Namacpacan Church, La Union

The Namacpacan Church, officially known as the Saint Catherine of Alexandria Parish Church and Shrine of Our Lady of Namacpacan, is a historic religious site located in Luna, La Union. Built in 1690 and completed in 1872, it features an Earthquake Baroque architectural style with thick walls and twin bell towers. The church is home to the 1.92-meter-tall image of Apo Baket, a revered wooden statue of the Virgin Mary, believed to be miraculous and canonically crowned in 1959. Declared a National Cultural Treasure, it draws thousands of pilgrims yearly, especially during feast days and Holy Week. The church complex also includes a healing well and museum, while its old convento has been converted into a school.

Ozamiz Cathedral, Misamis Occidental

Table of Contents:

• About
• How to Get There

About

The Ozamiz Cathedral houses the city's most significant relic and patroness - the Our Lady of Misamis, also known as the Virgin sa Cotta, The Blessed Virgin of Cotta, and Birhen sa Cotta. Initially, the statue of the patroness was set up outside the walls of Fort sa Cotta, but Fray Jorge Carcabilla moved it to this church. In 1975, the statue was stolen and returned on December 8, 2017. Also, Ozamiz Cathedral is the home of the second-largest bamboo organ in the Philippines, after the Las Piñas Bamboo Organ.

Saint Bartholomew Church, Catbalogan City

Saint Bartholomew Church. READ: SOLO-BACKPACKING IN SAMAR 

 

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Daraga Church

Daraga Church is also known as Our Lady of the Gate Parish Church and Nuestra Señora de la Porteria Parish Church. Its structure has a Baroque design built by the Franciscan Friars in 1773. It served as the place of worship after the church of Cagsawa was destroyed by the eruption of Mt. Mayon in 1814. Also, this church served as the station of Japanese soldiers during the Second World War in 1945. It was rebuilt from 1971 to 1973. By the way, we still wish that Mt. Mayon would show its perfect cone at our next destination. So, Kuya Lijong brought us to this historical church. The location is also a perfect spot to see the beauty of Magayon, who was playing hide and seek with us.

Albay Cathedral

Albay Cathedral is also known as the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Great, and according to its historical data, it started as a chapel built in the 1580s by Spanish missionaries. The early structure was made from local products such as wood and nipa. Then, it emerged as a stone structure in 1800. This Cathedral is one of the top tourist destinations in the province, and it was our first destination.

9 Century Old Churches in Metro Manila

Photo of Guadalupe Church.

I am not a Catholic by faith, but I love going to century-old churches in different parts of the Philippines because of their unique walls, artistic designs, and cool interiors. Also, these structures witnessed a lot of huge events centuries ago. They were even built or supervised by prominent and powerful people in the society. I've listed below the 9 old churches in Metro Manila that can be visited during Visita Iglesia.

Paoay Church Travel Guide – UNESCO Earthquake Baroque Treasure

Jump to: About Paoay Church | History & Significance | Architecture & Style | How to Get There | Visiting Tips | Where to Stay Nearby

About Paoay Church

Paoay Church (St. Augustine Parish Church) stands majestically in Paoay, Ilocos Norte. Completed in 1710, it’s recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the Baroque Churches of the Philippines and a National Cultural Treasure.

San Diego Church, Silay

The San Diego Pro-Cathedral, formerly known as San Diego Parish Church or St. Didacus Parish Church, was declared a pro-cathedral in 1994. It is the only church in Silay City that features a dome, which is like St. Peter's in Vatican City. It was established in 1776 using bamboo, cogon grass, and nipa palm. Then it was in 1841 when this parish was constructed using stone and wood, led by Fr. Eusebio Locsin. A grander structure was made in 1925 and replaced the old church. A wealthy sugar baron, Don Jose R. Ledesma from Silay, donated some of the funds for building the new structure. Lucio Bernasconi, an Italian architect, was chosen to design the new structure, wherein he took inspiration from Italy.

Miagao Church - Things You Need To Know

Commonly known as the Church of Sto. Tomas de Villanueva is an old baroque church in Iloilo. Miagao Church is one of the world-famous baroque churches in the Philippines, and it has become one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The construction of this church began in 1787 under 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 served as a fortress against the Muslim Raiders. In 1898, this church was destroyed during the revolution, but it was rebuilt.

Backpacking in Guimaras (9 Stunning Tourist Spots)

The Province of Guimaras will definitely be brought up on the topic when we talk about mangoes because they are said to have the “Sweetest Mango in the Philippines.” With that, their local delicacies, with mango, are just mouth-watering. Aside from that, the residents must be proud of their breathtaking and stunning tourist destinations, such as beaches, historical sites, and other activities. They also have the Manggahan Festival, an annual festivity to thank them for their bountiful mango harvest. It is a small island province that can be visited for the whole day, but it can offer a lot to visitors.

