Sum Via Et Veritas Et Vita

From a distance, the Sum Via Et Veritas Et Vita Church can be seen standing almost three stories tall with two bell towers. This simple yet impressive church was just recently completed at the Central Business Park Reclamation Area in Pasay City.

The exterior of the Church is painted slightly dark, dirty beige. Several feet above the thirty foot main door stands a huge statue of Jesus Christ holding a book with the inscription Sum Via Et Veritas Et Vita. On each side of the massive main door is a slightly smaller door that may also be used to enter the church. Along the church's sides, three doors also open up to facilitate easy entrance and exit, as well as efficient air flow. Electric fans are also lined along these doors to keep the interior of the church cool and airy.

Upon entering these massive doors and stepping onto the shiny and well-polished marbled floors, one is immediately attracted to the magnificent altar resting atop about a good ten steps. On the wall behind the altar, there is a very large painting of Jesus Christ. Three statues, namely that of Joseph and the Child Jesus, the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ are prominently positioned along each side of the altar. Planks of embossed wood which narrate the Way of the Cross are mounted, seven stations on each side of the church. The upper part, close to the ceiling, of the soft green painted walls is bordered with circular stained glass windows.

When standing outside on either side of the church, one can view scenery of vast reclaimed land with weeds growing a few meters high. Shifting a little bit to the left, one can immediately spot the famous Manila Bay, while on the right, one notices more land, numerous heavy machinery and construction equipment, even the now familiar SM complex, though small compared to its larger "sibling" malls.

Parishioners of all ages, young and old, gradually fill the many pews as they have come to attend one of several Masses celebrated in the church. Cars and vans line both sides of both lanes of the road, parked, because there were no adequate provisions made for parking when the church was constructed. Drivers huddle in groups and sit on the sidewalks while they wait for the Mass to finish. Up the stairs leading to the main door, several toddlers and children run about playing their games, with their yayas chasing after them and constantly reminding them to keep quiet and behave. It is possible for one who scans the rest of the people sitting down in the rows and rows of Church benches to be amazed and even slightly entertained. Over to the front of the altar, a frail old lady sits sleeping on her wheel chair. Further back behind the old lady, a middle-aged stout man in a yellow shirt pretends to be praying and listening with his eyes shut. Wait a few seconds and his head falls to the side, he jerks and he is startled and awakened. This cycle repeats itself throughout all the various parts of the Mass where the congregation is seated. Several teenagers wait patiently outside the Church in animated conversation, oblivious to the Mass going on inside the Church.
Visiting this particular Church was a very pleasant personal experience. The Church itself exudes a warm and welcoming atmosphere.