SANTA RITA -- Spanish-era churches here are now teeming with tourists and pilgrims on weekends for the seasonal Lenten pilgrimages.

In Bacolor town, bus loads of pilgrims had been coming in even before the start of the Lenten season. The church has been buried in 20 feet of lahar and had since become a tourist attraction. The church had also been made famous by the recent show aired on ABS-CBN where the church is a regular backdrop.

Betis church in Guagua and Santa Rita church in Santa Rita town have also seen a number of tourists over a few weeks including Lubao's historic San Agustin Church. Pampanga's Spanish era churches will also see to a number of visitors this week leading up to Holy Week as Catholics visit churches for pilgrimage and in observance of the traditional Visita Iglesia.

Catholics observe Lent and Holy Week as a time for silence, prayers, and contemplation. Catholics are also expected to do Corporal Works of Mercy. Among the Corporal Works of Mercy include feeding the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, shelter the homeless, visit the sick and prisoners, bury the dead, and give alms to the poor.