Parish of San Isidro Labrador (Navalas, Guimaras)
July 3, 2009 by
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Filed under
Churches, Guimaras Island

navalas church, facing the waves of Guimaras Island
The parish priest Fr. Francisco Consing started the construction of the church in 1880 using coral rocks that are found in the vicinity. It was built through community labor or what the Guimarasnon refers to as Dagyaw.
Don Miguel Jayme donated a piece of agricultural land as support for the parish and together with Doña Carmen Javellana, they contributed most to the church construction. The former was given the privilege to choose the patron saint and then selected San Isidro Labrador.

church from afar
A belfry was once a home for a very big bell made of an alloy of silver and gold. The diameter was about a meter and it could be heard as far as the town of Dumangas across the strait. The bell served as a warning to the natives from the approaching Moro raids. But one time, when Muslims raided Navalas, they took away the bell and on their way, they threw it at the sea near the Islas de Siete Pecados.

oldest church in Guimaras


(2 votes,4.00)















JP on Tue, 27th Jul 2010 9:52 am
this church is also known as the “junior” Jaro Cathdral because its facade is obviously patterned the same with the facade of the Jaro Cathedral (remove the new belfry and the terrace of the Candelaria and you’ll see the similarities).