Naga City :The Dome of 12 Apostles

Three years ago, we passed by Naga City, as we came from a resort nearby. Since we were already there, we decided to look for the famous Penafrancia Church. We just asked around for the direction and found ourselves in Naga Metropolitan Cathedral. It was a beautiful church but we hadn't seen the image of Our Lady of  Penafrancia. Someone there said it was in another church that time.

Lately, I gathered that there are three major churches in the province that sit their own Virgin Penafrancia's replica on their altars -  Naga Metropolitan Cathedral, Our Lady of Penafrancia Shrine and Penafrancia Basilica Minore.

Two days before this 2011 ushered in, I attended a highschool batch reunion which was held there in touristy Camsur. Included was a tour,  visits to 2 Naga churches which I had presumed as both Our Lady Penafrancia churches.

Our first stop was at Immaculate Concepcion Parish. By the name of it, obviously it wasn't  a Penafrancia church. It had an unassuming facade but inside was a beautiful surprise.

No, not the altar which looked like those of ordinary parish churches.







The ceiling ! A dome of the 12 Apostles of Christ.













Inspired by St. Peter's Chapel in Vatican Rome, it bears portraits of the 12 apostles from Sir Peter Paul Rubens ( 17th cetury painter) prints.




The dome changes hue according to the calendar of the church.

The sophisticated dome is said to be constructed within P1 million budget. Extravagant or cheap? I'm clueless!!!