The Simala Church in Sibonga; photo from Birhen sa Simala Devotees FB page
Holy Mass Schedule at Birhen sa Simala:
Sunday – 12:00nn & 3:30pm
Monday to Friday – 12:00nn
Saturday – 10:30am
13th of the month – 10:30am & 3:30pm
Mass in Simala; photo from Birhen sa Simala Devotees FB page
Aside from the ordinary candles, Colored candles are available for sale (Php35++ each) if you would like to pray for a specific purpose:
Gold – Healing (good health, recovery, spiritual, family tree)
Green – Prosperity/Success (exam, study, financial, business)
Blue – Perseverance (employment, career, assignment, promotions)
Violet – Achievement (plans in life, struggles, endeavors, journey, voyage)
Red – Love (unity, friendship, engagement, family)
Yellow – Peace (courage, strength, hope)
White – Purity (enlightenment, guidance, right path)
Orange – Reconciliation (sweetheart, wife, husband, enemy, family)
Pink – Thanksgiving/Happiness/Joy (spiritual, physical)
Black – Souls (forgiveness, pardon)
Brown – Vocation (marriage bond, God’s servant, single life)
Gray – Deliverance (bad ways, things, spirits)
Cream – Conversion/Faith (children, household, couples)
Colored candles lit up for prayers; photo from Birhen sa Simala Devotees FB page
Take note of the following which are NOT allowed when visiting the Church grounds:
Sleeveless/Tube/Short Blouses
Shorts/Mini Skirts
Fitting and Transparent Pants
Smoking and Alcoholic Drinks
Loud Noise or Shouting
Flash of Cameras
Footwear Before Entering the Prayer Room
Standby of habalhabal drivers
The church altar; photo from Birhen sa Simala Devotees FB page
Some Tips
Hiring a taxi (around Php1000 to Php2000, roundtrip) going to Simala from Cebu is a bit expensive.
No eating inside the shrine but you can bring your own water and food where you can eat at the cottages near the compound.
If you would like to relax and keep away from the crowd/devotees on your visit, avoid Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The statues of the Virgin Mary in different forms inside the shrine; photo from Birhen sa Simala Devotees FB page
How to Get There
From Manila, you can fly to Cebu (estimated cost of Php3,000++, round trip, 45 minutes).
From the Mactan International Airport, hire a cab and ask to be dropped at the South Bus Terminal where you can ride a bus going to Sibonga; you can also hire a van from City Link terminal where it will take you all the way to the shrine. The bus ride from Cebu City to Sibonga takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes. By the time you reach the stop point, take a motorcycle ride to bring you to the Simala Shrine.