Exciting Updates from Rajah Tours International –
2026 Philippines Pilgrimage
We are pleased to announce that Rajah Tours International can now offer a lower fare on Eva Air. Call Rajah Tours San Francisco office at 415.397.0303 to book international flights.
Additionally, we are now able to accept credit card payments through Visa, American Express, and Mastercard. To proceed with a credit card payment, please download the Credit Card Authorization Form here. Upon completion of the form, email it to Michael Charles Kipping at michael.kipping@rajahtours.com.ph
Please note: A 3.5% credit card processing fee will be added to the land tour package cost for all credit card transactions.
Land Tour Pricing (using credit card payment):
- Single Occupancy: USD 4,431.00
- Double/Twin Occupancy: USD 3,442.00
- Triple Occupancy: USD 3,024.00
Join us on a transformative journey to deepen our faith, reconnect with our rich religious and cultural heritage, and explore the beauty of the Philippines! We embarked on our first archdiocesan pilgrimage to the Philippines in 2024, and it was an overwhelming success! Words can hardly capture the joy of revisiting the ancient churches where our faith took root more than 500 years ago. Throughout the pilgrimage, we celebrated daily Mass in these historic sanctuaries, offering a unique experience that inspired pilgrims with a renewed missionary spirit. This journey has equipped us to embrace our calling as stewards of faith and to live out the true meaning of being “Gifted to Give.”
To join and register for the 2026 Philippines Pilgrimage, please take note of the following:
1. Registration deadline is October 24, 2025;
Final payment deadline: November 10, 2025
2. Registration after October 24, 2025 will be accepted subject to room availability and best available rate from the resorts/hotels and airline.
3. Tour preferences will be on first-come, first-served basis and subject to availability
4. Land tour package excludes international airfare, tips or gratuities and incidental expenses during the trip. See flyer below for detailed pricing based on hotel room occupancy.
To sign up and register online, click the link below: https://www.rajahtours.com.ph/Pilgrimage2026/index.html
Highlights: Recent Pilgrimage to Marian Sites,
Holy Doors and Sacred Sites in Italy
Click on the link below to view additional photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/4khcvF6BxRF8hv7h8
Our pilgrimage began on April 21st as we departed from San Francisco en route to Lisbon, Portugal. It was a deeply emotional start—this was also the day our beloved Pope Francis passed away. We had hoped to attend a papal audience during our time in Rome, but God had other plans.
Over 13 spiritually rich and fast-paced days, we journeyed through four countries—Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy. The most significant aspect of our pilgrimage was the daily Mass Father Angel Quitalig and Father Dominic Lee celebrated in the Cathedrals we visited. The only exception was on April 28. We were not able to have the Mass in the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat due to a widespread power outage in Spain and Portugal.
Portugal: Santarém & Fátima
We began in Santarém, home to the Eucharistic Miracle known as the Most Holy Miracle. Occurring in the 13th century, this event remains one of the most significant Eucharistic miracles in the world, alongside the miracle of Lanciano, Italy—both of which we were blessed to visit.
In Fátima, we experienced the grace of visiting the Chapel of the Apparitions, the homes of the visionaries Jacinta, Francisco, and Lucia, and the site of Our Lady’s fourth apparition. One of the most memorable moments was joining over a quarter million pilgrims in the evening candlelight procession—a powerful testament to Our Lady’s continuing call to prayer and penance.
Spain: Santiago de Compostela to Barcelona
From Fátima, we journeyed to Santiago de Compostela, where we attended Mass at the majestic Burgos Cathedral, a gem of Spanish Gothic architecture.
Next, we traveled to Lourdes, France, where we visited the Grotto of Our Lady and took part in the candlelight procession and international rosary. We were especially honored to lead a decade of the rosary in Tagalog.
On our way to Barcelona, we planned to visit the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat. Unfortunately, a widespread power outage in Spain and Portugal prevented us from entering the church—our only missed Mass site of the trip. Nevertheless, we continued onward and marveled at the iconic La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
Italy: The Holy Doors, Assisi, and Padre Pio
From Barcelona, we flew to Rome and immersed ourselves in the Holy Door Jubilee. We joined thousands of pilgrims in entering all four Holy Doors: St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Paul Outside the Walls.
It was both a profound and humbling experience to lead our prayers from the entrances to each of these sacred doors.
On May 2, we visited the Oratory of the Crucifix, where the 12th-century San Damiano Crucifix—which famously spoke to St. Francis—is preserved. We also visited the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi and spent time in prayer at his tomb.
We then continued to San Giovanni Rotondo, where we venerated the remains of Padre Pio in the Crypta behind the new pilgrimage church.
Our final pilgrimage stop was the Sanctuary of St. Michael the Archangel in Monte Sant’Angelo, the sacred cave where St. Michael appeared in the 4th century. Later that afternoon, we concluded our pilgrimage at the Church of the Eucharistic Miracle in Lanciano, completing a journey filled with awe-inspiring encounters with the sacred and divine.
