Pasay is one of those cities that carries more history than most people give it credit for. Tucked between Manila and Parañaque, it holds churches that go back to the mid-1800s alongside shrines built in more recent decades. During Holy Week, all of them draw faithful families doing their Visita Iglesia rounds. If you’re planning your route this year, here’s a guide to the beautiful churches in Pasay worth adding to your list.
Archdiocesan Shrine of Jesus, The Way, The Truth and The Life
Coral Way, Pasay Facebook
This shrine was born from one of the most significant moments in Philippine Catholic history. During the 10th World Youth Day celebration in 1995, Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass at Luneta Park, drawing more than six million people. In his message, he highlighted that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and that phrase became the name of this shrine. It was a project of Cardinal Jaime L. Cardinal Sin, built on land and funded by Henry Sy Sr. and his wife. The shrine was consecrated on July 9, 1999, and stands today as a monument to that historic gathering. Among the beautiful churches in Pasay, this one carries a story that connects the local to the global in a way few churches do.
Our Lady of Sorrows Parish
2130 F.B. Harrison St. Facebook
This church has lived through a remarkable amount of history. Inaugurated in October 1941 by the Society of St. Paul, it was barely two months old when Japan launched its attack on the Philippines on December 8, 1941. During the occupation, Japanese soldiers used the church premises as barracks. The Paulines stayed, cared for their parishioners, and rebuilt after the war. The current church was inaugurated on December 16, 1948. It is also known as the site of the 1954 wedding of Benigno Aquino Jr. and Corazon Cojuangco. Among the beautiful churches in Pasay, this one holds layers of national history within its walls. It has also been designated twice as one of only five pilgrimage churches in the Archdiocese of Manila, during the Year of Faith and again during the Jubilee Year of Mercy.
San Isidro Labrador Parish
1830 Taft Ave., Pasay Facebook
Established in 1951, San Isidro Labrador Parish sits along Taft Avenue and serves as a steady landmark in this part of Pasay. The church is known for its traditional architecture and the quiet, grounded character of its community. It holds daily masses and multiple Sunday services, which speaks to how active its congregation is year-round. For Visita Iglesia routes along the Taft corridor, this is a natural and practical stop among the beautiful churches in Pasay.
San Rafael Parish
Park Ave., Pasay Facebook
San Rafael Parish was established on August 28, 1951, the same day as San Roque Parish, and serves the barangays along the Park Avenue area of Pasay. The parish is currently undergoing renovations, with weekday masses temporarily held in the Adoration Chapel. It’s worth checking their Facebook page before your visit to confirm mass schedules. Despite the ongoing work, it remains an active parish and a meaningful stop on your Visita Iglesia route through the beautiful churches in Pasay.
San Roque Parish
142 Cabrera St., Zone 15, Pasay, 1300 Metro Manila Facebook
San Roque Parish has one of the more endearing origin stories among the beautiful churches in Pasay. The area was once called Barrio Santol, named after the abundance of santol trees that grew there. As early as the 1920s, residents had a deep devotion to San Roque and held novenas in a small chapel. Getting to Santa Clara Church was too far for most of them, so they petitioned the Archdiocese for their own parish. It was granted on August 28, 1951. The church has gone through floods, renovations, and decades of community building since then. Today it stands as a testament to what a neighborhood can accomplish when it comes together in faith.
Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus
Ground Floor, 20 Newport Boulevard, Newport City Complex, Villamor Air Base, Pasay Facebook
This shrine sits right across from NAIA Terminal 3, which makes it one of the most uniquely located beautiful churches in Pasay. It began in 1947 as a makeshift chapel inside Nichols Air Base, originally dedicated to Michael the Archangel. After major renovations in the 1980s, it was consecrated and rededicated to Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus on December 16, 1983. The shrine was further rebuilt and rededicated on May 17, 2007, on the 82nd anniversary of the canonization of Thérèse de Lisieux. It is now recognized as the Center of Devotion to the Saint in the Philippines and in Asia, governed by the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines. For Visita Iglesia routes, this is one stop that feels genuinely set apart from the rest.
Sta. Clara de Montefalco Parish
2360 P. Burgos St., Pasay Facebook
This is the oldest parish in Pasay City, established in 1864 and administered by the Augustinians. The current modern structure was built between 1959 and 1964 and has served as the central hub of faith for Pasay residents for over 60 years. It also houses a school within its compound, which speaks to the parish’s long-standing role in the community beyond Sunday masses. Ending your Visita Iglesia in Pasay route here, at the city’s founding parish, feels like a fitting close to the day.
Explore More Beautiful Churches in Metro Manila
Your Visita Iglesia journey doesn’t stop here. We’ve put together city-by-city guides to help you plan your Holy Week route across Metro Manila, one church at a time.
See All Beautiful Churches Here
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