Regina RICA stands for Regina Rosarii Institute for Contemplation in Asia and is located along Marcos Highway in Sitio Aguho, Sampaloc, Tanay Rizal.
Before I tell you how to get to Regina RICA, I think the questions that needs to be answered first are, WHAT exactly is Regina Rosarii and WHY would you go to this place?
THE WHAT
Regina RICA started with Sr. Eppie Brasil, OP who founded the Dominican Sisters of Regina Rosarii way back in 1998. The Regina Rosarii Contemplative Association grew over the years and in 2009 they established the Regina Rosarii Institute for Contemplation in Asia in Tanay, Rizal which quickly became a popular pilgrimage site.
The primary mission of Regina RICA and the Dominican Sisters of Regina Rosarii is to teach as many people as they can about contemplative prayer and the contemplative way of life. The sisters holds dear the words of Jesuit theologian Karl Rahner “In the days ahead, you will either be a mystic (one who has experienced God for real) or nothing at all.”
THE WHY
As I mentioned earlier Regina RICA is now one of the most popular pilgrimage sites here in the Philippines. For those seeking to experience God, this is a wonderful place to start. Regina Rosarii, the sisters say, is a place of prayer, pilgrimage and peace.
It is not a park or a recreational activity area. Everyone are welcome to enter Regina RICA and there are no entrance fees to pay, however, each one is required to be on their best behavior when they are inside the sacred place. Attend to the pilgrims’ need for silence and respect the sanctity and cleanliness of the area.
There is also a dress code – short shorts and too revealing upper garments are not allowed. But don’t worry, if by accident you forgot about this rule, they have stores inside the place that sells long skirts and shawls so that you can still go around the area even if you are wearing inappropriate clothing.
Regina RICA is an up and down the hill kind of place. The centerpiece is an iconic 71-foot statue of the Our Lady on Top of the Hill.
Inside the statue is a place called SULOD. Also known as Regina RICA’s sanctuary of universal love and devotion. Keep in mind, that you can take pictures anywhere inside the whole facility except for inside the SULOD. I went to Regina RICA last April 18 (Good Friday), and there were a lot of pilgrims inside the place. A long line greeted me upon reaching the top of the hill all waiting to get their chance to enter the SULOD.
There are two ways to get to the SULOD and the Our Lady on Top of the Hill. You can either take Mary’s Sacred Trail which takes you to follow a brick pathway that leads directly to the icon or you can follow the Way of the Cross, 14 stations that leads you along a winding road all over the area leading you to the icon on top of the hill but touring you as well to Regina RICA’s other facilities such as the Organic Gardens, Regina RICA Chapel, San Jose Rotonda, Labyrinth, Candle Stands, Koi Pond, Flower Gardens, Kakahuyan and Sunflower Trail.
Regina RICA also have dozens of gazeebos, bahay kubo, tents, some animals, livestock and a couple of small restaurants.
The best way to experience Regina RICA is of course by foot just like a pilgrim, however there are also shuttle vans inside the facility that can take you from the gate to the chapel and all the way to the SULOD on top of the hill and back down again for only 5 pesos.
THE HOW
Okay, now that you have more or less a picture of what Regina RICA looks like, here’s how to get to the place:
I took the Cubao-Cogeo route last Good Friday. From Cubao to Tanay it took me about 2 to 2 1/2 hours to get there. Total Transporation Expense: P110.00 (one way from Cubao to Tanay)
- Go to Aurora Boulevard, Gateway. Get a jeep or UV Express to Cogeo Market. (P35.00 for an FX ride)
- Go down at the Cogeo Town Plaza then go to City Mall of Antipolo (Market) to get a jeep to Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal. This will pass by Marcos Highway. (P61.00 for a Jeepney ride to Sampaloc, Tanay)
- When you reach Sampaloc, Tanay market. Get a tricycle to Regina RICA Sitio Aguho Street. It will bring you to the Regina RICA guard house. (P15.00 for a tricycle ride to Regina RICA)
There is also the Shaw route which I didn’t take.
- Go to Star Mall at EDSA corner Shaw Boulevard and get a van or jeep going to Tanay. This will bring you to Tanay town proper.
- Tell the driver to direct you to the parking area of the Tanay Sampaloc jeepneys.
- Get the Tanay Sampaloc Jeep and go down at the market place in Sampaloc, Tanay.
- Get a tricycle to Regina RICA Sitio Aguho Street . It will bring you inside the Regina RICA guard house
It is certain that it will be a challenging long trip for everyone but I also promise you that it will be worthwhile.
Regina RICA is open from 8:00am to 5:00pm everyday except on Tuesday. The place is closed every Tuesday.
ricardo cultura
sir saan ba madaling dumaan papunta sa regina rica… pls send me more details tiga zabarte caloocan po kami… magdadala kami nang sasakyan po…. maspalapit ba pag sa antipolo ka dadaan baba sa terese tapus saan po kami papunta na… thanks for your reply.. my no 09154241352
raindeocampo
Hi Ricardo, I went there commuting and using all available public utility vehicles from Cogeo to Tanay. I am not so sure and have not tried going there with a vehicle so I think I won’t be that credible to give you directions yet. I am limited only to the knowledge of the route that I mentioned. Sorry, that I wasn’t that much of a help with that.
