Old churches in Iloilo By: Josefino Tulabing Larena Jr.,CPE.CPS.MPA

Map

Miag-ao ChurchThe iconic Church of Sto.Tomas de Villanueva commonly known as Miag-ao Church, sits proudly in the municipality of Miag-ao. Constructed in 1787 and completed 10 years after, it is one of the four baroque churches in the Philippines inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Described as the finest example of Fortress Baroque Church by the UNESCO Convention. Its ochre color is attributed to the adobe and limestone used in constructing the church; the impressive pediment displays intricate relief motifs such as the image of St. Christopher holding on to a coconut tree while carrying the Child Jesus. Miag-ao Church is hemmed by flying buttresses and two massive belfries of different designs.

Sto. Niño de Arevalo Church

The town of Arevalo hosts the annual event of Paraw Regatta in Iloilo, but not a lot of people know that Iloilo houses the third oldest original Sto. Niño image in the Philippines after that of Cebu (1521) and Tondo (1572). The wooden image which is believed to be miraculous is enshrined at the unassuming church of Sto. Niño de Arevalo Parish in Villa, Arevalo. The Child Jesus image was purportedly brought by the Augustinians when Villa Arevalo was recognized as a Spanish settlement in 1581. The church has a modest façade just like a typical Catholic church in the country. It is nestled at the heart of the Plaza Villa beside the well-preserved colonial-era convent.

Molo Church

The Parish of St.Anne in Molo takes pride in having a Gothic-Renaissance architecture. Its interior is flanked by five wooden altars but the main one appears to have been painted in gold as of my last visit. The Molo Church earned the moniker the “Feminist Church or the Church of Women” because it is distinctively hemmed by 16 women saints. It served as an evacuation center of the civilians during World War II and was declared as a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Institute.

San Nicolas de Tolentino ChurchEn route to Miag-ao from Iloilo City, you will pass by the town of Guimbal and will most likely turn your head when you catch a glimpse of a gorgeous goldenrod church. The 17th century church of San Nicolas de Tolentino or Guimbal Church is made out of adobe and coral stones reason why it has a yellowish color. Although the church has undergone various reconstructions, its façade remains an impressive artistry - Oriental designs blended with Corinthian inspired column, Moorish-like spires plus archetypal finials. Surprisingly, the interior of the church is modest; no splendid paintings on its ceiling or statues of saints lined up on its wall. Guimbal Church is undoubtedly one of the most magnificent churches in the country. Fronting the church is a beautifully manicured park where locals typically hang out.

San Joaquin ChurchWhat makes San Joaquin Church unique is its striking pediment adorned by military relief motif featuring the triumph of Spanish Army of Africa over the Moroccan Army during the Battle of Tetuan in 1860. Sitting on an elevated hill near the shoreline, it was built out of limestone from the mountains of Igbaras and white corals from San Joaquin in 1869. San Joaquin Church was declared in 1974 as a National Cultural Treasure by the National Historical Institute.

St. John of Sahagun ChurchThe church of St. John of Sahagun in Tigbauan was built in 1575 but devastated by an earthquake in 1948. At first glance it may appear as ordinary but a closer look will reveal that unlike most old churches in the Philippines, its façade boasts of Spanish Churrigueresque style. A striking feature of Tigbauan Church is its portal fringed by estipate pilasters and the upper center of the arched portal is embellished with the Augustinian emblem of a heart, arrow and the episcopal coat of arms. The town’s patron, San Nicolas de Tolentino stands above the emblem while the image of the Child Jesus is situated below the pediment. Get inside and marvel at the richness of the modern interior of St. John of Sahagun Church. Its altar is adorned by a magnificent mosaic and the wall is also flanked by the tile mosaics of the 14 Stations of the Cross.

Jaro Metropolitan ChurchThe National Shrine of Our Lady of the Candles commonly known as Jaro Cathedral, the seat of the Archdiocese of Jaro, has two stairs attached to its façade leading to the miraculous image of the patron saint enclosed on a glass. If the Molo Church is flanked by female saints, the pillars of the Jaro Cathedral are adorned by male saints. Interestingly, the church’s belfry, declared as a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Institute, is situated across the church.

San Jose ChurchThe first church in the city of Iloilo was built by the Jesuits around 1607 to serve the needs of the military stationed in Punta, as Iloilo was then called. However, on 29 April 1617, the Augustinians established San Jose, a house of the order. The church interior has an arcade of Corinthian columns supporting a faux barrel vault over the nave and groin vaults over the aisle. The main altar has some Gothic touches. A precious treasure of the church is an image of the Nuestra Senora del Rosario discovered by Diego Quinnes during the Dutch siege of Iloilo on 29 September 1614.

St. William ChurchThe present Church of St. William was built by Friar Apolinario Villaneuva, the town’s then parish priest between 1821 and 1837. This is considered a militaristic church in that it was planned as a ‘fortress church’ and the proof of this can be seen in the massive buttresses which support the front and back walls of the church. The church was built to replace churches that had been destroyed by an earthquake in 1612 and subsequent churches that had been destroyed by fires. The photo below shows the buttresses on the east side of the church in the ‘Garden of the Saints’.

Thank you so much & God blessJosefino Penn Tulabing Larena AB,CPE,CPS,MPA