Solo-Backpacking in Capiz (8 Best Tourist Spots)

Roxas City is the capital of Capiz Province – the “Seafood Capital of the Philippines” in Western Visayas. If you are on Panay Island, it is highly recommended that you visit this rich city to witness and experience the heritage sites of the modern generation. Also, the province has the most controversial and awaited annual festivity in the Philippines – the “Aswang Festival.” Politically, the city is prominent because it is the hometown of the late Philippine President Manuel A. Roxas.

Silay City - Tourist Spots and Attractions

1. Balay Negrense

Balay Negrense is one of the century-old houses along Cinco de Noviembre Street, Silay City. This street is remarkable because of the historical value that transpires to the people. Balay Negrense is a Hiligaynon phrase which means: Balay or a house and Negrense refers to the people living in the province of Negros. It is a century-old house in Silay City owned by Victor Fernandez Gaston, the eldest son of a prominent sugar baron, Yves Leopold Germain Gaston, and Prudencia Fernandez. It was built between 1897 to 1901, then abandoned in the mid-1970s, repaired by the government, and was inaugurated on October 6, 1990.

Angeles Church, Pampanga - Things You Need To Know

The first chapel of Angeles Church in Pampanga was established in 1812. However, the current Renaissance-style structure was built through "polos y servicios," or forced and unpaid labor under the supervision of the Spanish government from 1877 to 1896. Dubbed as "Pisamban Maragul," a Kapampangan phrase for "big church" because it was the tallest church in Pampanga during that time. By the way, it was evening. We were heading back to Manila when we passed by this church, and we thought that this was stunningly beautiful. So, we parked and explored the area.

The Powerful Sound of Las Piñas Bamboo Organ

If I am not mistaken, the Las Pinas Bamboo Organ was our topic when I was in grade four in Sibika at Kultura. The subject was interesting, so the history of the Las Pinas Bamboo Organ remains fresh in my memory, even with the long name of the man who created this majestic organ. Fray Diego Cera Dela Vergin del Carmen was a Spanish missionary born on July 26, 1762, and was the first parish priest in Las Piñas during the Spanish era. He is the man behind this national treasure - Las Piñas Bamboo Organ. He actually came from Graus, now Huesca, a town in Spain, but still, his heart loves the Philippines. F. Diego Cera is also a man of titles; he is a Musician, Architect, Organ Builder, Botanist, Physician, Painter and Geologist.

Important Details About San Jose Church, Iloilo City

San Jose Church is the first church in Iloilo, built by the Jesuits around 1607.  But, on April 29, 1617, the Augustinians established San Jose, a house of the order. It was saved from being bombed by the Americans during World War II.  As the years went by, some renovations were made. READ: Location, How to Get Here, My Solo-Backpacking in Negros Occidental and Iloilo

Important Details About Tigbauan Church

It is believed that there had been no parish priest when Tigbauan Church was established, but it could be between 1575 and 1580 when F. Luis de Montoya was assigned as Prior. This church underwent a lot of repairs because of natural disasters like earthquakes. The repair was done by different people who served as church leaders. After Miag-ao and Guimbal, around 6 PM, we passed by this historical church. I had already paid my fare to Ilo-Ilo City, but I was amazed by the church's facade, so I immediately got off the jeepney and had a very short visit. In front is an open plaza just a few meters from Tigbauan Municipal Hall.

The stunning interior of San Sebastian Church, Manila

After meeting up at TIP Manila for my cap distributed by Street Style Originals, I planned to visit Paco Cemetery, but due to unfriendly weather conditions, I chose to visit San Sebastian Church in Manila, just a few meters away. For the second time, when I entered the church, I was still fascinated by its uniqueness; from the walls, columns, floor, glass chandeliers, cabinets, and others parts look really stunning.

Rizal Visita Iglesia (Itinerary + Guide)

I have been planning to visit the historical and century-old churches in Pasig and the province of Rizal and the plan became a reality after 11 months. Today is the perfect day and the perfect season because it is my Visita Iglesia in a backpacking style. My itinerary started with the oldest church in Pasig, followed by the Marian Church of Cainta, then, St. John the Baptist in Taytay, and the stunning Tanay Church. And to close my good Friday adventure, together with my friends, we visited the gigantic Pililla Wind Farm.

Siquijor Church

The Siquijor Church greets all the visitors as it is situated near the port. It was established in 1783 by the secular priests. It was built using coral stones, and cogon was initially used for roofing. What's unique about this church is the bell tower, which was built a few meters away. Like some other old churches in the Philippines,  its convent was a hiding place from the pirates and other invaders. Today, it is the centre of Catholicism in the province, but for a non-Catholic like me, this church is the living witness of the past survived by the province and its people.

Lazi Church and Convent

The San Isidro Labrador Parish Church, commonly known as the Lazi Church, is one of the main tourist destinations in Siquijor. I was stunned by the appearance of this Church and its convent. The parish became independent in 1857, but the current stone structure, which is neoclassical art, was completed in 1884. It was built using seashells, coral, and wood. In 1972, it was declared a national cultural heritage. Today, it is newly renovated, with the walls covered in white.