Santa Catalina Parish Church/ Simbahan ng Santa Catalina/ The Church of Santa Catalina (Santa Catalina, Ilocos Sur)

The Church of Santa Catalina:

The Church of Santa Catalina

Other Pictures of the Church:

The Church of Santa Catalina

 

San Vicente Parish Church/ Simbahan ng San Vicente/ The Church of San Vicente (San Vicente, Ilocos Sur)

The Church of San Vicente:

The Church of San Vicente

Other Pictures of the Church:

The Church of San Vicente

San Ildefonso Parish Church/ Simbahan ng San Ildefonso/ The Church of San Ildefonso (San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur)

The Church of San Ildefonso:

The Church of San Ildefonso

Other Pictures of the Church:

The Church of San Ildefonso

Santo Domingo Parish Church/ Simbahan ng Santo Domingo/ The Church of Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo, Ilocos Sur)

The Church of Santo Domingo, Ilocos Sur:

The Church of Santo Domingo, Ilocos Sur (December 2013)

The Church of Santo Domingo, Ilocos Sur (Photo by hecky12 skyscrapercity.com)

Other Pictures of the Church:

The Church of Santo Domingo, Ilocos Sur (December 2013)

The Church of Santo Domingo, Ilocos Sur (Photo by hecky12 skyscrapercity.com)

 

Saint Paul Metropolitan Cathedral/ Katedral ng Vigan/ The Cathedral of Vigan

The Cathedral of Vigan:

The Cathedral of Vigan

The Belltower of the Saint Paul’s Cathedral

 

About the Cathedral:

The St. Paul’s Cathedral is also known as the metropolitan Cathedral. It is considered a major religious landmark not only of northern Luzon but the country as well. Visitors must include a visit to the cathedral when in Vigan as it has been a center of Roman Catholic devotion for centuries.

The church as it stands now was completed in 1800. The original structure was built in 1574 upon the command of the Spanish founder of Vigan, Juan de Salcedo. It was a mere chapel then, made of wood and thatch. In 1641, the chapel was replaced by a church.

When the seat of the Nueva Segovia Diocese was transferred to Villa Fernandina de Vigan from Cagayan’s Lal-lo in 1758, the church was elevated to the status of a cathedral and became the center of Catholic faith in the north. Another structure was ordered by then Governor Jose de Basco to be built to replace the existing church in 1786. With the Augustinians, the cornerstone of the new church was laid in the beginning of 1790.

Overall, the cathedral follows a Baroque architectural design that has been modified by Ilocanos to strengthen the structure against earthquakes. This is now known as earthquake Baroque. Testament to the style’s effectivity is the fact that the structure’s original interior walls have remained complete.

Other influences can be observed from the architecture of St. Paul Cathedral, that of neo-Gothic, pseudo-Romanesque and Chinese craftsmanship.

Facing the cathedral, visitors are greeted by the statue of St. Paul above the main opening. There are also carvings of Fu dogs or lion dogs by the outermost doors. In the alcove are scenes of Saint Paul’s conversion.

Though some people may find that the façade is not as impressive as other churches, the cathedral’s interior is something to be admired. The presence of a silver-paneled main altar, three naves, 12 minor altars and brass communion handrails forged in China gives the inside of the church a feeling of grandeur. The area for the choir is located at the loft, making use of the big church’s acoustics.

Surrounding St. Paul Cathedral are the other historic buildings of the city. There are the Episcopal Palace or the bishop’s residence, the diocesan seminary and the Vigan Municipal Hall. It is also beside two plazas, one named after Vigan’s founder, Plaza Salcedo, and another named after a revolutionary hero, Plaza Burgos. It shows how central the cathedral’s role is not only in the religious life of the people, but the social, economic, educational and political aspects as well.

Other Pictures of the Cathedral:

The Cathedral of Vigan

Welcome Sign to the Cathedral

Historical Marker of the Cathedral

The Belltower of the Saint Paul’s Cathedral

 

 

Bell Tower of Bantay (Bantay, Ilocos Sur)

The Bell Tower of Bantay:

The Bell Tower of Bantay

Saint Agustin Parish Church/ Santuario de Nuestra Senora de la Caridad/ Simbahan ng Bantay/ The Church of Bantay (Bantay, Ilocos Sur)

The Church of Bantay:

The Church of Bantay

Other Pictures of the Church:

The Church of Bantay

The Bell Tower of Bantay

Saint Sebastian the Martyr Parish Church/ Simbahan ng Borbon/ The Church of Borbon (Borbon, Cebu)

The Church of Borbon:

The Church of Borbon

Other Pictures of the Church of Borbon:

The Church of Borbon

 

Santo Nino Parish Church/ Simbahan ng Medellin/ The Church of Medellin (Medellin, Cebu)

The Church of Medellin:

The Church of Medellin

Other Pictures of the Church of Medellin:

The Church of Medellin

Santa Rosa de Lima Parish Church/ Simbahan ng Daanbantayan/ The Church of Daanbantayan (Daanbantayan, Cebu)

The Church of Daanbantayan:

The Church of Daanbantayan before it was damaged by Typhoon Yolanda of Nov 2013 (photo by Rabosajr Wikimedia Commons)

The Church of Daanbantayan (January 2014)

About the Church of Daanbantayan:

The Sta. Rosa de Lima Parish Church of Daanbantayan was once part of Bantayan Island was founded in 1852. It was inaugurated on April 10, 1858. A permanent church was constructed through royal grants, with the inhabitants rendering forced labor. It was finished in 1886 during the term of Capitan Municipal Diego Arrojado. Padre Feliciano Torres was the parish priest during the construction. (Based on sources at Cebuano Studies Center)

Other Pictures of the Church of Daanbantayan:

The Church of Daanbantayan (January 2014)

The Church of Daanbantayan before it was damaged by Typhoon Yolanda/ Nov 2013 (photo by Rabosajr Wikimedia Commons)