Over the weekend, we visited Northern Cebu’s version of the Monastery of the Marian Monks in Simala, Sibonga, Cebu. Simala’s counterpart is St. Benedict’s Monastery in Corte, Carmen, Cebu. The monastery is run by the Benedictine monks of the Sylvestrine Congregation. The monastery houses the miraculous image of Our Lady of Manaoag.
Like Simala, the monastery is vast. And you can’t see it from the main highway. In fact, just like the one in Simala, it would take you a couple of minutes to reach the Benedictine monastery from the main road.
However, since a few people have heard of this monastery, only very few come here to visit and medidate. In fact, when we went there, on a Sunday, we only saw a total of six people. If your aim is to sit down, pray, and just clear your mind of the troubles of city life, the monastery is the place to visit.
The chapel and the giant statue of the Niño
St. Benedict’s Monastery
Entrance
Ave Maria
Working on the figures on the wall
Crucified Jesus
The church on top of a hill
A clean restroom
I don’t know what that is. But it’s near the entrance.
You’re free to park anywhere
The Rosary Center
Rosary Center
No shoes inside!
Shoes!
Interior
Giant paintings of the Mysteries of Light
Giant paintings of the Joyful Mysteries
Giant paintings of the Sorrowful Mysteries
Our Lady of Manaoag
More shots
You can write your petition at the Rosary Center
You can then drop them here
Angels
Up we go
Angel up-close
If you can’t take the stairs, you can use the ramp
Napulo Ka Sugo
Ten Commandements
Giant statue of the Holy Child
To the candle gallery
Light your candles here
The monastery
Closer look
Off limits!
Satchmo and the monastery
Inside he church
Satchmo prays for his first trip abroad
Lucy and Satchmo outside the church
Look at the view around the area. Awesome!
Closer look. Wow!
More photos:
I have never heard of this place. It’s serenely beautiful. Those cliffs behind the monastery look awesome too! Mura’g mapapas man atong mga kasal-anan just by looking at these pictures
Daghan na gyud ko kaayo ug adto-an inig sunod pa-uli sa Cebu.
True. I missed a lot when I went home in 2006. This 2 places I will not forget to visit . if you know other shrine to visit post it here also or email me lilianhinog@yahoo.com. Thinking of visiting again soon.
maayo ni siya, at least nadugangan ang mga monasteries sa Cebu, a good place to visit indeed…pwede pod mag monastery visits starting from Augustinian Nuns of Mohon, Talisay, to carmelites in Mabolo, Poor Claire in Tayud, Liloan then last would be this one in Carmen, it should be a rewarding journey indeed….
the tranquility and the simplicity yet beautiful sanctuary is the best place to meditate peacefully and with reverence with our FATHER. this place is my bliss. . .
Ley, daghan kaayong salamat sa mga awesome photogs….. my honeydew lists of things to do in Cebu keeps adding up! I never realized how beautiful Cebu is…. you are such an eye opener, again thanks for sharing your wonderful photogs for us bisdak abroad. Honestly, most of the places in your blog, I never been to/or heard of……sorry ignorante kaayo ko bahin sa Cebu but I’m catchin’ up quick!
hi ley thanks for showing to the whole world those beautiful pictures. Im from Carmen and its to bad i was there on jan but miss to visit this lovely religious place Corte, actually i have some classmates from high school who lives there B. Benetiz. More power, hi to satchmo@lucy.
beautiful place & best wishes to satchmo on his trip =)
Amazing images. Thanks for posting these.
Hi Ley,
Thanks for sharing your wonderful photos of this place. On my way to my hometown we pass by Carmen but I never got the chance to visit this place. I don’t think I even heard of this monastery.
Is this located near Uragay? If I remember it right, there is also a mountain resort there that just opened or maybe this is what they were talking about.
Great article!
I thank you sincerely Ley for going up there. Im a sister if Maria. So am i, i never been there.We keep planning of going up there but we dont make it. So maybe next time again. Were too busy last January: Cebu Sinulog, Carmen Sinulog , Luyang Fiesta and shopping. Without a plan I reached to Simala last Jan.7 instead.
Kanindot man diay aning lugara, nagbasol ko wala maka adto da. Surely next holiday. Hello Lucy and Satchmo.
Happy trip Satch, God Be With You. cheers
It’s beautiful! I need this type of place to wind up. Nice pics!
I’ve heard of this place before but your pics are now all the more beckoning me to visit this hallowed grounds. Thanks.
hi ley since you are all over the place in Cbu I suggest you to please visit the town of Catmon there is one facinating place to go and relax they called AROMA MOUNTAIN RESSORT, its in barragay Macaas before the town proper.in case you will go there and take your friends ley make sure your go to the highest pick of the ressort and swim through the circular flow of water. I love this place and sure you guys will.
