St. Mark’s Chapel – Mt. Makiling

There’s one chapel I keep coming back to, not to attend mass, but just to enjoy God’s creation. No other chapel in the country can make you wonder about his creations and make you feel you’re in heaven better than St. Mark’s Chapel.

Its a small open air chapel right on the slopes of Mt. Makiling leading up to the National High School for the Arts. The place is really beautiful.

On rainy seasons the place would be misty, and I guess it would also be same for the cold season. There is also a high level of humidity since it is in the middle of a tropical jungle. But that adds to its allure.

Its not a traditional church at all. There are no walls except for the slope of Mount makiling on the sides. The seats are concrete, and the whole roof is just a massive concrete overhang supported by the altar pillar. And there are no regular masses and no resident parish priest.

This is a perfect place for a wedding. Unfortunately, you’ll have to go thru a lot just to get a permit. Consider writing a well intended letter to the Director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines just to ask for permission. Then there’s the usual parish turf protocols, and finally. I was able to get the permit before since I once an employee of a company that annually plants tree in Mt. Makiling. Thank God that wedding didnt push thru.

These pictures are from the 3rd and last time my fiancee (and soon to be wife) and I would visit the place. Penny (the white shorkie) is also with us. I would probably visit this again, maybe just for photography and nothing more

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