BY RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS
LENT SEASON is also a time for devotees to marvel at the ancient churches the province of Iloilo is abundant with. Visita Iglesia — visiting different churches on Holy Thursday and Good Friday — is one of the most popular panatas, or sacred vows, that Filipino Catholics do.
Reverend Father Angelo Colada of the Archdiocese of Jaro said the Visita Iglesia is a historical tradition of Filipino Catholics as part of the Lenten liturgy.
“Ang pag-Visita Iglesia isa ina sa mga devotion naton. Ma-start kita sa Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Last Supper, Transfer of the Eucharist, pero may historical ukon tradition ini nga nangin bahin na nga mag bisita ikaw sa mga simbahan kag magpangamuyo,” said Collada.
The Reverend also said the essence of Visita Iglesia is to sacrifice, pray, and repent.
“Wala man may gina-recommend gid ang simbahan, may iban gasiling 14 churches, iban seven pero depende man ina kung diin makaya mo sa pag bisita pero upod dira ang pagsakripisyo. Kung indi man ikaw maka Visita Iglesia kag dira lang ikaw sa inyo parokya okay man ina,” Collada added.
In the list are just a few of the majestic churches in Iloilo.
1. Santo Tomás de Villanueva Parish Church in Miagao
Located in the town of Miagao, Iloilo, the parish was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on December 11, 1993, under the collective title Baroque Churches of the Philippines. Famous for its artistic sculptural relief, it once served as a fortress against Muslim raiders.
2. St. Nicolas of Tolintine Parish Church in Guimbal
A newly restored 400-year-old church made of yellow adobe and coral stones of baroque design. Two wooden saint statues adorn the entrance to the church. During Holy Week, Guimbalanons do “Bari-Bari”, or a procession along the 14 kapiyas depicting the 14 stations of the cross.
3. Santa Monica Parish Church in Pavia
it was built by the Agustinians sometime in 1862. The church’s interior and exterior walls are made entirely of red bricks, making it the only existing brick-constructed church in Panay. The stained glasses depict significant events in Christ’s life on earth – the Annunciation, the Baptism of Christ, the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Ascension of Christ.
4. Santa Barbara Parish Church and Convent in Santa Barbara
The church is considered to be the “Cradle of Independence” in Panay and the Visayas. The overall style of the church can be viewed as neoclassical with its unembellished front facade. Santa Barbara Church and Convent was restored for the celebration of Philippine Independence Day in 2015.
5. Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of Mary Church in Calinog
It was initially constructed with light materials. It was reconstructed by Friar Cresencio Bravo in 1874 and consecrated on September 27, 1883. Its baroque-style facade has a semicircular arched main entrance flanked by two openings, niches, pilasters and pediments.
6. St. Jerome Parish in Dueñas
This church was constructed in 1878 out of stone and brick with interiors that follow the Tuscan order and an exterior of Doric origin. It has one main nave and spacious transepts measuring 65 meters long and 16 meters wide. It was burned in World War II and damaged by a strong earthquake in 1948. The transept and the dome were reconstructed in 1981, and the facade and bell tower were restored.
7. Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral in Jaro
Tucked at the heart of Iloilo City, the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Candles, also known as Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral, serves as the center of faith and devotion for the people of Iloilo. It was proclaimed by the National Historical Institute as a historical landmark in 1976. The Marian image of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Candelaria) is perched atop the façade of the cathedral.
8. Saint Anne Parish Church in Molo
Dubbed as one of the most beautiful churches in the Philippines, Molo Parish Church is famous for being the only Gothic-Renaissance church in the entire country outside of Manila. The church is recognized as “the women’s church” or “the feminist church” because it only features images of female saints inside, including Saint Anne.
9. San Jose de Placer Church in Iloilo City Proper
It was built in 1607 by the Jesuits and is considered the first church in the city of Iloilo. The church houses the replica of Santo Niño de Cebú, the patron saint of the Dinagyang Festival. It is located in what was once known as Plaza Alfonso XII, now Plaza Libertad, a historic plaza in Iloilo City. San Jose de Placer Church adheres to Renaissance design fused with Hellenic elements.
10. St. John of Sahagun Church in Tigbauan
This church is of Latin American churrigueresque architecture. It was constructed in 1575. At the center is a seal of the Augustinian order, surrounded by a retablo-like floral frieze, which fills the central section. Above the seal is a niche flanked by pilasters embellished with flowers, and upon it is a depiction of San Juan. Capping the relief is the image of Santo Niño./Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral in Jaro. AJ PALCULLO/PN
