LIST OF OLD CHURCHES IN THE PHILIPPINES (PART 1)

I am fascinated with old structures, something that tells about history and culture. While I am not a Catholic, I can’t help but research our old churches in the Philippines. Each time I visit a place for the first time, old churches are usually part of my itinerary.

It’s impressive to note that each part and pieces found in these churches say something about our past.  Filipino artistry is very apparent for each of these churches featuring the abundant natural resources we have and  the polo system which was an unpopular practice in the past ,requiring Filipino males from age 16 to 60 to render free labor constructing churches, roads, bridges and other infrastructure for a total of forty days during the year.

 OLD  CHURCHES IN THE PHILIPPINES (PART 1) will be the first in the series of this list. My desire is to share these photographs with our readers, especially with the new generation that they too will appreciate our colorful past. While I may not visit and document each old churches, we have in the country, but you readers can lend me photographs of your old churches with a short story about it. I will surely give you credits for it, and if you are a blogger, I will be giving you a backlink.

So here are the first 12 Old  Churches in the Philippines that’s Top On My List:

BOHOL ISLAND

 

Loboc Church, Bohol

San Pedro Church, Loboc, Bohol

The second-oldest church, also one of the most visited in Bohol is the Church of San Pedro in Loboc. Located beside Loboc River, was initially built in 1602, but soon reduced to ashes. In 1638, a stronger one was constructed. San Pedro Church of Loboc has survived some floods but not the 2013 earthquake.

Please also read: Happy Trip on Loboc Church

La Purisima Concepcion de la Virgen Maria Parish Church (Baclayon Church)

La Purisima Concepcion de la Virgen Maria Parish Church

Popularly known as Baclayon Church, founded in 1596, and became the oldest Christian settlement in Bohol. The present coral stone church was completed in 1727. Baclayon Church was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines and a National Historic Landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.  The Baclayon Church was formerly included for the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of the Philippines since 1993. The church building sustained significant damage in the 2013 Earthquake that hits Bohol.

Please also read: Facts about Baclayon Church

CEBU ISLAND

Basilica del Santo Niño, Cebu City. Photo Credits:NC

Basilica del Santo Niño, Cebu City

One shall never miss this church when visiting Cebu City. Founded in 1565, the Minor Basilica of the Holy Child commonly known as the Santo Niño Basilica is a minor basilica in Cebu City, Philippines. The first church and convent were built out of hardwood and nipa. Both structures burned down on November 1, 1566. In 1735 The present-day  church had its groundbreaking and was completed  in 1739 or 1740

 

Church of Patrocinio de Maria, Boljoon, Cebu

Church of Patrocinio de Maria, Boljoon, Cebu

Church of Patrocinio de Maria in Boljoon is more than 400 years old and was declared for conservation and restoration in 1998. The Church of Patrocinio de Maria has a pseudo-baroque rococo style and is made of coral stone.

Please also read: Happy Trip on Patrocinio de Maria, Boljoon Church

 

Peter and Paul Chruch

Peter and Paul Church, Bantayan Island, Cebu

One of the must see place when visiting Bantayan Island is the five-century-old Sts. Peter and Paul Parish Church. Located in the heart of the town across the town plaza. The church is made of corals and stones endemic in the island. The church was built in 1863, the seat of the first and, therefore, the oldest parish in Visayas and Mindanao which was founded on June 1580  known then as the Convento de la Asuncion de Nuestra Señora.

Please also read: facts about  Peter and Paul Church

 

PANAY ISLAND

 

Santa Monica Church and the Biggest Bell in Asia, Capiz

Santa Monica Church, Capiz

Home to the largest church bell in the country and Asia, and the third biggest in the world, the Santa Monica Parish Church commonly known as Panay Church, is the oldest church on the island of Panay located in Panay Municipality, Capiz, Philippines.  The original structure of the church was built in 1692 and 1698

Please Read also: Happy Trip on Sta Monica Church; Biggest Bell in Asia

 

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL

 

Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Church, Valladolid, Negros Occidental.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Church, Valladolid, Negros Occidental

Erected in 1852, The coral stone and brick church was initiated by Fr. Carlos Ubeda in 1877 but he could not finish the massive church because of the 1898 Revolution.

St. Mary Magdalene Church, Hinigaran, Negros Occidental

St. Mary Magdalene Church, Hinigaran, Negros Occidental

One of the oldest churches in the country, the St. Mary Magdalene Church was built in 1858 and was completed in 1881 together with the convent and belfry.  The church was made of coral stones from Guimaras and hardwood from Palawan.  Through the donation of people’s silver coins and precious jewels, the church was able to produce five bells.

 

 

Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental

Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental

A century-old church built in 1876 is located at the heart of the city. It has the distinction of being one of the very few churches of Romanesque architectural design in the region. The church is made of  Silay red bricks and coral stones bonded together by lime mixed in duck eggs as a binder. The materials were taken from Guimaras Island. Like most old churches in the Philippines, this church was built by Filipinos forced to work under the polo system during the Spanish regime.

METRO MANILA

 

Manila Cathedral

Manila Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica

Popularly known as Manila Cathedral, is located at Plaza de Roma in the Intramuros district of the City of Manila, the cathedral was initially a parish church owned and governed by the Archdiocese of Mexico in 1571, until it became a separate diocese on 6 February 1579. The church building was damaged and destroyed several times since the original structure was built in 1581 while the eighth and current instance of the cathedral was finally completed in 1958.

ILOCOS REGION

The Saint Augustine Church (Paoay Church), Ilocos Norte

The Saint Augustine Church or  Paoay Church, located in  Paoay, Ilocos Norte in the Philippines was completed in 1710. The enormous buttresses on the sides and back of the building made the church distinct from other old churches. Paoay church declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the Philippine government in 1973 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the collective group of Baroque Churches of the Philippines in 1993.

Please also read: Happy Trip at Paoay Church

 

Metropolitan Cathedral of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle

Metropolitan Cathedral of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle, Vigan

Right in front of Vigan Public Plaza is the Vigan Cathedral. The Church built from 1790 to 1800 canonically known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site declaration for the Historic Town of Vigan in 1999.

Related Stories:

• Old Churches in Iloilo Province 
• Old Churches in the Philippines | Part 2
• Features of Baclayon Church, Bohol
• Paoay Church
• 20 Things About Boljoon Church
• Facts about St. Peter and Paul Church