Churches: A peek at the bastion of religion
A church is a bastion of a people's religion. It is where the faithful gather in order to give worship and praise to God. This week, Roman Catholics will celebrate the Lenten Season through fasting, meditation, prayers and a visit to churches or the Visita Iglesia. The latter is an opportunity to discover age-old churches, architectures and their place in history apart from the opportunity to pay homage to the icons of saints.
While Iloilo City teems with churches, the countryside has its structures to boast of. They are the following ...
MIAG-AO CHURCH
The St. Thomas of Villanova Parish, popularly known as the Miag-ao Church, was built in 1787. The present structure is already the fourth church of the town, with earlier structures made of wood, either got burned or looted by Muslim raiders.
Presently, it is 38 meters wide and 72 meters long. It was built as both a place of worship and as a fortress against Muslim pirates. Its pediment is decorated with a unique explosion of botanical motif - relief carving of a European saint (St. Christopher) aids native papaya, coconut and shrubs that symbolize productivity. The church was declared a national landmark in 1973 and was included in the World Heritage Site in 1993 by UNESCO.
RUINS OF JANIUAY CHURCH
The construction of the original St. Julian Parish Church of Janiuay started n 1849 and was finished in 1968. Ovens were constructed to make red bricks, while the stones used were hauled from the town of Dingle and other materials gathered were from Guimaras. A solid convent from stone and rd bricks was also constructed. The church was mercilessly destroyed by the Japanese armies and Filipino guerrillas during World War II. It was 75 meters long and 16 meters wide. (Ramon Ramirez photo)
CABATUAN CHURCH
The construction of San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish was simultaneous to its town hall in 1733. Known for its neo-classical architecture, each side o the facade and walls are overlaid with red bricks. (JV Perez photo)
SAN JOAQUIN CHURCH
The Roman Catholic Church of San Joaquin was built in 1869 from gleaming white coral rocks. The church is considered as the most militaristic in the Philippines because it depicts the historic battle of Tetuan in Morocco in 1859. Its high relief sculpture shows a Christian infantry chasing routed Moorish defenders. The images are intricately carved and spread on a mosaic of square oral blocks, showing pained expressions of wounded soldiers. (Erna Foerster photo)
SANTA BARBARA CHURCH
The neo-classical Sta. Barbara Parish and Convent was built in 1849 and was completed in 1855. The church was the site where General Martin Delgado of the Visayan Revolutionary Government convened the junta that raised the first Cry of Revolution against Spain in Iloilo. Its churchyard that time was packed with Filipino soldiers, armed with bolos and eager to fight for freedom.
DINGLE CHURCH
The Parish of St. John the Baptist was built in 1886. Made of yellow sandstone quarried in the mountains of Bulabog Putian, the only limestone rock formation in the island of Panay, excluding Guimaras, the church was constructed for 20 years. It was established as an independent parish in 1850 where it stands proudly even up to this day. The church was used as a garrison by the Japanese armies during World War II. (JV Perez photo)
GUIMBAL CHURCH
Guimbal grew to be one of the provinces' significant towns. The spread of Christianity in the area started in 1703. Presently, the town is recognized as one of Iloilo's most valuable cultural sites. The Parish of St. Nicolas of Tolentino occupies an area of 1.22 hectares and was built in the 18th century. Its outside walls are made up of adobe blocks called 'igang.' Its unique architecture makes it a magnet for tourists all year round. The people of Guimbal are eternally grateful of this church since it possess significant historic and cultural value as they owe much to their rich history. (Bombette Marin photo)
LAMBUNAO CHURCH
The Saint Nicolas de Tolentino Church was built through forced labor in 1890. It was heavily damaged during the 1908 earthquake and during World War II. (Ramon Ramirez photo)
DUMANGAS CHURCH
The St. Agustin Catholic Parish of Dumangas was built in 1896. Made of red stone bricks, the church was declared a historical site in 1973. (JV Perez photo)
BAROTAC NUEVO CHURCH
The construction of St. Anthony de Padua Church was built in 1876 and finished in 1888. Made of solid stone blocks, it was burned down in 1912. (Ramon Ramirez photo)
MAASIN CHURCH
The St. James the Greater Church in Maasin reflects the creativity of skilled Maasinhons in bamboo craft. Its altar and church walls and windows are made of intricate bamboo weavings.
DUENAS CHURCH
The thick-walled St. Jerome Church of Duenas was built in 1878. Made of stone, it took its builders six years to finish the entire structure. The present interior is 65 meters long and its exterior is 16 meters wide.
ALTAR RUINS OF IGBARAS CHURCH
Situated beside the new church is an altar ruin of the original structure of Igbaras Church that was made of limestone rocks. The Church was destroyed by a great flood. (JV Perez photo)
CALINOG CHURCH
The 18th century Immaculate Concepcion Parish in Calinog (JV Perez photo)
BANATE CHURCH
The original structure of St. John the Baptist Church in Banate was made of coral rocks.
RUINS OF THE FIRST CHURCH IN DUMANGAS
Constructed on top of the mountain in a place now known as barrio Ermita in Dumangas are ruins believed to have been that of the first stone church built by the Spaniards in the Philippines sometime between 1565 and 1572. The stone church was erected as a gift to the people o Araut (original name of Dumangas) led by Datu Balindot, for their hospitality when the foraging party of Legaspi's soldiers led by Captain Luis de Hoya came to the place, looking for food to feed Legaspi and his starving men in Cebu.
ALIMODIAN CHURCH
The St. Thomas of Villanova Church in Alimodian was built in 1754 from coral rocks.
LEON CHURCH
The ancient Byzantine architecture of St. Catherine of Alexandria – reputedly the biggest in Panay Island during its time, was bult in 1869. Made from rocks shaped into parallelogram slabs that were quarried from the hills of its neighboring villages, the church was 100 feet wide and 300 feet long.