ILLUMINATI TRAVEL and TOURS PHILIPPINES : the grand launch

Finally, a travel tour company with a heart!!!! When I heard of ILLUNINATI TOURS, I already knew this has something to do with churches. Just like the classic Dan Brown novels, it made me thrilled. I have grown fascinated of Philippine churches years ago and has always felt a lot of effort is needed  to restore them in their original glory. So when I got an invitation from fellow blogger Joel Aldor ---no less than the business owner/ partner of the tour company--- I immediately said yes. I believe in the cause......

blogger-businessman Joel Aldor of Illuminati tours

ILLUMINATI TRAVEL and Tours Philippines aims to promote our country in a new perspective, shedding enlightenment and re-awakening our sense of history and appreciation of arts, culture, food and heritage of the Philippines, ultimately giving people a different and happy travelling experience.

Some might dismiss that this is just another business, another travel company. But Illuminati is different. It all starts with educating the people. To make them see how rich our cultural heritage is, to make them appreciate how beautiful our churches are, for them to develop a liking in their preservation, to educate them on how to do so is a tool powerful enough to start change.

As part of the GRAND LAUNCH, we were given a rare glimpse of San Sebastian Church also known as Basilica Minore de San Sebastián. 

The church was completed in 1891 and is under the care of The Order of the Agustinian Recollects who also operate San Sebastian College adjacent to the basilica. It is located at Plaza del Cármen, at the eastern end of Claro M. Recto Street, Quiapo Manila. 

I always pass by the area and I am aware of the church but last saturday was my first time to enter it and I was really surprised about its interior.

stained glass window of San Sebastian Church

San Sebastian Church is considered the first prefabricated building in the world, and more plausibly claimed as the only prefabricated steel church in the world. In 2006, San Sebastian Church was included in the tentative list   for possible designation as a World Heritage Site. 

Joel Aldor himself , along with some representatives from the church gave us a lecture at the start of the tour where they spoke of the ongoing effort to rehabilitate the church......

As part of the launch,we were given a tour around the church. We even got to see The UPPER FLOORS, something that is not afforded to most people. I was skeptical at first to believe that the church is in need of renovation but when we saw it from the inside, I got convinced that much is to be done to save it from decay. These tours really open our eyes to realities.

As I said, I admire the company's mission and vision. The time for Filipinos to learn and appreciate our heritage. To provide world class tours and educate people about the importance of our heritage. I wish the company well.

here are the tours they offer:

• MANILA Visita Iglesia Tour, April 19, 2011
• CORREGIDOR Historical Adventour, April 30-May 1, 2011
• TAAL VOLCANO TREK AND HERITAGE TOUR, March 5-6, 2011
• BINONDO CHINESE NEW YEAR 
  TOUR de LAFANG YEAR 2, Feb. 5 and 6, 2011
• LAGUNA DE BAY: The Ultimate Holy Week Experience, April 20-24, 2011
• BICOL REGION Visita Iglesia Tour, March 23-27, 2011
• CAGAYAN VALLEY Visita Iglesia Tour, March 16-20, 2011
• SOUTHERN CEBU Visita Iglesia Tour, April 14-17, 2011

.....congratulations Joel Aldor and Andrew Jay Rollon for the grand and successful launch!!!

_________________________

more on the website:

http://www.illuminatitours.com/