Cebu, Philippines — Holy Week has already started for Catholics in the Philippines which means that members are now prepping for the tradition of ‘Visita Iglesia’, which is the visitation of seven different churches that falls on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. This year, telco Smart’s digital tourism program ‘Panaw sa Pagtuo’ (Journey of Faith) is making the tradition more fruitful for those that are keen to visit churches in Cebu by employing QR code ‘markers’ that would share tourism and historical facts specifically on seven heritage churches in the city of Cebu.
The first four churches are St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish in Carcar, Sibonga’s Nuestra Señora del Pilar Parish, St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish Church in Santander, and the St. Michael the Archangel Church in Argao.
The next three churches included in Smart’s digital tourism program are considered national historical sites by the National Historical Institute (NHI). These are San Guillermo de Aquitana Parish Church in Dalaguete, considered a National Historical Landmark by the NHI; Nuestra Senora del Patrocinio de Maria Parish Church in Boljoon, considered a national historical treasure due to its resilient heritage by the NHI and the National Museum; and St. Michael the Archangel Church in Samboan, one of Cebu’s oldest church which was built in 1842 and nationally protected heritage structure by the NHI.
Smart’s Panaw sa Pagtuo mobile app is also available for free for pilgrims opting for virtual Visita Iglesia.
