Fr. Franz Joseph Aquino
January 25, 2025
Philippines
Celebrate the start of a new year with a travelling retreat to Batanes, one of the country’s dream destinations. Experience God in the beauty of nature with like-minded pilgrims on your 4-day Praycation to Batanes with Fr. Franz Joseph Aquino on January 25-28, 2025.
Begin your pilgrimage with a mass at the Basco Cathedral, also known as Sto. Domingo de Basco. This first and oldest church in Batanes is dedicated to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Patroness of Batanes. Next, drive to the top of Tukon, which offers a spectacular view of Mount Iraya and Basco town and a picturesque seascape of the West Philippine Sea and Pacific Ocean. Proceed to Café de Tukon for lunch, Fundacion Pacita’s farm-to-table restaurant. Explore Fundacion Pacita, once the home studio of the internationally acclaimed artist Pacita Abad. Fundacion Pacita pays homage to the creative roots of the Ivatan people.
Make your way to Basco’s Idjang, an early Ivatan settlement perched on a hill. The next destination is Valugan Boulder Bay, where medium-to-large stones that were erupted by nearby Mount Iraya during one of its eruptions fill the whole shoreline. After visiting the Vayang Rolling Hills, proceed to Naidi Hills, where the Basco Lighthouse offers unobstructed, breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, Mount Iraya, and Batan Island.
After an early breakfast, head to Mahatao’s Tayid Lighthouse for morning prayers. The octagonal Tayid Lighthouse offers breathtaking views of the ocean. Catch a glimpse of the Ivatan way of life on your visit to the tiny Diura fishing village. Here, fishermen perform the Kapayvanuvanua ritual to signify the start of the fishing season. Go to the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Head towards the famous Racuh Apayaman, often called “Marlboro Country,” where you may take in the breathtaking views of the ocean, wind-whipped cliffs soaring above the water, and lush green pastureland with a few cows enjoying a leisurely graze. Prior to attending Mass at the historic San Carlos Borromeo Church, make a stop at the Homoron White Beach/Blue Lagoon. Recognized as one of the Philippines’ cultural landmarks, San Carlos Borromeo Church was built by the Dominicans in 1789.
The town of Imnajbu, the birthplace of Christianity in Batanes, is the next destination. Go to the San Lorenzo Ruiz Chapel, site of the first Mass ever held in Batanes in 1682. Take pleasure in taking pictures at the Alapad Hills and Rock Formations, which provides breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. Lunch at the Sung-Sung Old Stone House. Celebrate Mass at the picturesque Church of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Itbud. The next stop is Uyugan, the town with the greatest number of intact stone houses in Batan Island. Visit the San Antonino de Florencia Parish Church.
Make your way to Ivana. Stop by the Honesty Coffee Shop, one of Batanes’ most well-known man-made attractions. Uniquely known for its business concept, the store is unmanned and solely relies on the honesty of the customers for payment of goods. Head for Ivana. Stop by at the Honesty Coffee Shop, one of the most famous man-made attractions in Batanes. Uniquely known for its business concept, the store is unmanned and solely relies on the honesty of the customers for payment of goods. Drive south to the San Jose de Obrero Church, one of the best-preserved churches in the region. See the well-known House of Dakay, which is among the oldest houses in Batanes. Reach the top of South Batan Island, the Chawa View Deck, to cap off your praycation with stunning views of the West Philippine Sea and the cliffs.
Join us for a 4-day Praycation to Batanes with Fr. Franz Joseph Aquino on January 25-28, 2025. Amidst the stunning Batanes countryside, experience a little piece of heaven on earth!
Watch an awe-inspiring sunset on Naidi Hills in Basco.
The House of Dakay, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the oldest limestone house in Batanes.
Resembling a gallery, Fundacion Pacita is adorned by artworks by both well-known and up-and-coming artists in Batanes.
Have a souvenir photo taken on the Chawa View Deck, which boasts stunning views of the cliffs and South China Sea.
Learn a little bit of Batanes’ history on your visit to Basco’s Idjang, a settlement of early Ivatans.
Spiritually-focused journeys
Insightful pilgrimage chaplains
Quality accommodations
Expertly-crafted itineraries
Friendly and bonded groups
Senior citizen friendly
The whole pilgrimage is a new and fulfilling moment in my life. It’s a nice feeling being with the Lord in His important day. And also, gaining new friends and becoming my new extended family is something I will treasure. I hope that this is just the beginning and we’ll continue to get in touch with one another despite the distance.
Brenda
Hello Co-Pilgrims,
It was indeed a wonderful Pilgrimage: very rich in history, a thanksgiving of blessings, a spiritual renewal and nourishment, and finally ending in a test of Faith.
Thank you so much Pilgrim Leader, Ging Igual, for standing beside us up to the last stretch of our 13-day journey - more particularly in the handling of an unexpected situation (cancelled flight in Mexico and re-direction of flights to make sure the 38 Pilgrims reach LA for their respective flight bookings). Ging, you were an angel to us so blessed with energy, passion, love and Milagrosa. We really felt the presence of Our Lady of Guadalupe fielding angels every step of the way.
The Pilgrimage to California Mission Churches and Our Lady of Guadalupe gives me personal inspiration for the work and activities of the next chapter of my lifetime: farming with promotion of agriculture for millennials (inspired by the scenic view of farms in California), tourism (which is a major industry in all places we visited), and support for a favourite major seminary in Tagaytay and a scholarship fund for deserving individuals (thru a non stock non profit institution).
Thank you to my Co-Pilgrims and prayer partners for the prayer support, sharing of life experiences and friendships; Fr. Tony, thank you for your spiritual reflections and service; Fr. Jerry Orbos for an overflowing spiritual reflections and enabling us to have the needed personal encounter with Jesus and Mama Mary (it was like a 12-day Holy Retreat); and the Executive Resources for making a very nice pilgrimage package a part of our lifetime.