Wow! The place and photos are beautiful. Please do a site like this for Simala. Let me know when you do. Thanks. Frank Hall, Reno Nevada USA
The place is so serene and tranquil! I love it there. Nindot magbalik-balik didto.
ive been there a lot of times, and it keeps getting better all the time…i pray though that it doesnt end up like Simala–desecrated and converted into a tourist trap…
during your visit, you should have stayed till around 5:30 or 6:00 in the late afternoon, that’s when millions of bats come out from the nearby caves and circle the air above the monastery…
it so nice
hAie…Looking for the story behind the place and history about Our Lady of Simala…Hope u could help…pLease….jUst mail it to me… cutieprincez_iet@yahoo.com Really need it..for our project…thAnks!!!
I have been to our lady of Simala Cebu yesterday..a day before her fest…so nice and it comforts our feelings…its a place like i never have been before. The church quiet big like a castle……(. ,) im gonna go back soon with my family.
ohhh!!! nindot na gyud kaayo ang st benidect monasterry… last nako nga bakasyon,,, nagsuroy mi didto owww!!! nice sorounded by beautiful flowers and views… during that time,,, naapa kasabay namo nga mga turrista? ok gyud kaayo<,, sarap mag bakasyon palagi bay oy?
Dear friend, I just happened to tumble on your beautiful work.Well done.Congrats. Can I add a little here about the Benedictine monastery, which you have not mentioned. This monastery was founded in 1999 by two Indian Monks sent from Rome here, upon the invitation of Ricardo Cardinal Vidal. Now in 2008 we are thirty plus members, all Cebuanos,excluding 3 Indians. This monastery has the Rosary Center which is unique in the world, with its large oil-canvass paintings of the Mysteries of the Rosary. The biggest statue of Sto.Niyno of Cebu (total 24 feet)also is here. Besides, some of the best Religious paintings in the country are also here in the monastery. On request they can be seen. And also a fifty feet tall bronze statue of the Sacred Heart by Eduardo Castrillo is being erected here now, which is also unique by itself. Congrats to you once again. Fr.Thomas osb
very ,nice view, a holy place of st. benedict monastery w/ a quite beautiful modern structure which is unique, i was always attend mass prayer b4, while i spent my short time holidays, 30 minutes far in my homeplace Cantipay, really a holy place of my mind, classic wall mounted holy paintings, the giant statue of Sr. Sto Nino, angels on the stairs and well organize landscape as well as the modern style of this monastery, this atractive sites is the most wonderful attraction by local and foriegn visitors,, big thumbs up! for the holy beautiful place english binayabas bai! ka nindot gyud e bakasyon oy! ilove this place…
i’ve been there, too! it’s a really peaceful monastery.. and the paintings on the walls of the rosary room are gorgeous! plus the big Sto. Nino.. I have pix from this place, too, but not as clear as yours. and we saw seminaritas, i think, during the night.. not quite sure. i’m enjoying your blogs and pix. Thanks for sharing it with everyone!
Nice build out. Amazing designs and it’s clean. I like this place I hope they will build some rereat houses there too.
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The people of Carmen either comes here last Friday or climbing in the very step Carmen Kalbaryo. My sisters and nieces prepared to climbed in the Kalbaryo as close to home.
ay mali, steep dapat
Dear friend,
Maayo unta nga mag found gihapon sila ug monastery ang mga Benidectine Monk diri sa leyte para daghan sad ang mo enter sa pagka monghe o religious life.so friend tabangi ko ug pray nga mo anhi ilang community kay murag naa man sad ko’g calling sa ing’ ana nga bokasyon.Calling all benidectine monks from Cebu, Pls. Paunta kayo dito sa Tacloban City.
In Jesus and Mama Mary,
Diony Jun O.Payo
I was born and raised next door neighbor to this village, Bagacay is the name and only maybe 2 or 3 miles from this village.
I left Cebu since 1972 and only back once in 1990 and this monastary wasn’t there yet my brother that live in Vegas always tells me about this beautiful place and I believe him till I looked up in the computer and I was very impress.
I used to live in Vegas but moved to Arizona 2 yrs ago my husband wants to visit the Phil. because he was never been there, but I wasn’t really that interested of going back there, but after I saw those pictures I changed my mind, so hopefully this winter we can come and visit this beautiful place and see my brother and his kids because they all live in Simala.
Thanks for sharing those pics
Tita Austin
Willcox Arizona USA
hi,
in going to monastery is there a public vehicle? from da town n carmen how many kms. going to da monastery?
Kanang Corte,Carmen,Cebu maonay Asset sa Carmen,Diha mo makita ang Uragay,yung Falls,Dyan kumukuha ang Natures spring Mineral Water i think,then kanang Monastery karon pako kakita niana,its so nice place talaga..thnks Bai Leyland nang dahil sa photo blog mo d makita uli ang Corte..god bless you always Ley..
I’ve been there once with my friend Apol, it was a very quite place. “Pakabungol gyud”. I was so thankful that I visited that monastery, my petition was granted, now I’m 9weeks pregnant. Thanks and I love you Mama Mary.
Divina Lynell