The construction of this church
began in 1787 while Fray Francisco M. Gonzales. O.S.A. was the parish priest of
Miag-ao and Domingo Libo-on was the
Gobernadorcillo. The Church was completed in 1797 and it served as the fortress
against Muslim Raiders. In 1898, during the revolution, this church was destroyed
but then it was rebuilt.
In 1910, it was damaged by fine, and then it was badly
damaged by earthquake in 1948. Restoration work began in 1960 and was completed
in 1962. During the term of office of the Most Rev. Dr. Jose Ma. Cuenco, D.D.
Metropolitan Archbishop of Jaro, of Msgr. Fernando S. Javillo, D.P., Parish
Priest of this town and Dioscoro Mueda, Municipal Mayor.
The facade of the church has a
huge coconut tree image which St. Christopher is carrying Baby Jesus on his
shoulder.
According to some stories in this town, since this church contains
1.5 meters thick walls, 6 meters deep, the people believes that it contains a
secret passage going to somewhere else. This was part of my Solo-Backpacking in Negros.
