Parish of Immaculate Concepcion Metropolitan Cathedral (Roxas City)

A typhoon struck Capiz in January 4, 1698 and destroyed a primitive church together with its convent. It was hard, according to the priest, to rebuilt a new one because the townfolk were not used to working. Luckily, the minister of Capiz, Fr. Domingo Horbegozo started building the church in 1728 – the same year when the convent was freed from paying rent to the St. Augustine Monastery. The construction was going on until 1732. It was on 1876 when the parish was finally finished and blessed. The Second World War cost much damage to it and wasn’t repaired until 1954. There was a noticable change when Capiz was canonically erected as a Diocese. It took its name from the town of Capiz which was the capital of the Province of Capiz, a year later the capital was made into a city and subsequently changed its name to Roxas City, in honor of Capiz most prominent son, the late President Manuel Roxas.

Pope Leo XII envisioned the creation of the Diocese of Capiz as early as 1902, but the vision was turned into reality until July 16, 1951 almost 50 years later in accordance with the Apostolic Letter “Ex Supremi Apostolatus” of Pope Pius XII on January 27, 1951.

The only blue church in the whole island of Panay stands in front of the river in the middle of a moderately-busy city.

Sto. Niño de Arevalo Parish (Villa, Arevalo Iloilo)

Location          : Villa, Arevalo

Feast Day        : 3^rd Sunday of January (Annual District fiesta)

History            : The flower capital of Iloilo is the home of the church where the 3^rd oldest original Sto. Niño image is enshrined. There are only three original image of the child Jesus in the whole archipelago. The oldest is found in Cebu, which was discovered by Legaspi in 1565, in Tondo Church found in 1572 and the one in Arevalo.

The original appearance of the church a cross plan with timber frame and square columns, unarticulated wall surface with simple arch window, there is a presence of a choir loft and an altar rail separating the clergy from the congregation (cancelli).

To preserve the altar, reconstruction was made during the time of Rev. Fr. Jerry R. Locsin (1986). The square column was removed, to promote a well-ventilated atmosphere inside the church, the side aisles were opened converting it to a wider seating space. The open concept of the using of grails through the entire length of the church promotes a well-ventilated atmosphere.

Another set of changes were made beginning September 2004 to December 2005 under the incumbency of Fr. Jess Candado. It was directed towards the renovation of the altar.

Parish of San Juan Nepumoceno (Anini-y, Antique)

The massive white coral baroque style church dedicated to San Juan Nepomuceno was built around 1630-1638 by priests working in Antique. It could be Fr. Hipolito Casiano but there was no evident recorded of the identity of the person who constructed it. It is the oldest, only century-old existing church in Antique. Read more

Parish of St. Barbara (Sta. Barbara, Iloilo)

Catmon is the old name of the town. In 1849, a Baroque-Renaissance model of church was built up in lieu of the old church that was destroyed in the 1787 earthquake. It took almost thirty years to finish it (1878). The interior is composed on one nave and a very spacious transept which is said to belong to the Tuscan orders. Read more

Parish of San Nicholas de Tolentino (Cabatuan, Iloilo)

The construction started in 1833 and fully completed in 1866 under the supervision of Fr. Manuel Ruiz. It is one of the best structure and largest in Panay. The interiors composed of a spacious transept and one main nave. A neo circular type, each side of the church seemed to be a facade. It is sandwiched by massive squat towers which destroys the balance of its classic structure. Three bull’s eye windows is pasted on the rear wall of the citadel. Fr. Manuel Gutierrez decorated the interiors in 1894 that resembled a basilica rather than an ordinary church. It has originally four big bells on each window of the four belfries. The ceiling is adorn with famous painting in Romes and beautiful chandeliers. Read more

Sta. Monica Parish (Pavia, Iloilo)

This Romanesque-Byzantine church is the only red stone in the region and was dedicated to Sta. Monica whose relics can be found inside and exposed for the kissing of the faithful during her feast day on the 4^th day of May each year. Read more

Parish of St. Julian and Cemetery (Janiuay, Iloilo)

The town is formerly known as Matagup. Janiuay prides itself with its glorious church and cemetery. The old fortress was dedicated to San Julian and built with bricks baked from oven during the incumbency of Fr. Miguel Carod in the 1850s. The interior is Tuscanic and the interior is of Doric order. The new church made of materials from the Guimaras Island replaced the former church that was burnt down by Japanese invaders in 1942. The original structure was not restored. The new church rests beside the ruins of the old one. Read more

Parish of San Nicholas de Tolentino (Lambunao, Iloilo)

Long before 1745, Augustinian priests have already established a small chapel  at Malunod, however, due to the mysterious death of the parish priest, Spanish authorities recommended the house of worship to be transferred elsewhere. It was decided that the new church be built near the Lambunao creek. Read more

Parish of St. Catherine of Alexandria (Leon, Iloilo)

According to MRF Julean Martin in his Archivo Historico Hispano, the Leon Roman Catholic Church is the biggest stone edifice in the whole Panay. The Renaissance-Romanesque style church stands proudly in the heart of the town, fronting the plaza. Read more

Parish of St. Thomas of Villanova (Alimodian, Iloilo)

Alimodian became an independent parish from Oton in October of 1574. A few months later, a house of worship made of cogon, bamboos and logs was established. In 1784, a new church made of briks and rocks plastered with lime was built under the leadership of Fr. Francisco Monasterio and was partially damaged by the earthquake in 1787. Read more

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