On our way to Sapang Dalaga in Misamis Occidental, we stopped by Jimenez Church—a late 19th-century Baroque Church—otherwise officially known as the San Juan Bautista Parish Church, located in the quiet town of the same name.
The 19th-Century Baroque Architecture Jimenez Church
Built Upon Coral Stones
Built securely on top of a hill by the Augustinian Recollects in 1829, it underwent a long series of renovations until the current standing structure finished complete construction in 1896. Built mostly from locally sourced coral stone, the church's architectural design was formally credited to Father Roque Azcona, who led the original groundbreaking of the church in 1862.
Declared as an official part of the National Cultural Treasure of the Philippines in 2001, Jimenez Church is highly characterized by its distinct facade that is completely missing the architectural element of a pediment, which is heavily present in most Spanish-built churches from the exact same era. In lieu of it, the designers incorporated a portico, a trio of arched entrances, and a flat rooftop securely enclosed by a stone parapet.
Renaissance Touches and the Steel Pipe Organ
Also featuring some elegant Renaissance-style touches, the church is made significantly more glorious by its beautiful interior. It is heavily highlighted by a high wooden ceiling completely covered with original paintings dating all the way back to the 1890s, gracefully supported by symmetric rows of Gothic-styled pillars.
During our visit, the current Parish Priest kindly invited us to check out the ancient steel pipe organ situated on the second floor overlooking the main altar. He proudly told us that the organ pipe was the exact same one originally installed by Father Constancio Asencio following the final construction of the church in the late 1890s.
From the second-floor choir loft, we bravely climbed a steep, old wooden flight of stairs leading to the flat rooftop, and then proceeded upward to explore the massive three-tiered stone bell tower.
Since Mindanao was hardly invaded by the Spanish forces, and much of the region’s inhabitants remained devout followers of the Islamic religion, there were only a select few Catholic churches ever fully established during the colonial period. With the San Juan Bautista Parish Church standing among the very few, it rightfully earns the high distinction as one of the most well-preserved Roman Catholic churches left standing in all of Mindanao.
