2015 Bisita Iglesia and Kopi Tiam

04/03/2015. It's Good Friday so we're up and early for the annual Bisita Iglesia. My parents are still at the province, and my sister's family had their Bisita Iglesia yesterday and are heading off to Pampanga today to spend time with Gerry's clan. So this year, it's me, Chea, Tita Fe and Thirdy.

It'll be Thirdy's first Bisita Iglesia as he's big enough to walk around.

Chea wants to just do 7 churches this year, with two stations per church. We used to do one station per church for a total of 14 churches, but the summer heat'll be too much for everyone, not to mention, Thirdy would be asleep before we even hit 8 churches.

Thirdy's first church for his first Bisita Iglesia.

Our first church is Parokya ng Pagkabuhay, as it's just a few meters from our place.

We decided to skip Our Lady of the Annunciation Parish as it's along Mindanao Avenue with no shaded parking. Plus the stations of the cross are at the basement around their columbarium which was hot when we there last year because of all the candles.

There are vendors selling fresh fruits nearby.

So our second church is the one behind Cherry Foodarama along Congressional Avenue: San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish. It has ample parking with some little shade at some spots. It's also a bit secluded so only the parishioners around the area visit it, so it won't be too crowded.

Big open area to run around

Third, is Our Lady of Consolation Parish inside Mira Nila Subdivision along Congressional Avenue. Before the extension of Congressional Avenue to connect it to Luzon Avenue, you had to go along Tandang Sora Avenue and through Tierra Pura Subdivision.

It's a big church with a lot of ample parking. It's mostly accessible by cars since it's in the far end of the subdivision. Usually when we arrive, there will be a lot of activity already in preparation for the 7 Last Words mass for the afternoon. But we might have arrived a bit early as there were only a few people there even inside the church.

That sun's really out today ahead of the typhoon hitting over the weekend

The yearly bisita iglesia wouldnt be complete without enjoying all that street food

Fourth is the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice inside the University of the Philippines. This is always the church we target for the midpoint of our Bisita Iglesia since it's very shady with trees all around so we can take a little break. There are also food vendors selling snacks such as fishballs, kikiam, karioka and the like. This year, it seems there are a bit more people visiting the church.

Inside the eagle's nest

A tiger cub inside the eagle's nest. Unless he decides on a different school when he grows up. Lol.

Chea wanted to try out the church inside Ateneo this year, so we went to Church of Gesu as our fifth church. It's my first time here as well. We spent some time looking around. Made me think of getting Thirdy a UST shirt.

Couldnt get a wider shot.

Sixth was where Chea and I got married, St. Ignatius Cathedral.

This place had a lot more cops than a police station. Lol.

And finally, Christ the King Parish in Green meadows. Chea actually wanted to try Saint Pio chapel in Libis. I remember the time we went there and we were given 4 feet high crosses to lug around while doing the stations of the cross. Unfortunately, when we passed by, the street going to the chapel was heavy with traffic. It was the same at Monasterio de Santa Clara and Santa Maria della Strada . The roads are packed with parked cars. Still, it's heartening to realize that more people are actually observing lenten traditions than frolicking in the beach.

We finished a little past 11am, so we decided to look for some food. We tried at Kapitolyo but most of the establishments were closed or parking was directly under the scorching sun. We tried San Juan as well, but still the same.

Placemat menu

We headed towards QC, and we passed by Kopi Tiam.  It was open, and there were overhead leaves covering the parking so it wasn't terribly hot. We parked and got in. We were told by the security guard that there were a lot of people earlier and we were lucky to arrive just in time that we had the place to ourselves. About three more families came in later while we were eating.

Thirdy fell asleep in the car a few minutes before we arrived at Kopi Tiam. Poor kid.

I think this is the third time we had our Good Friday lunch here. Or is it the fourth? I remember one of them with my parents and brother. Another one with Chea's cousins.

Thirdy was asleep when we got in, so we laid him on the wooden couch. He slept the entire time.

Iced tea. 

Chea ordered her favorite: Fried noodles. I wanted rice but saw a new dish, Boneless chicken curry noodles. I thought the noodles were sotanghon from the pictures but later saw them to be canton. Tita Fe ordered the fresh lumpia. Chea also ordered their signature halo halo, Storm, and I ordered Iced tea as well.

Fried noodles. Chea likes to mix it herself.

Their fried noodles are good as usual, so no complaints there.

Fresh lumpia.

I never got to taste the lumpia, but Tita Fe seemed to enjoy it especially the sauce.

Boneless chicken curry noodles. Mild. 

As for the chicken curry noodles? The chicken is in small chunks, breaded. A little bit salt but good. The dish also had some green pepper and potatos. The potatos were cut in small cubes and were soft. The noodles were canton, and it was kinda ok. The curry isn't too overpowering, but it was still spicy. I had to put some calamansi on my servings as I really like my canton noodles tasting a bit sour.

Storm. Sorry for the dirty plates. 

The Storm was ok. Chea had it separated into two glasses so Tita Fe could have some. A little bit later, I ordered their warm cholate tablea dessert as we were  whiling away the time. It was just around 1pm, and it was still hot outside.

Mmmm  chocolate

The dessert tasted like lava cake. The lower half of the dessert was chocolate sponge cake, while the upper half was dark oozing chocolate. They microwave it before serving so the chocolate is melted. It was really good.

Homey.

Total cost was around 800 pesos. But the servings for the noodles were good for 3 -5 persons each so we got to take home a lot of leftovers.

A bit later, we headed home but stopped by Mcdonald's at Centris first and bought Thirdy a spaghetti Happy meal so he can eat it at home, as well as get his fourth Oh toy, the bashful Oh.

That's one dirty wall.

We already have Oh's spinning cat, Shaking Oh, and Nervous Oh. Here's hoping to get the complete set.