When Mother Goose asked us where we have been to in Iloilo and my sister told her we have seen three churches, she said that we have gone a long way for a visita iglesia. But how can we resist? These old structures are so beautiful, grand, and historic you can almost set aside the horrible things that came from the Spanish colonization era.
The first thing we saw was the Jaro Cathedral. I think the proper name is St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church. The popular name is Candelaria (candles) Church. It is said that the statue of the patron saint actually grows. According to my Tita Nancy, it was taken out of its original place to be blessed by Pope John Paul II in the past and after the blessing the statue grew so much and it cannot fit the old space anymore. It is not located at a much bigger stand in front of the cathedral that you can climb unto.
But to me, the most interesting bit about the church is the fact that the bell tower is separate from the church. It is actually opposite the church on the other side of the road. However, the structure that you see is already two parts. It was destroyed by an earthquake before and some of the top part had to be rebuilt.
Another interesting church in Iloilo is the Molo Church. I think it is St. Anne Church. All of the statues inside were female! I think that rocks. What is cool about churches in Iloilo, I noticed, is that the statues are located on each pillar leading to the altar. It is as if they are standing guard and are fervently watching.
The last church we saw is the Miagao church. You have probably heard about it, after all it is the most photographed church in the province. It is so beautiful! The carved exterior takes your breathe away. This is the first time I saw a church with a sculpted facade. It is grand, imposing, and bold. It was declared a UN world heritage and by the looks of this baroque church, I can definitely see why.
I think the churches in the south have so much character and attitude and for one, our own here can fit inside them so it is always fascinating to pay them a visit. Btw, that is my sister on the photos 🙂
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Special thanks to Tita Nancy, Manong Port, Tita Janet, Tito Totek, Lola Conching and family.
ang dami din old churches sa bohol
game na!
hehe
maybe i will visit bohol early next year 🙂
omaygahd. pictures everywhere
sikat ka na, congrats! 😀
i was ready to visit Iloilo a few months ago but due to work had to missed it. Churches are one of the structures i want to see when i visit new places. and we have so many beautiful churches here in the Philippines and Miagao church is one of them. I only have a postcard to view it 🙂
it is so cool 🙂 the design of the exterior will blow you away!
I visited Miag-ao many years. An aunt of mine still lives there. Their church is really something.
it looks like a palace. the exterior is awesome!
When I first went to Iloilo, ang una kong gustong puntahan ay ang Miagao Church. Fascinated kasi ako sa old churches plus the fact that it’s a UN World Heritage Site. Pero nung napunta ako dyan ay lupaypay na ako, kasi yan yung byahe kong dire-diretso from Manila-Caticlan-Boracay-Iloilo by bus hehehe. Feeling ko, hindi ko tuloy masyado na-appreciate yung buong church dahil sa pagod 😦
P.S.
Wala bang exchange gift uli? 😀
wow by bus? hindi ko kakayanin yun 😯 meron yan set up ko soon tapos notify kita 🙂
.. never been to iloilo, pero those baroque style churches are fascinating! kala ko naman ikaw na yung asa pictures. 😀
napaka dramatic no? 😆 kapatid ko yan. nabuhay ka ulit!
Hi PM! yes, churches in our provinces do have more character..the old ones i mean. and did you know that [really] old churches really do have their bell towers separate from the church? 😉
wow that is nice to know. but how come i saw nothing like that in cebu? they are supposed to have the really ancient ones right?
PM, try the ones in ilocos. yun ang ancient! 😉
i have seen one in ilocos. the one near the heritage village ba yun? ancient nga yun 😆 what i want to see in ilocos is a plate of bagnet 😆
I don’t believe in organized religion anymore but I am drawn to old churches, there’s something so photogenic about them. I’ve had my fair share of awesome old churches here — http://saylala.wordpress.com/2011/05/08/a-recipe-for-old-churches/ (nag-promote? hehehe)
Hope to be able to visit Iloilo someday! Andaming teachers from my high school ang galing diyan!
nakakatuwa sila. parang sinasabi ng old churches: ya, okay just do what you want, but i’m still cool because i’m ancient. 😆 alam mo dati ayoko pumunta ng boracay pero dahil sa post mo gusto ko na din, para kumain lang 😆 nakakatuwa talaga no, blog friends have this really cool influence with each other.
Thanks PM! Nakakataba ng puso! At nakakataba rin kumain ng kumain ng kumain ng kumain, pero ang sarap e! HAHAHA.
oo nga! there was a time na puro food ang blog ko tapos nag gain talaga ako ng weight! 😆
really envious. i love old churches that are grandiose and historic. dito wala nyan eh.
ah oo nga no. naalala ko tuloy yung tita ko sabi niya bakit daw catholic churches lang ang pinupuntahan. eh kasi pare-pareho lang naman yung iba diba?
did you make a wish when you entered each church?
hindi eh, pero nasabi na din sakin yan ni mother goose.
I can only imagine how majestic the interior designs were.
mukang palasyo!