Parish of Our Lady of Candles (Jaro, Iloilo City)
June 10, 2009 by
chucha
Filed under
Churches, Iloilo City
The only Cathedral in Panay Island. Jaro prides itself with its lavish fiesta where 35 masses are held on the 2nd of February for the devotees of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, the only rose among the male collection of saints that adorn the walls of the cathedral. The image of Our Lady of Candles is the 2nd oldest Marian image in the Philippines. The statue was crowned by Pope John Paul II on February 21, 1981 when he visited Iloilo and proclaimed as patroness of Western Visayas the following year.
The image is made of limestone and is continuously growing through the years. It had become too big to fit on its former niche found just above the present one.
It is neo-classical in style built under the leadership of Bishop Mariano Cuartero in the 1870’s from the plan of Francisco Agueria who constructed a brick factory soley for this project. Two thousand pieces of wood (12×13 ft long) came from the forests of Negros and from the concepcion districts.
Damaged during the infamous 1948 earthquake, it was restored in 1950 by the order of the first archbishop of Jaro, his excellency Jose Ma. Cuenco.
The belfry of Jaro was heavily damaged during the 18th century earthquake.
The Jaro Cathedral presently is undergoing careful reconstruction to restore the old citadel to its former glory.
Location : Jaro, Iloilo City
Feast Day : 2nd February
(1 votes,4.00)
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marissa gorospe on Thu, 20th May 2010 7:07 pm
Please confirm if you have received my email requesting for a copy of my baptismal certificate.
Your kind help on this matter is highly appreciated.
Please let me know how much is the cost of the certificate and the mail.
Thank you and God bless.
Marissa Gorospe
42448 W. Heavenly Place
Maricopa, Arizona U.S.A.
JP on Tue, 27th Jul 2010 9:47 am
Jaro Cathderal is not the only cathedral in Panay. A cathedral is described as a church where a bishop resides or officiates a mass regularly. Roxas City, Capiz has a bishop and has a separate diocese, so the church in Roxas City is officially known as the Cathedral of the Immaculate Concepcion (the Patron of Roxas City).