Ibaras Catholic Church (Igbaras, Iloilo)

Igbaras is considered to be a visita of Augustinian missionaries. It was in Tinogpahan, in the vicinity of Binanuaan that the first “Iglesita” or chapel was founded by Rev. Fr. Juan de Medina. The old church was said to be built in 1784, and a convent followed in 1795 under Fr. Ignacio Marcos. Big floods washed away the structures, but the ruins are still visible up to these dates.

A new church was constructed by Fr. Celestino Fernandez in 1872. It has a big convent and was finished under the term of Fr. Jose Lavania. However, both structures were destroyed by the infamous earthquake Lady Caycay in 1948.

Parish of Santo Nicholas de Tolentino (Guimbal, Iloilo)

The home of the famous ‘Bantayan’ and the longest bridge in the whole Panay Island, the Virginia Bridge, Guimbal is located 28 kilometers from the City of Iloilo. They say that when one is passing in this bridge, the person is going to hold his breath from point to point and then make a wish. Read more

Parish of St. John of Sahagun (Tigbauan, Iloilo)

Twenty two kilometers away from Iloilo City lay the church of Tigbuan. The only church in the Philippines with Churriguesque-plateresque style until it was altered with an additional two unrelated towers. It was built in 1578 when Fr. Pedro Chirino was the parish priest and reconstructed during Fr. Fernando Comporendondo’s time. In the 1750’s this church is said to be the favorite destination of Spanish pilgrimage. It is made of sandstone and is built strongly to withstand the earthquake of the second quarter of 18^th century. The old convent was destroyed in 1984. Read more

Parish of St. Thomas de Villanova (Miag-ao, Iloilo)

After two churches were burnt down and raided by Muslim pirates in 1741 and 1754, a site in Tacas was chosen on top of a hill which has a perfect view of the Miag-ao River. This world-famous Miag-ao church is one of the four baroque churches in the Philippines recorded in 1993 on the World Heritage List sponsored by UNESCO. The three other churches are: (1) Immaculate Concepcion (Intramuros, Manila), (2) Nuestra Senora (Ilocos Sur) and (3) San Agustin (Ilocos Norte). Read more

Parish of San Joaquim (San Joaquin, Iloilo)

Fifty three kilometers from the city of Iloilo, is a town with one of the most beautiful sea coast in the Visayas – San Joaquin, Iloilo. Historically, the town was formerly called Suaraga.

Beside the famous beach resort and magnificent houses seen along the way, there are two ancient architectural masterpieces that graced this place — the century-old cemetery and the house of God. Read more