Showing posts with label Spanish Colonial Churches. Show all posts

A Northern Roadtrip: The Baroque Church of Paoay

Marky Ramone Go May 19, 2015

Part of the collective group of Baroque Churches in the Philippines recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, Paoay Church or the Saint Augustine Church has eluded me for the longest time. Twice I have been to the province of Ilocos Norte and both times I went home without catching a glimpse of its massive facade walls. I reckon only a fool would let fly a third opportunity without seeing it up close.

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A Slow Motion Incursion to Basey | Samar

Marky Ramone Go June 15, 2012

I woke up with runny nose and a slight chill brought upon by a night lacking in oxygen, reduced to inhaling the cold fake vapor of the air conditioner inside the small room I rented. I thought about sleeping till early afternoon, I felt weakened by a virus I caught somewhere. The urge to cross San Juanico Bridge into the province of Samar seems like a decision that has already been decided. For good or for ill, I must make the crossing, as I have planned it many times, walking back along the whole 2 kilometer stretch of the bridge from Samar and back again to Leyte.

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Mang Kulas Pabili nga ng Tsinelas sa Liliw | Laguna

Unknown May 24, 2012

After our crypt incursion in Nagcarlan, we proceeded to the "Tsinelas" town of Liliw, Laguna. The town's main street is lined with stores selling the preferred weapon against cockroaches and other bugs. Kidding. I'm referring to casual footwear. Shopaholics like my friend Cathy will have a great time selecting from thousands of pairs of shoes and slippers. "I'll end up buying three pairs a day here," she said. At that rate, she'll be the next Imelda Marcos in three years.

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Notes from the Underground Cemetery in Nagcarlan, Laguna

Unknown May 21, 2012

It was raining when we woke up as the skies remained gloomy until it ceased. The night's drizzle are still evident on the dripping plants and trees around Villa Sylvia and the slippery and muddy lawn. We left Abigail's unopened Tanduay rum and Fundador to one of the caretakers as token of niceties. Abigail left the previous day after concluding our lake hopping trip in San Pablo to attend a family gathering. That left me and Cathy finishing off the weekend by checking out the Underground Cemetery in Nagcarlan.

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Patrocinio de Maria Church in Boljoon | Cebu

Unknown April 22, 2012

Right off the bat from our whale shark experience in Oslob (which I now regret doing after being educated by environmentalists) which followed the lone night I spent in the quaint town of Santander, we made a quick stop at the scenic municipality of Boljoon. We got off the bus just in front of the Patrocinio de Maria Church, the oldest remaining stone church in Cebu. The church was originally founded in 1599 by the Augustinians. Subsequent counter-attacks by Muslim raiders destroyed most of the original structures and the rest of the town. The jurisdiction over the church was then relinquished to the Jesuits in 1737. Due to lack of resources and manpower, the Church was again put under Augustinian's administration in 1747. In 1783, Father Ambrosio Otero spearheaded the construction of a new church highlighted by a stone fence, which adds to its fortress-like appearance.

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The Bolshy Big Bell of Pan-ay Church | Capiz

Unknown February 01, 2012

I can simply say "The big bell of Pan-ay Church" but no, traveling gives you the opportunity to see the vast fantastic of this world and sometimes you kind of scuttle and struggle to find the right adjectives to describe certain things and places you see. In this case, I have to channel my best Alex impersonation and throw in a couple of "A Clockwork Orange" slang to fittingly put a title to this blog post. The Bolshy Bell of Pan-ay Church is said to be the biggest of its own kind in Asia. Officially, the Sta. Monica Parish Church, it was completed in 1878 and its main materials consisted 70 sacks of coins, cast together to create such gigantic bell, which also – during that time serves as the town's warning sign whenever there's an impending pirate attack.

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The Historic Church of Daraga | Albay

Unknown September 28, 2011

A somber atmosphere reigned over the town of Daraga when we went to visit the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Porteria. Like a set of eyes coming from a funeral, the skies hovering above was subdued yet haunting and sad. The jabbing wind blowing against my face reminded of the aftermath of typhoon Mina, which battered the province a few days before we arrived. Some of the dark clouds which "Mina" brought remained and like a jealous lover, it cast over the landscape of Mayon Volcano, totally sheltering it from our sight.

Taken during my latest visit to Daraga in 2015

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Bataan Visita Iglesia

Unknown May 05, 2011

Last Holy Thursday I went to Bataan for a day long 'Visita Iglesia' at some of its historic Spanish colonial churches located in the town of Samal, Abucay, Orion, Orani, Balanga and Pilar with a side trip earlier that day at the World War II memorial atop the scenic Mount Samat.

