Old Churches you can visit in Iloilo during Holy Week

During Holy Week, Catholic devotees visit at least 7 churches to pray before the Blessed Sacrament and reflect on the passion of Jesus Christ as a devotion called Visita Iglesia. Iloilo province, which is one of the oldest regions in the Philippines, has a lot to offer in terms of its religious structures, which have seen history. Iloilo’s kind of church is a celebration of one of the Catholic Church’s important seasons while appreciating Iloilo’s heritage.

Here are some of the churches you can go to during the holy week in Iloilo:

1. Miagao Church (Saint Thomas of Villanova Church)

Famous for its intricately carved reliefs, Saint Thomas of Villanova Parish Church is a strong foundation of Christianity in the city of Miagao. Construction of this church was completed in 1797, and at the time it served as a stronghold against Muslim invaders. Miagao Church is located 30-45 minutes from Iloilo City.

2. San Joaquin Parish

This Roman Catholic church was built in 1869 and stands firmly in the San Joaquin Parish as a National Treasure of the National Museum of the Philippines. Unlike other churches, it was designed with a militaristic theme as it depicts the victory of Spanish soldiers over the Moors. Located about 45 minutes from Iloilo City, visitors can reach here by private or public transportation.

3. Tigbauan Church (St. John of Sahagun Church)

Adorned with stone murals and mosaics, St. John of Sahagun Church features Latin American design. Built in 1575, it was destroyed in the 1948 earthquake.

4. Guimbal Church (Saint Nicolas of Tolentino Church)

Completed between 1769 and 1774, the Parish of St. Nicholas of Tolentino is one of the oldest parishes in the Philippines. Due to devastating wars and earthquakes, this church was rebuilt twice. Its yellowish color is due to building materials such as adobe, coral and limestone. Tourists who want to go here can take a Miagao or San Joaquin jeepney and get off at the town square.

5. Passi Church (St. William the Hermit of Maleval Parish Church)

The parish church of St. William the Hermit of Mareval in the town of Passi is considered a militarist church because it was planned as a “fortified church”, evidenced by the huge buttresses supporting the front and rear walls of the church. You can see. This church was built to replace a church that was destroyed in the 1612 earthquake and subsequently damaged by fire. In 1856 Father Pedro Severio restored the dilapidated church. During the Revolutionary War and the Philippine-American War, the church did reasonably well, but in 1932 a typhoon blew the roof off.

6. Molo Church (Saint Anne Church)

The Saint Anne Church is located near the Molo Plaza of the Molo district of Iloilo City. This church is made of coral rocks and limestones, and is also known for its famous two pyramidal red spires. Visitors can get here by taxi or jeepney.

7. San Jose Placer Church

The San Jose Church is considered as the first church built in Iloilo City. This religious structure was established by the Jesuits to serve the needs of military forces. It was later used to house the Augustinian order.

8. Jaro Cathedral (Church of St. Elizabeth of Hungary)

The seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro, this church stands firmly with the history it witnessed. In 1981, then Pope and now Saint John Paul II set foot on its grounds to say a mass and to canonically crown the image of Our Lady of Candles.

9. Cabatuan Church (Church of San Nicolas de Tolentino)

This Neoclassic Church, known to be the most massive Hispanic structure in Iloilo, is built of red bricks in the early 1880s. It is believed to be the largest red brick structure in the Visayas, and it was given the title “Model of Temples” by the ‘El Eco de Panay’. The Cabatuan Church is known to be the only extant Spanish colonial church with three facades. Nearby is Cabatuan Cemetery, walled in with coral rocks and sandstone.

10. Santa Barbara Parish Church

The Augustinians built the sandstone and limestone parish church of Santa Barbara where the Ilongos first met to declare a revolution against the Spanish rulers. Construction, which continues to this day, began in 1845 with the arrival of Father Francisco Aghería. The central compartment has a front door, and the side compartments have his two niches that house the icons of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Blessed Virgin.