BEACHES AND CHURCHES: PANAY ISLAND TOUR OF BEACHES AND CHURCHES. Part Two: Churches of Capiz and Aklan

Arriving at the Bancal Port of Carles before noon of Tuesday from our trip to the Gigantes Islands, we proceeded with our Visita Iglesia to Capiz and Aklan provinces. Of the seventeen towns and a city of Capiz, we visited nine and eleven towns of Aklan out of seventeen were also visited. The only letdown of visiting churches during the Holy Week is that the statues and crucifixes at the altar in most churches are covered with veils. This is a practice in the church to heighten our senses and build within us a longing for Easter Sunday.

We started by going first to the parish church of the town of Carles. Then we went to visit the church of Balasan which was the last town of Iloilo before entering the province of Capiz.

ST. TERESA OF AVILA PARISH, CARLES

Founded: 1862

ST. ANNE PARISH, BALASAN, ILOILO

Founded: 1896

From Balasan, we passed by all the churches on the way to Roxas city which already belonged to the province of Capiz. First was Pilar, then President Roxas which was called Lutod-lutod before. We met the Mayor of the town, Mayor Escolin who was overseeing the installation of the speakers outside the church for the Holy Week services. The president of the parish council, Bobby who was also there introduced us to the parish priest, Msgr. Alden at the convento. Bobby also graciously brought us to Aranguel which was the original site of the town. Lutod-lutod was only a sitio before but later became the center of the town. Aranguel had ruins of an old church built in 1704. The ruins became the fence as the new chapel was built inside it.

MOST HOLY TRINITY PARISH
Pilar, Capiz

ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER PARISH

President Roxas, Capiz

With Mayor Receliste Escolin (center) of President Roxas whom we met at the church overseeing the installation of speakers in preparation for the Easter Triduum celebration of the Holy Week.

ST. JOSEPH THE HUSBAND OF MARY CHAPEL

Aranguel, President Roxas, Capiz

The walls of the old church of Aranguel which dates back to 1704 now has become the fence of the chapel.

From President Roxas we passed by Pontevedra and Panay where a tourist guide toured us to the belfry which houses the biggest church bell in Asia. From Panay we visited the Roxas cathedral before checking in at the Urban Manor Hotel.

ST. ISIDORE PARISH

Pontevedra, Capiz

STA. MONICA PARISH

Panay, Capiz

Picture taken from a peephole at the side door of the church.

The biggest church bell at the bell tower of Panay, Capiz

Dinner was at the Nazareno Mission Church in Baybay. Fr Josel, the parish priest was the host. Present were Abp. Joe Advincula, my classmate Fr Rey Villanoy (in stripes), and some new priests. The convento of the Baybay Mission station was decorated with Capiz shells.

JESUS THE NAZARENE MISSION STATION
Baybay, Roxas City

We left Roxas right after breakfast the following day passing by all the churches on the way to Kalibo: Ivisan, Mambusao and Sapi-an of the province of Capiz.

ST. NICHOLAS OF TOLENTINO PARISH
Ivisan, Capiz

ST. CATHERINE OF ALEXANDRIA PARISH

Mambusao, Capiz

ST. ANNE PARISH

Sapi-an, Capiz

On a much recent visit to Capiz, we went to the St. Martin of Tours Parish in Dumalag which I am including here.

ST. MARTIN OF TOURS PARISH
Dumalag, Capiz

Then we entered the towns of Aklan starting with Altavas, Balete, Banga and Kalibo.

HOLY CHILD JESUS PARISH
Altavas, Aklan

ST. RAPHAEL THE ARCHANGEL PARISH

Balete, Aklan

ST. JOSEPH THE SPOUSE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY PARISH

Banga, Aklan

CATHEDRAL PARISH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

Kalibo, Aklan

Had lunch at Mang Inasal at the City Mall as the Saylo Resto which I saw in the internet as offering local Aklanon cuisine was already closed. While we were eating Bp. Talaoc texted inviting us for dessert at his residence as he just arrived from the Cathedral. Bp Talaoc suggested that instead of taking the shortcut in Nabas to Pandan, we go around the northwestern tip of Panay. So from Kalibo we passed by the churches of Numancia, Makato, Tangalan, Ibajay, Nabas, Malay and Buruanga. Since it was already getting dark when we left Buruanga we no longer stopped at the churches of Libertad and Panda, the last towns of Aklan before proceeding to Antique. We went straight to Culasi to the Anna Sophie Hostel where we had our reservation.