BEACHES AND CHURCHES: CHURCHES IN ILOILO. Part One

I got to visit twenty three churches in the province of Iloilo which all belong to the Archdiocese of Jaro. It took me three days to visit them all. These churches include the following: Jaro Cathedral, Lapaz, Molo, Tigbauan, Guimbal, Miag-ao, San Joaquin, Tubungan, Leon, Alimodian, San Miguel, Pavia, Sta. Barbara, Cabatuan, Janiuay, Lambunao, Calinog, Passi, Dueñas, Dingle, Pototan, Barotac Nuevo, Dumangas, San Jose and Leganes. I was surprised to know that many of these churches were founded in the late sixteenth century. It is just no wonder that there are still many old churches that exist in Iloilo. The first part of this post will consist of the first thirteen churches from Jaro Cathedral to Sta. Barbara.

NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LA CANDELARIA PARISH

(OUR LADY OF CANDLES)

ST. ELIZABETH METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL

Founded: 1587

The bell tower is across the street from the Cathedral.

OUR LADY OF PEACE AND GOOD VOYAGE PARISH CHURCH
Jereos, St. Lapaz, Iloilo City
Founded: 1870

SANTA ANA PARISH CHURCH
Jocson St., Molo, Iloilo City
Founded: 1795

Built in the neogothic style, it has twin belltowers with prominent red spires.

This Molo church is popularly known as the "feminist church" because all the 16 saints that are perched on the aisle pillars are all women saints.

The church also has pulpits on both sides of the church. Perhaps it was to give the priest the choice of where to preach his sermon.

ST. JOHN OF SAHAGUN PARISH CHURCH
TIGBAUAN, ILOILO
Founded: 1578

The architecture of the church is called Churriquesque. It is a Spanish baroque style with Latin American flavor consisting of sophisticated sculptural architectural ornament popular in the 17th century. Here, the decoration surrounding the main entrance and the niche has intricate floral carvings as well as cherubs.

A cherub just above the main entrance.

A closer look at the decorative carvings surrounding the niche of St. John of Sahagun.

A carved Sto. Niño just above the niche.

The Augustinian insignia.

The apse decorated in mosaic depicting heaven, hell and earth.

The decoration inside the church are all mosaic. Following the destruction of the church in the earthquake of 1948 which only left the facade intact, the interior was slowly rebuilt with painstaking labor of having the apse, the stations of the cross and other images made of mosaic.

ST. NICHOLAS OF TOLENTINO PARISH CHURCH

GUIMBAL, ILOILO

Founded: 1590

The plaza in front of the church is well maintained.

ST. THOMAS OF VILLANUEVA PARISH CHURCH
MIAG-AO, ILOILO
Founded: 1734

Declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, this Baroque church is also called the Miag-ao Fortress Church since it served as defensive tower of the town against Muslim raids.