The Intramuros Administration (IA), in partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT), Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), the Manila Cathedral and the San Agustin Parish Church with the support of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Mapua University and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and the Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts of the City of Manila will be staging several activities during the observance of Holy Week 2022.

Eight churches/chapels/prayer grounds will open its door again to pilgrims and tourists alike during Maundy Thursday Good Friday (14 and 15 April 2022). On regular days, only the Manila Cathedral and the San Agustin Church are accessible to the public. For this year, we have six other Chapels that were once sites of former churches in Intramuros, some located inside schools or government offices. The churches/chapels/prayer grounds that will be open during the Visita Iglesia include (1) the Manila Cathedral, (2) San Agustin Parish Church, (3) Shrine of Jesus, The Divine Teacher Chapel at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, (4) Santa Rita Chapel at Mapua University, (5) Sacred Heart of Jesus Chapel at Lyceum of the Philippines University, (6) Colegio de San Juan de Letran Chapel, (7) St. Matthew’s Chapel at the BIR Building and (8) Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine at Fort Santiago.

Via Crusis or The Stations of the Cross installations will be displayed at the stretch of General Luna Street, from Beaterio Street to Muralla (side of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila) from Maundy Thursday to Good Friday. Last 2018 there were 900,000 local and foreign tourists that flocked inside the wall of Intramuros for Holy Week. In 2019, the number of visitors was around a million people. The cooperating agencies are working hard to prepare for the Holy Week 2022 given the current health situation and urging the public to follow the rules set by the Inter-agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) DOT and IA to ensure a safe, organized and meaningful celebration of Lent.

To facilitate traffic within Intramuros, General Luna St. will be closed to all vehicles from the night of Holy Wednesday until Good Friday. There will be designated areas for public parking in the various locations.

Security is a priority, and the Philippine National Police- MPD, the Armed Forces of the Philippines Joint Task Force – National Capital Region (JTF-NCR), Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office and the Philippine National Red Cross will be present on site to ensure the safety and security of devotees and tourists. Portalets will be installed all over the city and near the churches for public use as well.

At the heart of all the celebration and activities of the Holy Week, the public is expected to follow the rules and be mindful of other pilgrims and tourists:

Lent is an important period for Filipinos, whether for reasons of faith, to rest or to bond with one’s family, friends and community. Pilgrims and tourists are all welcome during the Holy Week in Intramuros and invited to experience this important Philippine tradition. -END-