San Nicolas Chapel in Bacoor

It has been my family’s tradition to wake up early and go to church on the first day of the year. As we went our way to the church on the morning of New Year’s Day, the village guard informed us that there will be a mass to be held in the neighborhood chapel, the San Nicolas Chapel. Hence, we decided to take the short walk to the chapel, instead of going to the parish. 

St. Nicolas Chapel is the neighborhood chapel located along the Zapote-Molino Road in Bgy. San Nicolas 1, Bacoor, Cavite. It was built in honor of San Nicolas de Tolentino, who was born on the year of 1245 in Tolentino, Italy. 

Both residents and visitors of San Nicolas Chapel will certainly not miss the place because it is one of the famous landmarks of the village and other nearby subdivisions. Moreover, there is a large marker along the road.

There were only a few people inside when we arrived but more and more people arrived before the mass started. The chapel has a sitting capacity for 100 people but it can accommodate up to 150 to 200 churchgoers. 

We rarely attend mass in this chapel despite its proximity. The New Year’s Mass was only our second time to attend mass in San Nicolas Chapel, maybe because mass is not held regularly. So, I was amazed to see how beautiful the chapel altar is! The different sizes of Christmas trees were exquisitely designed and arranged. They were placed on top of large jars so it will look taller. It gave me an idea how we are going to arrange our Christmas trees next year. 

Likewise, the images of the saints were charmingly decorated. I love how they covered the altar with leaves and shaped it like arch. The red berries and the green leaves gave a very nice color combination. At the back of the statues is a wall made of branches of bamboo that were bonded together side by side. There was also a framed prayer novena to San Nicolas right below his statue. 

The children were also astonished with the nativity scene at the right side of the altar. The statues were neatly arranged and placed in a native hut made of sawali, an indigenous material used for local houses during the pre-Spanish era.