Pilar Church

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San Joaquin Cemetery (1892) | Iloilo

Unknown March 02, 2011

The San Joaquin Cemetery is situated beside the highway of San Joaquin town approximately 50 kilometers southwest of Iloilo City. Built in 1892 of coral rocks, it features 20 stone steps near the entrance adorned by stone balustrades on both sides. This engaging structure leads your eye to the arresting mortuary chapel designed in Baroque architecture standing solidly on the center.

The mortuary chapel inside San Joaquin Cemetery

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Guimbal Church in Iloilo

Unknown January 24, 2011

I arrived at the town of Guimbal in Iloilo and as I got off the jeepney and walked to the plaza I saw a tiny structure ahead and upon walking closely I recognized it as being the Parish of Santo Nicholas de Tolentino or Guimbal Church. It was one of the oldest churches in the Philippines, built in 1774 by Father Campos, a Spanish Priest. The church was constructed using yellow sand stones called "igang" and is smaller compared to other Spanish Colonial Churches that I've visited in the past.

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St. Anne Parish Church in Molo, Iloilo

Unknown January 24, 2011

I landed in Iloilo at about 5:45 AM, straight from working 1 and a half shift to cover for my being out and away on a Friday. Sleep hasn't occurred to me yet for more than 24 hours. Still, I was feeling energized as if I've chugged down a liter of Red Bull energy drink. I took a shuttle ride from the airport which took me down to SM City in Iloilo.

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St. Catherine of Alexandria Church in Carcar | Cebu

Unknown January 18, 2011

The day after the Sinulog Festival, my friend Toni and I headed to Moalboal but not before stopping by the municipality of Carcar not only to feast on juicy lechon but to visit the St. Catherine of Alexandria Church as well.

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San Juan Nepomuceno Church Ruins in Moalboal

Unknown January 18, 2011

I love visiting ruins of buildings built many years ago. Ever since I saw photographs of ancient civilization ruins in Jordan, Egypt, Peru and Israel to name a few, I made it a point that I should go out and see some old ruins here in the Philippines.

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Feels like Sparring with Bobby Pacquiao in Vigan | Ilocos Sur

Unknown November 30, 2010

Vigan was our last stop-over during our long Bonifacio weekend trip. A journey that started in Cubao and passing by the towns of Tumauini and San Pablo in Isabela, a pit stop for the night at Tuguegarao then to Sta Ana in Cagayan for an overnight camping at Palaui Island.

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Nomadic Pranksters Visits Miagao Church | Iloilo

Unknown May 10, 2010

How I love traveling with friends both old and new. My trip to Iloilo was green lighted after an initial plan hatched by Chin. I first met Chin online in Multiply about 5 years ago and has since been looking forward to meeting her in person. Also joining us on our Iloilo trip was another online buddy; Aileen–one of my favorite online buddies who used to work for UN projects in Mindanao. She is also a great photographer and has ventured out in wedding and portrait photography.

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Visiting my Mother's Birthplace - Dumangas | Iloilo

Unknown May 09, 2010

Since my friends left for Manila the day before my flight, I decided to spend my last day in Iloilo by visiting my mother's birthplace of Dumangas — a town approximately 30-45 minutes from Iloilo City. It was a special trip because I saw with my own eyes the place where my mom grew up. According to her, this was the place where she spent here happiest and formative years with my uncles, aunties and my grandparents.

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The Sto. Niño Church in Cebu City | Cebu

Unknown December 14, 2009

I bet most of us grew up in a household that has an altar with the little red Sto. Niño statue. I remember how my mom would look after our Sto Niño, taking care of it, as if it was the most prized religious artifact there is. This memory lasted from my childhood until my early adulthood. We transferred houses a couple of times, my mom went abroad and our family was forced to live apart for a while and sadly, we've forgotten about our little Sto. Niño statue.

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Sitting Inside a Confessional Booth in Baclayon Church | Bohol

Unknown December 13, 2009

The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is located in Baclayon, a fifth class municipality in Bohol. Many people now refers to it as Baclayon Church and is considered as one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. The church has a rich history spanning centuries, as it stood witness to the eventual emancipation of the Philippines from the Spanish colonizers who built the church sometime around 1727 following the settlement of Spanish Jesuits mission in Baclayon around 1595.