St. Paul’s Cathedral (Vigan, Ilocos Region)

St. Paul’s Metropolitan Cathedral was built by the Augustinian clergy around 1790 and like the St. William’s Cathedral, it has features a design intended to minimize earthquake damage that was referred to as “earthquake baroque”.  Furthermore, it also features the Neo-Gothic and pseudo Romanesque motifs. There are brass communion handrails copied from China, complete with Chinese characters scribbled by its makers.

In the south of the cathedral lies the eight-sided bell tower used as a safety measure of the church. It was said to be built separately so that in any event of an earthquake, it would not topple into the church. The design said to have a Chinese Feng Shui influences. Lies inside the church is a tombstone of the great Ilocano poet Leona Florentino.

It is also in this church where Vigan’s Beloved late Governor Floro Crisologo was gunned down while he knelt on a pew inside the Cathedral in 1970.

*PHOTOS: Courtesy of Mr. Ivan Mainar

St. William the Hermit Cathedral (Laoag City, Ilocos Region)

In 1580, the Augustinian Clergy founded the parish and made a  church out of wood and tactched nipa palm chapel. It was then turned into a magnificent mixture of an Italian Renaissance Design and Baroque-style that was said to build between 1650 and 1700.  It was seriously damaged during an earthquake in November 17, 1707, partially destroyed by fire in 1843. It was Fr. Vicente Barreiro who had completely restored it then.

Again, the church succumb to another damage in July 18, 1880 earthquake and it was Fr. Santiago Muniz and Engineer Antonio de la Camara who took charge of the repairs.

The church served as sanctuary for Pedro Almazan in 1661, the revolutionaries in 1896, American forces in 1899 and Aglipayans in 1901. The 1932 diocesan Marian Congress was held here as well. Further, the church suffered from another earthquake in September 7, 1983 which caused some statues from the altar and niches plummet into the floor.

This church made of brick and stone has a unique, newly-plastered, two-storey façade with a main arched entrance flanked by four pairs of over scaled, twin-engaged pilasters,  with the absence of pediments, adorned by a series of coupled urn-motifs finials and pseudo- Corinthian Capitals with its rosettes and acanthus leaves. Five sets of mini-columns with pseudo-Doric Capitals arise from the architrave and decorated the choir loft level. Columns in each storey follow their patterns ending abruptly without reaching the next level. Capiz windows with wrought iron grilles and two-exterior stone staircases, one of it was converted into a grotto. The chandeliers donated by the late President Ferdinand Marcos hang gloriously in its barrel-vaulted ceilings. Over the altar lies the Augustinian emblem of a transfixed heart and a tasseled hat. The image of their Patron Saint San Guillermo is placed in a deeply recessed niche.

*PHOTOS: COURTESY of Mr. Ivan Mainar

Parish of San Antonio de Abott (Tubungan, Iloilo)

Feast Day: January 17

History: A Dominican, Ensayo II felt there was a necessity to build a permanent church upon the foundation of the parish in 1810. It was an Augustinian priest, however, Fr. Luis Toro who was commissioned to undertake the construction. In order to build the church, slabs and tiles cut out of rocks and stones found on hills and rivers. They bought the marble tiles for the floor from the city. Like other churches during the Spanish era, parishioners from the poblacion and barangay were forces to work in building the church.

After four full years of hard work, the main parts of the church were finally completed in 1814 under the incumbency of Fr. Serapio Gonzalez.

A story of martyrdom also happened inside the 1810 church. It was in 1873 when a parish priest, Rev. Fr. Isidro Badrena whose desire to spread catholic faith is strong that he sacrificed his life and died a martyr’s death at Sitio Balabago, Batga, Tubungan in the hands of the Babylans led by Ramos while holding the rites of the latter. The priest was buried inside the old church.

It was in 1900, when a Filipino priest from St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary became the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Felix Gedican. But only a decade later, he was replaced with Fr. John Janssen when the parish was turned over to the Mill Hill Missionaries.

The 1810 church was burned down by the USAFEE to prevent the Japanese army from using it as a garrison when the World War II broke out in 1942.

After the war in 1947, Fr. Andrew Jacobs built a bamboo church with salvaged galvanized iron roof inside the burned old church. However, in the 1948 earthquake, the church and the convent were destroyed. He built a new bamboo church fronting the ruins of the convent.

