Far north of Metro Manila, Marilao is a rapidly growing town in the rugged province of Bulacan. It’s home to several ornate churches that include San Miguel Archangel Parish and the National Shrine and Parish of The Divine Mercy, which is visited by Catholic pilgrims seeking good health.
Things to do in Marilao
Take note of the welcome arch that greets you on arrival in Marilao before admiring the Old Marilao Municipal Hall. If you continue driving north, you’ll arrive at Ciudad de Victoria, a sprawling tourism complex that’s home to landscaped plazas and performance venues. Follow the curving walkways that lead to through The Gardens, with highlights including the fragrant Flower Glass Dome and the Zen-inspired Japanese Koi Pond.
East of Marilao is the National Shrine and Parish of The Divine Mercy, where its main altar enshrines a copy of the Divine Mercy by Robert Skemp. Join the local pilgrims as they pay their respects to the life-size statues of the Stations of the Cross and visit the healing waters of the Guadalupe Chapel, then listen to the gushing cascade within the Grotto of the Resurrection.
Another religious landmark is the St. Andrew Kim Taegon Shrine, which was established in 1959 and dedicated to the first Korean-born Catholic priest in the Philippines. You can hear about the suppression of Christianity in Korea during the Joseon Dynasty as you admire its whimsically designed church and Saint Andrew Kim’s eventual arrest and execution in Korea.
Getting around Marilao
Marilao is around 40 minutes’ drive from the centre of Manila and around an hour from Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Buses and jeepneys are the main means of getting around the city and accessing its sights and there are tricycle “taxis” available for short journeys.