Neil
Thank you so much for this direction. I really appreciate it. I have been wanting to go here even alone. I promised that to Mama Mary since last year and I haven’t fulfilled it. Thanks again.
boy
Sir, what time kayo nakadating dun and what time kayo natapos dun?
raindeocampo
I went there on a Good Friday, so the place is a bit crowded than usual. You’ll need at least a half day to experience Regina RICA, but you have to leave Manila early.
almira
how can we reach Regina RICA if are from batangas city…
raindeocampo
Hi Almira, it’s a 3-hour drive by car depending on traffic conditions and there are actually two ways, here’s a google map link to help you with directions https://www.google.com.ph/maps/dir/Batangas/Regina+Rosarii+Institute+for+Contemplation+in+Asia,+Marcos+Highway,+Tanay,+Rizal/@14.2242819,121.0100894,10z/data=!4m15!4m14!1m5!1m1!1s0x33bd1b1d4c1cd013:0xe4592a820e411177!2m2!1d121.0583076!2d13.7564651!1m5!1m1!1s0x3397ecbd4318d705:0xf228570dfd3d3514!2m2!1d121.373756!2d14.534611!3e0!5i1 (Copy and Paste the link to search)
larry dela cruz
can we help to plant trees to your compound?
Bhel
Thank u Sir for the direction. Appreciate much.
raindeocampo
Thanks for reading Ms. Bhel 🙂
kath
Sir, from windmill may tricycle po ba going to Regina Rica or we need to go back to tanay public market? How much it will cost?
TIA.
raindeocampo
Hi I am not sure if there are tricycle that will take you straight from the wind farm to Regina RICA. I haven’t tried doing that yet. Will try to ask some friends and get back to you on that. 🙂
Eka
Hi. This reply may be a little late but there are trikes who offer rides to regina and windmill and back to sampaloc market. One driver negotiated with us and asked for 300pesos the whole trip plus the fare going to regina since we’re not really sure about the offer when he asked us yet. Hope this helps 🙂
shella marie lagman
kahit gavihin ba may bijahe pauwi,taga nueva ecija kc kmi sir,thank u
ace sameraAce
Thank you! God bless your trip always!
luz adizas
Paano papunta sa regina rica.tnx
raindeocampo
Hi Luz, it depends on where you’re coming from. But I have shared here some routes you can take if you’re coming from EDSA 🙂 Thanks for reading.
Lissandra Ver A. Perez
Sir, kung galing po kame ng c5 (I.P.I) ano pong the best na pede namen sakyan?thank you
raindeocampo
Any passenger vehicles that goes up to Cogeo. Or one that goes straight to Tanay. I think there are some that passes by Ortigas Avenue extention. 🙂
Tinzkie B. Pasoot
Hi sir ask ko lang po kung how much na ang fare ng tricycle going to regina rica.?
raindeocampo
Hi Tinzkie, tricycle din was 15 Pesos.. but that was 2 years ago 🙂
grace do
Hi ilang oras po byahe from edsa to regina rica????. .. . And how much kya pamasahe xa public vehicles?
Remar
I took time reading your blog and find it so helpful thank you sir for posting these directions.
God Bless
raindeocampo
Thanks Remar.. glad to help! 🙂
Nicole
how to get to regina rica when you’re from manila?
Florie del Carmen
Hi sir, kapag pauwi ba going back to cubao e vice versa lang? Thanks!
raindeocampo
Hi yes Florie, the Jeepney terminals are also where the Tricycle Terminals are – the last time I went there. 🙂
Florie Bell del Carmen
Salamat ng madami sir! Your blog is a big help! 🙂
Lim
hi sir i would like to ask. if ever na lalakarin namen ito where should we start? mag aalay lakad po kasi kami this coming mahal na araw. ang next stop namin ay sa regina rica. and kung limited lang ba ang open nito. thank you so much
raindeocampo
Hi, I am afraid that if you’ll be coming Manila or even in Cogeo, Antipolo.. it will be very difficult for your group to go to Regina RICA by foot.. it’s really very far, can take you the whole day to do that – and the site is not open 24 hours. Pero wala naman limit as to the number of pilgrims who would like to visit. I suggest that you take a car or commute to the place.. and then do your Alay Lakad inside Regina RICA- it’s a huge place, doing the Way of the Cross may take you already a day, it’s that big. 🙂
Rodelyn dizon
Thanks for your time and effort to share this info about regina RICA.
Divine Reyes
Salamat sa direksyon Rain! Will try visiting the place tomorrow. 🙂
Rolenz Seerano
Halos lahat ng kailangan kong basahin at hanapin nandito na. Thank you sa info. 🙂
raindeocampo
🙂 Glad to help. Thanks also for visiting my blog.
Olibeth
Thank you… Hopingbwe can go there at regina rica to windmill soon thx for the info of routes and directions
raindeocampo
Thanks also for reading my blog 🙂 Glad to help.
Teresita C. Caidic
At what time is the 1srt mass? How many masses per day?
raindeocampo
Hi updated the post and included the mass and activity schedules. Thanks for reading. 🙂
Neriza
Sir pwd b magsama ngbata 5 pataas ?
raindeocampo
Hi I am not sure about the health and safety protocols being implemented in the site now, you may check through their FB Page here’s the link https://www.facebook.com/reginarica031315
Jeean
Hello,
Applicable p po kayo commute n ito ngayong 2021? ?
Agnes Santiago
LrT 2 baba ng Antipolo or Masinag Stn, pede po ba jan magmula?
Kateleene Joei Baylon
Hi sir, ask ko lang kung gaano kalayo pa yung lalakarin frm where the tryc drop you off to regina rica gate ? Thanks
raindeocampo
Not too far. Siguro yun stretch ng megamall A or B