Barasoain Church in Malolos, Philippines | The Cradle of Democracy in the East

Being the site of the Constitutional Convention of the First Philippine Republic, Barasoain Church is considered as a national shrine. It is dubbed as the Cradle of Democracy in the East, as it is where the first Constitution in the whole of Asia was made public by the Philippine Government.

With its historic significance, it is no wonder that Barasoian Church graced one of the Philippine Peso bills. The Philippine ten-peso notes commemorated the importance of this religious structure back when those were still in circulation.

The Church has become a popular location for excursions and field trips too. Buses lining up in its vast parking lot is not unusual but that day Red and I visited, the whole Church compound was quiet. For the first time in a long while, I was able to take out my phone to use its camera inside the grand and solemn structure.

Its massive carved door stood ajar as if giving me permission to seize this rare moment. I got to take a closer look at the exquisite details of the interior design of the Church. I immediately noticed the gold and white motif, which I find very pretty. The white and walls were adorned with gold embellishments, and attached to the ceiling were huge golden chandeliers.

Although the Church isle is shorter that what most brides would go for, the rich history of the Church and the fact that it holds a key role in our country's history still make it as one of the most sought-after wedding venues.

The aisle was carpeted, as if there will be a wedding ceremony. I stayed at the sides on my way to the altar, admiring the walls and ceilings, and religious statues and artifacts.

The altar is absolutely gorgeous. For Catholic Christians, this part of a church is iconic. When I was a young girl, I was taught to bow to the altar upon entering the house of God - to genuflect to the Blessed Sacrament.

I noticed doors at the sides of the Church, one leading to a gazebo.

It was quite unexpected and for a moment, I lost track of where I was. I never thought there was an area like it in the compound, but then again, the Church seem to hold magical secrets for us to unfold that day.

Photos are all mine, taken using a Samsung S7 Edge camera phone.

_{PS: This is my take on our trip to Barasoain Church. Red may describe the place differently but that's his take on things, while this is mine.}