Past Pilgrimage
2024 Philippines Pilgrimage: A Resounding Success
(January 27-February 9)
The first-ever Archdiocesan pilgrimage to the Philippines, organized by the Filipino Ministry of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, was a resounding success, thanks to the enthusiastic participation of 59 pilgrims, the inspiring spiritual leadership of our four chaplains: Fr. Angel Quitalig, Fr. Ray Reyes, Fr. Eugene Tungol and Fr. Dominic Lee, and the superb professional tour management by Michael Charles Kipping, Rajah Tours Director! It was a spiritual journey like no other…there are simply no words apt enough to describe the joy of reconnecting with centuries-old churches where our faith began over 500 years ago. Daily Mass was held in various churches the pilgrims visited. It was a unique experience that imbued the pilgrims with the missionary zeal to become stewards of our faith and to truly embody the essence of what it means to be “Gifted to Give.”
Visiting the heritage churches and culinary tourism destinations in the Philippines was an eye opener and a fun-filled rediscovery of the beauty of the Philippines, and has helped our non-Filipino pilgrims to have a better understanding of the Filipino culture. The pilgrims visited and attended Mass at the Basílica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebú, the home of the original and oldest religious relic in the Philippines. The pilgrims also visited Magellan’s Cross and the Monastery of the Holy Eucharist, also known as the Simala Shrine or Our Lady of Lindogon Shrine, considered miraculous by many devotees.
Island hopping with lunch in Cebu totally immersed us in the natural wonders of the sea. Our millennial pilgrims enjoyed the sardine run and snorkeling. From Cebu, the pilgrims travelled aboard a ferry to Tagbilaran City. We attended Mass in Baclayon Church and proceeded afterwards to Bohol’s top tourist spots such as the iconic Chocolate Hills and Tarsier Conservation Area. In the evening, the pilgrims were treated to a sumptuous dinner at the Bishop’s Residence with entertainment provided by the young priests of Bohol who delighted us with fun songs and dances. The highlight of our Bohol Countryside Tour was the Loboc River Cruise with generous buffet lunch. Midway through the one-hour cruise, the raft stops in front of a large hut for a short performance by singers and dancers dressed in traditional Filipiniana attire. It was so much fun, some of our pilgrims joined and danced the “tinikling” with the young performers. Our local tour guide added so much joy by injecting humor and funny jokes to their tour repertoire.
The beauty of Iloilo’s rich spiritual heritage and gastronomical attractions mesmerized all of us. We splurged on La Paz batchoy and pancit molo after attending Mass in Miagao Church, also known as Santo Tomas de Villanueva. Iloilo has truly emerged as a highly urbanized, cosmopolitan city endowed with natural wonders. One of the highlights of our extended Iloilo tour is the all-day tour of Guimaras. We started the day by attending Mass at St. Isidore the Worker Church, also known as Navalas Church, the oldest Catholic Church in Guimaras. The island province is famous for producing one of the sweetest mangoes in the world, thus earning the nickname “Mango Capital of the Philippines.”
On the ninth day, the pilgrims departed for Manila. The next day, the pilgrims went on a nostalgic visit to Manila Cathedral and attended Mass presided by Bishop Mylo Vergara, Bishop of the Diocese of Pasig and Vice President of Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). After the Mass, the pilgrims were given an opportunity to purchase copies of “Gifted to Give,” a coffee table book that commemorates the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The pilgrims visited next San Agustin Church, erected in 1571 and considered the oldest stone church in Luzon. The pilgrims had a sumptuous lunch at nearby “Ilustrado” restaurant in Intramuros. From there the pilgrims proceeded to Binondo Church, then to Quiapo Church. The last stop for the day was a visit to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Baclaran.
The following day, the pilgrims attended Mass at Antipolo Cathedral, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. From there, the pilgrims proceeded to Greenhills for lunch and brief shopping. Next, we headed to the Cathedral of San Roque in Caloocan City to meet with Bishop Pablo Virgilio (Ambo) David, Bishop of Kalookan and President of CBCP. The pilgrims were so grateful for the warm welcome and reception by Bishop Ambo and Sr. May Cano, head of the Social Ministry. Bishop Ambo gave a short talk on the challenges of the Diocese of Kalookan, its various programs and the establishment of Mission stations across various barangays.
From Manila, the pilgrims proceeded to Pangasinan and attended Mass at Our Lady of Manaoag. The Mass was presided by retired Bishop Jesus Cabrera. After the Mass, the pilgrims enjoyed lunch at Gerry’s Grill. From Pangasinan, the pilgrims proceeded to Quest hotel in Clark, Pampanga.
The last day of the pilgrimage culminated with a Mass at Betis Church, also known as St. James the Apostle Church or Santiago Apostol Parish. Betis Church is best known for its beautiful ceilings that have earned it the nickname “Sistine Chapel of the Philippines.” A local artist painted the murals on the ceiling with frescoes and trompe l’oeil artwork. The main altar boasts elaborate designs, with statues at the retablo and angels on the columns. The current baroque-inspired church is a testament to the skills of the local artists of Betis. In recognition of its exceptional design, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, along with the National Museum, declared the church a National Cultural Treasure.
The Mass in Betis Church was presided by Archbishop Paciano Aniceto (Apong Ceto). The pilgrimage chaplains, along with the local priests, concelebrated. After the Mass, the pilgrims savored delicious lunch at “25 Seeds” restaurant. The final church visited by the pilgrims was the Church of Our Lady of Angels in Angeles City. In short interviews conducted at the Farewell Dinner, the pilgrims were unanimous in congratulating the tour organizers for the amazing journey of faith and the tons of food served throughout the 14-day spiritual and culinary escapade! Stay tuned for our next pilgrimage….
Click here to view additional photos – https://photos.app.goo.gl/5FJgKMrabmHSNDTu8