Ms. Emma
Lord, we cannot find words enough to say how grateful we are to You. Our pilgrimage made us realize that Your love for us is more than what we deserve.
To all our co-pilgrims, thank you for making us feel we belong to this new family. To Fr. Dante, thanks for your prayers and pieces of advice for our spiritual nourishment. To Sis Lea, for taking care of each one of us. To Sis Joy, thanks for the contagious joys and laughters.
To our prayer partners, Sis Maribel, Melvy and Didick and Bro Mon and Sis Jot, thank you for your prayers. We will pray for you, too!
To The Pilgrim’s Center - Executive Resources, thank you for accommodating us in this Eastern Europe Pilgrimage.
God bless us all always!
Albert and Adee
Dear Pilgrims' Center:
My husband Aldo & I would like to praise & commend our Pilgrim Chaplain Fr. Dante Venus & our Tour Leader Bro. Monty for the very successful & memorable pilgrimage to Italy & the Holy Land we were very fortunate to join on March 26-April 8, 2018.
It was very hectic to be sure, but still they managed our time very well that we were able to visit more places than was promised in the itinerary, and we are very appreciative of that. Likewise, the solemnity of the whole pilgrimage experience was still observed despite many of us in the group, myself included, often forgetting that we were pilgrims & not tourists 😉😉, taking photos, selfies, etc. instead of, or before focusing on what the local guide was explaining or on the scripture readings. I cannot fault us pilgrims on this because for many of us seniors, and I speak for my husband & I, that trip might be our first & last time to visit those places, so we made sure they were properly documented. Nonetheless, it was a truly spiritually uplifting & life-changing experience for us. We continue to thank our Lord for making that experience of a lifetime possible. Indeed, nothing is impossible for God! Thank you very much to Fr. Dante, Bro. Monty & to each of us pilgrims in the group for the prayers, love, care & concern shown to each other. Let us continue to pray for and with each other. It is my hope that we meet each other again soon, to strengthen our bonds of friendships.
Most sincerely, Leclec Cabusora
Leclec Cabusora
My husband and I just came back from a wonderful trip to Israel - with Franciscan Fr Reu Galoy. Thank you Pilgrim Center for the arrangements. We are so happy and satisfied with all that you have done for us. Kudos to Yanyan and Monty from Pilgrim Center, and Fr Reu and Ronin for your caring services. It was a spiritual journey and we felt the abiding presence of the Lord all throughout.
Ann Arguelles Cortes
Our pilgrimage was worth all the hardships (I was having leg pains). We had an excellent leader in the person of Adrian, two priests Fathers Val and Ron, who gave us very nice pieces of advice and homilies, and of course the members of the group who were all very nice. Looking forward to join another pilgrimage.
Emily Bautista
It was the most profound experience I had in my whole life....Walking with the Footsteps where Jesus walked made my life more grateful and humble....My faith become stronger as I express it...A growing faith is a sharing faith....TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!! SHALOM!
Carmen Nierra
Vir & I would like to express our gratitude for a wonderful pilgrimage we had from Sept 5-18. From checking-in last Sept 5 & all during the tour, we felt the care from a family. No words can ever describe how thankful we are.
I almost cried last Sept 8, (my birthday) when we (2 of us have the same birthday) were given a surprise mini celebration when after our dinner, we were given a cake. I really felt the love of a family then.
All these things made possible because of your capable coordinator Ms. Ging Igual. She's such a wonderful leader. Kudos to her.
Rest assured that i will refer your company to all my friends who are planning to go on pilgrimage .
Good day & may God always guide & protect all of you in the Pilgrims' Center/ Executive Resources, Inc.
Cora and Vir Franca
I am honored to be included in this pilgrimage. The Pilgrims' Center has very good itineraries worth remembering. No hours wasted. They took very good care of us in spite of our big number of 47 people. The daily mass and homilies of Fr. Manny Cruz held in different shrines and churches were very inspirational and transforming. Accommodations were nice most especially the one on top of the Mountain with an awesome view built in 1909. It's like travelling back in time. I definitely would want to do it again with Pilgrim Center.
Peter Joseph Mapua
The Pilgrims' Center always gives you the best. They let you feel like an Executive in terms of personal service & attention especially during pilgrimage. Their choices of pilgrimages and pilgrim chaplains are outstanding. You go back home very fulfilled and immersed...
Marlene Silvestre
1) 50 % deposit is required upon reservation.
2) Deadline for full payment should be at least one (1) month before the departure date.
3) Cancellation Charges:
> 50 % of the tour cost will be charged if cancellation is made one (1) month before departure.
> Full tour cost shall be forfeited if cancellation is done fifteen (15) days prior to departure date.
BASIC TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE: Airport terminal fee, hospitalization and other medical expenses, tours and transportation during free periods, porterage of extra pieces of luggage in excess of the maximum allocation (10 kgs.), drinks and beverages taken during meals, items of personal nature such as laundry, telephone, fax, room service, tips for drivers, guides, tour escorts, and other expenses not mentioned in the itinerary terms and conditions.
EXECUTIVE RESOURCES, INC. has arranged for the various tour services to be performed under the responsibility of various contractors. Executive Resources, Inc., its employees or its subagent’s therefore only act as agents for the contractors providing the various services described in the tour and accept no responsibility or liability in connection with losses or accidental expenses due to delays of schedule, overbooking, defaults or “force majeure.” All tours and arrangements are subject to the general conditions specified by each contractor. Tour itineraries and prices are subject to change without prior notice. When making a tour booking, the passenger acknowledges and accepts the foregoing conditions.
