Monday, January 3, 2011

How To Get To Quiapo Church By Walking And Commuting


Quiapo Church is officially known as Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene. It is located along Quezon Boulevard in Quiapo right before the foot of the Quezon Bridge going to Lawton. To its front is Plaza Miranda. If you're coming from Lawton, Taft, Ermita or Roxas Boulevard and you're going to Quiapo Church via Quezon Bridge, the church is to your left so you need to get down the pedestrian underpass to get to Quiapo Church after crossing Pasig River.

Walk To Quiapo Church

Here's a guide for Black Nazarene devotees that just arrived in Metro Manila who would come to Quiapo Church this week prior to the day of Feast of the Black Nazarene on January 9. If you plan to walk from a certain location up to the Quiapo Church, all you need to remember is stay to the main roads.

Coming from areas of Caloocan, get down the Monumento Circle or Andres Bonifacio Monument. From there go toward Rizal Avenue, the road under the track of LRT-1, and start your walk right there. Stay under the LRT-1 and walk your way up to Carriedo in Santa Cruz. Before you get to Carriedo you would have passed by 7 LRT Stations, namely, 5th Avenue, R. Papa, Jose Abad Santos, Blumentritt, Tayuman, Bambang and Doroteo Jose, in that order. After Doroteo Jose Station, you'll cross C.M. Recto Avenue and right up ahead is the Carriedo Station, between Plaza Fair and Isetann Department Stores. Turn left on Carriedo Street. Quiapo Church is to the end of the road, very visible from the corner of Carriedo and Avenida Avenue.

From Paranaque areas, start off from the southern tip of of the LRT-1 located in the junction in Baclaran where Redemptorist Road, Quirino Avenue and Taft Avenue meet. Take the direction toward north staying under the LRT-1 elevated track. Walk up to the foot of Quezon Bridge in Lawton. You would have to pass by 8 Stations of LRT-1 including the Central Terminal before you get to Quezon Bridge. These stations are EDSA, Libertad, Gil Puyat, Vito Cruz, Quirino, Pedro Gil, U.N. Avenue and Central Terminal Station, in that order. Cross Pasig River via Quezon Bridge as soon as you get to the foot of Quezon Bridge. Then cross Quezon Boulevard via Quiapo Underpass to get to Quiapo Church.

From Cubao, Santa Mesa and San Juan. You can walk up to the Quiapo Church from any points under the elevated track of LRT-2. Coming from Cubao, start off in EDSA corner Aurora Boulevard and walk undert LRT-2 all the way to the foot of the flyover at the end of Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard. At this point LRT-2 elevated track takes different course, so you need to go under the flyover toward the opposite street of Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard which is Legarda Street. Also at this point, you would have already passed by five stations of LRT-2, namely, Go-Belmonte, Gilmore, J. Ruiz, V. Mapa, and Pureza, in that order. Now, stay to Legarda until you get to the corner of C.M. Recto Avenue where the elevated LRT-2 track appears again above C.M. Recto. Follow the direction the LRT-2 takes until you reach Quezon Boulevard Underpass from which vehicles going to Quiapo from Quezon City pass through. Take the pedestrian underpass across Quezon Boulevard to get across Recto Avenue. You would see a big mall, Isetann, at the corner of C.M. Recto Avenue and Quezon Boulevard. From that corner, continue walking along Quezon Boulevard southward until you reach Quiapo Church standing magnificently along Quezon Boulevard right before Quezon Bridge.

Commute to Quiapo Church

Because of the heavy traffic along the way, the smart, easy and comfortable way to commute to Quiapo Church is by LRT or MRT or combination of the two plus some jeepney and bus rides. Here's what you do. From your location ride a jeepney or tricycle to the nearest MRT or LRT Station. If bus is applicable, then ride a bus and get off at a station of LRT or MRT. Car owners who live in Triangle areas in Quezon City, I let you on a secret. Drive your car from your home and park free in Centris Walk. Yes, you heard it right parking is free, at least as of now, inside the Centris Walk Complex. If you want to know how to get to Centris Walk, search "centris walk" in our Search Direction Box on the sidebar of this blog site. After you park your car, ride a bus bound to Monumento just along EDSA, a short walk from your car. Get off at Munoz, ride a train going to Baclaran and get off at Carriedo Station. Presto! Quiapo Church is right in front of you, just a few meters walk eastward. Believe me it's more convenient, fast, and economical.

Okay here are the guides from different stations of LRT and MRT to the location of Quiapo Church. From any station of LRT-2 anywhere from Santolan Station, get off at Recto Station, the last station of LRT-2. See, it's easy. Now, all you need to do is walk toward the corner of C.M. Recto and Quezon Boulevard, where the big Isetann Mall is located, and from there walk southward until you see the Quiapo Church.

From any station of MRT-3, get off at the last station which is Taft Station. Using the crossway that links MRT-3 to LRT-1, walk up to the EDSA Station of LRT-1 and ride a train north bound or Monumento/Roosevelt bound. Get off at Carriedo Station and you're right there, just a few meters walk eastward from majestic Quiapo Church.

Coming from south of Metro Manila e.g. Paranaque, Sucat, Alabang, Muntinlupa, etc. Just get to a station of LRT-1, ride a Monumento or Roosevelt bound train and get off at Carriedo Station. Same way for those coming from north of Metro Manila like Navotas, Malabon, Valenzuela, Caloocan, Novaliches and other nearby areas. All you need to do is ride a train, a Baclaran bound train, and get off at Carriedo Station. Walk eastward to get to the Quiapo Church.

Important Reminders

Take extra precaution while you're in Quiapo. There are lots of bad elements in the area in the forms of snatchers, robbers, holdapers, bag & pocket slashers and the like.

Don't bring big amount of money, expensive jewelries and latest models of gadgets e.g. celphones, ipod, psp, mini laptop, laptop, ipad, etc. either in a bag or worn while you're in the vicinity of Quiapo Church especially Carriedo Street and other roads in the environs of the church.

Don't carry your bag at your back. Always carry it by hand and in front of your body. And be suspicious of the people around you. It's better to be safe than sorry.

Believe me when I say I had had a bad experience while in the area. I was walking toward Carriedo Station. I was in a rush and carrying my satchel bag in such a way that the bag was hanging on my right hip with its strap strung diagonal from my left shoulder. When I got to the station I noticed my bag became light so I checked it. I was shocked to learn that the outside zipper was open and my psp was gone.

Location Map of Quiapo Church - Black Nazarene

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