hood, and the trunk
- The priest will proceed with his prayers and the blessing with holy water
Car Blessing in Manaoag
Another church popular for its car blessing services is the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag. Hundreds of people travel to Pangasinan just to visit this church. Below are some tips for getting your car blessed in Manaoag Church.
Schedule
It is recommended to be in the church in the morning and as early as possible. This is due to the large number of motorists queueing up for the car blessing.
For weekdays, the church has car blessing services after every mass from 5:00 AM to 11:00 AM and then at 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
For weekends: the church has car blessing services after every mass from 5:00 AM to 12:00 NN and from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
How to Get There
Thanks to the new expressways, going to Manaoag is easier than ever. You can just go through the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), SCTEX (Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway) and TPLEX (Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway). Then, just exit TPLEX through the Urdaneta Exit or Binalonan Exit. Several motorists prefer the BInalonan Exit to avoid the traffic caused by malls near Urdaneta Exit.
Once in the vicinity of the church, make sure to enter through Gate 6.
How to Proceed with the Car Blessing
While entering Gate 6, it is likely that there is already a line of cars. This will already be the line for the car blessing.
The blessing is usually done in batches of 10. This means the entire ordeal would probably take about an hour. However, the blessing of the car itself will only take 5 minutes. After the blessing, you can give a cash donation to the church.
These 2 parishes are the most popular car blessing destinations. However, you can also consult with your local parish for this service.