It was replaced with a wooden semi-permanent construction during the incumbency of Rev. Fr. Luiz Zotz in 1951. He donated much of his personal money for the construction. In 1958, the belfry was constructed and was finished two years later. Rev. Fr. Andres Sagra was able to continue several other renovations for the improvement and the restoration the grandeur that was once standing in the vast space in the middle of the plaza.

Visita Iglesia’s Top 5 Churches for Weddings

It may be grand or solemn – a family affair or the talk of the town. The motif may range from black to white – and the budget… Let us not talk about money. The aisle may be long or some may prefer it short because their beautiful new shoes are killing them. The altar may be simple or elaborate as the church may be big or just a small chapel up on the hill side. At the end of it all, it will all come down to the will you’s and I do’s.

The church hosts one of the blessed sacraments in the lives of two individuals bound to spend the rest of their lives together — the holy matrimony.

Iloilo is sorrounded with wonderful houses of worship where couples could choose where to held the momentous occasion. Visita Iglesia picks five among over a dozes beautiful churches over Metro Iloilo on where to speak your vows and start forever with the man or woman of your dreams.

St. Joseph Parish (Jaro, Iloilo City)

This beautiful modern church found in Jaro has been one of the top choices of Visita Iglesia. It is situated in the section of the city that is moderately busy. With a function room found inside the premises, reception is not a problem. The altar offers a drama that no photgrapher can refuse, a sole cross in the middle and a well-elevated altar proved to be an interesting backdrop for wedding photos.

St. Clements Church (La Paz, Iloilo City)

This white church under the Redemptorists sits in the heart  of the busy La Paz district. Not only that this church is accessible – but the altar provides a view that enchants photographers and people alike. The ventilation is good since both sides are open for air to pass freely inside the church.

San Agustin Church (Sambag, Jaro, Iloilo City)

One of the newest church to be built and already gained so much popularity because if its commendable modern design.

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

The interiors of the Miag-ao Church is as breathtaking as its façade. Found in the outskirts of the city and one of the coastal town in Iloilo, the church is one of the island’s most treasured ancient structure that has been preserved not just for tourists but for special occasions such as weddings. A wide array of beach resorts offer a great venue for an after party.

Jaro Cathedral (Jaro, Iloilo City)

This majestic structure in the center of Jaro is the only cathedral found in Iloilo City. Although the church is undergoing major renovation, the glorious aura of this citadel ramins with its long aisle and wide nave. A function hall found inside the premises can cater to your reception needs.

*administrators of this website have asked permission from the administrator of iloiloonline.blogspot.com & exploreiloilo.com (THANK YOU!)

Parish of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage (La Paz, Iloilo City)

Location          : La Paz, Iloilo

Feast Day        : May 24 (Annual district fiesta)

History            : This neo-classical church was made of stone and bricks with Greek pediments. The parish was organized in 1870 under the leadership of an Augustinian priest, Fr. Candido Gonzales. The church was composed of red bricks, stone, cement and wood. It was damaged during the Second World War and the infamous 1948 earthquake. The only thing that with stood the forces of men and nature is its façade. The convent was immediately renovated after the war ended. Major restorations were done through the years but mostly during the incumbency of Msgr. Melicio Fegarido. The inauguration of the fully restored church was done on May 24, 1995 during the celebration of the town fiesta.

Parish of St. Martin (Dumalag, Capiz)

An indication that the first church and convent were constructed between 1600 and 1720, a record of an exemption of payment for the rent was found in Manila.

Fr. Agustin Duran in 1883 constructed the present church which was a reconstruction of the previous one that was damaged.

Between 1866 and 1881, Fr. Angel Abasolo build or rebuilt the present church. The construction began with a fund of P300.00 and the expenses reached up to P50,000.00 by 1873. However, the church and convent were both destryoyed in 1875.

Measuring 70 meters long and 18 meters wide, the church is made of yellow sandstone. It has a front door and two side doors, massive buttresses supported six arched windows between columns reaching up to the roof.

The façade wall is decorated with small pilasters. At the left side of the church is a 5-story bell tower. The five bells found inside the belfry was brought by Fr. Ledesma Perez in 1881.

The interior resembles the pattern of a Latin cross. It had been retouched considerably and in the process, the magnificant paintings of Fr. Juan Carlos peeled off.

Rising up to the rectangular pediment are six rectangular pilasters that initiated a vertical movement and stressed by a slender, tapering six story octagonal bell-tower which offers elegance to the otheriwse dull surface façade.

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

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

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