Having no idea of the place we’re heading to beforehand, the scenery of rolling mountain ranges rising parallel to the mighty Chico River, and expansive farm fields gave me hints of what to expect.

A drone's lens view of Naneng Heritage Village

During our Visita Iglesia in Bulacan and Pampanga, we also stopped by two churches in Nueva Ecija: St. John Nepomucene in Cabiao and, before returning to Manila, the National Shrine of La Virgen Divina Pastora in Gapan. This brought to 16 the number of churches we visited that day. After observing the preparations for the Maundy Thursday Blessed Sacrament procession, we wandered the streets of Old Gapan.

The ancestral home of Eula Valdez' great grandparents is this corner house.

Bulacan boasts some of the oldest churches, dating back centuries, and it remains one of the most popular Visita Iglesia sites during Holy Week. So, if you're headed north of Luzon for the conclusion of the Lenten season, make a stop in the province of Bulacan to complete your Visita Iglesia for Holy Week.

To help you plot your route, here are 7 churches that you can easily pass by since they are within municipalities and cities located adjacent to each other.

The Barasoain Church in Malolos is always a must-include Visita Iglesia destination