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)

 

 

Our Lady of Grace Parish Church/ Simbahan ng Simala/ The Church of Simala (Simala, Sibonga)

The Church of Simala:

The Church of Simala

Other Pictures of the Church of Simala:

The Church of Simala

 

Saint John of Sahagun Parish Church/ Parokya ni San Juan Sahagun/ Church of Toledo (Toledo City, North West Cebu)

The Church of Toledo:

Church of Toledo

The Church is Under the Archdiocese of Cebu, Vicariate of Saint John of Sahagun

About the Church: The Bishop of Cebu, Romualdo Gimeno, a Dominican Friar, issued a Decree for the erection of the Parish of Toledo on the 24th day of February, 1863.

However, this decree was only executed on the 8th of July, 1863 and the Parish of Toledo was de Facto “canonically erected”. It’s official Patron was St. John of Sahagun. According to other sources, the town was previously named Hinulawan because of the nearby Hinulawan river situated in the Daanlungsod. But due to the influence of the Alcalde Mayor in Cebu who happened to come from Toledo, Spain, the town and parish was renamed Toledo.

The nearest existing Parish to Toledo was the Parish of St. Francis of Assisi of Balamban erected in 1857. Thus it was but logical that Toledo (Hinulawan) was under the “spritual tutelage” of Balamban and was regularly visited. It was termed “visita” then by the priests of this neighboring parish. It could also have been that Hinulawan was part and parcel of the large parish and town of Balamban, though this is not for many, a comfortable thought to dwell on.

On the other hand, at the far-south side of the Toledo was another existing Parish of Sta. Monica in Pinamungajan which was established in 1850, even earlier than Balamban. For one reason or another, we don’t know why it was not this Parish who took care of the spiritual needs of Toledo. It could have been because of the great difficulty for the travel and its accessibility that prevented this to happen.

It seems that the FIRST Parish Priest of Toledo was REV. FR. SERVANO SEONE. The First marriage that he solemnized was that of Pedro Conahap and Fabiana Mara on August 26, 1863.

With this information, we can conclude that Toledo Parish from the beginning of its founding was administered by the Diocesan Clergy of Cebu. (Sourced from the Website of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Saint John of Sahagun)

Other Sites to Visit: The Official Website of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Saint John of Sahagun. Aside from the Official Website, not much Sites or Blogs worth mentioning about the Church. If you do find any, please email me the link to pinoybyahero@gmail.com so i can include it.

My Visit to the Church: My Visit to the Church of Toledo was very short. We were in a hurry to get back to Cebu so I just spent a few minutes in the Church. When i went there there was a group of Women reciting the Rosary and it was rude to take pictures of the inside but i did manage to take a few (2012).

Last December 2013 we stayed overnight in Toledo City and from the Hotel we stayed in the Church was just a few minutes walk. It was a beautiful morning when i went to the Church and a mass was ongoing when i arrived. I spent a few minutes inside the church and quietly went out to buy something to eat. When i went back the mass was soon going to end. I took more pictures of the Church and it was then i realized how beautiful the Church was.

Address and Contact Number of the Church: The Church is Located in Toledo City, Cebu 6038. Contact Numbers of the Church Tel. (032) 322-5658, 467-8143

Other Ways to Contact the Church: Facebook Page of Saint John of Sahagun Church

Map Showing the Location of the Church:

Map of Toledo City

Where to Stay in Toledo City: We Stayed at Days Inn Toledo City (Rate: P2,400 up) which is near the Port. The Rooms are Standard, with Television and Hot and Cold Shower. The Rate includes Breakfast.

Where to Eat: Near Days Hotel is a Cafe (in the same Building previously occupied by Travellers) and beside it you can find Jollibee and Armando’s Pizza. Along the highway and around the port you can also find Eateries and BBQ Stalls.

Other Pictures of the Church:

Church of Toledo

Church of Toledo

Bell Tower

The Image of Saint John Sahagun

The Church Altar

Images of Saints found at the Entrance

Images of Saints at the Entrance

Map of Toledo City

Nuestra Senora del Pilar Church/ Simbahan ng Sibonga/ The Church of Sibonga (Sibonga, Cebu)

The Church of Sibonga:

The Church of Sibonga

Other Pictures of the Church of Sibonga:

The Church of Sibonga

Saint Catherine of Alexandria Church/ Simbahan ng Carcar/ The Church of Carcar (Carcar, Cebu)

The Church of Carcar:

The Church of Carcar (2013)

The Church of Carcar (2011)

About the Church:

The church of St. Catherine of Alexandria in Carcar, Cebu is already 124 years old and is among the great wonder and treasure of the town. It is not clear in the history records as to who built the church but it must be observed that the Augustinian friars were in charge of the parishes from San Nicolas up to Tañon and from then on.

Fr. Antonio Maglano became the parish priest of Carcar on October 16, 1858, he began the construction of the present day church a year later. The construction lasted for six years since it was left unfinished by the succeeding friars. At that time St. Catherine’s already had three naves. The style was patterned after the “mujedar” in Spain, comprising of two bells. With an onion-shaped tip. Nine years later, Fr. Manuel Rubio Fernandez from Asturias, Spain became the parish priest and continued the construction which was finished after two years.

St. Catherine’s Church holds unprecedented history. Inspired by the Graeco-Roman style, with strong Muslim influence, the church is made of masonry with one main nave and two aisles. The nave measures 68 meters long, 22 meters wide, and 12 meters high. The main entrance has a double arch design inviting attention in the massive rectangular façade. The twin bell towers of solid geometric pylons, act as buttresses but are integrated as part of the façade. The twin bell towers end up at the third level in the minaret shape common to Muslim mosques.

The only embellishments that have been provided are the geometric flora on the spandrels, the blind rose window below the upper recessed arch and the carved Augustinian symbol above it. The simplicity of the design of the facade is countered by the complex pattern of the upper-story of the Muslim like bell tower and the Baroque pediment. It is noticeable that all the twelve apostles were carved in white except for Judas, which was done in black. (Sourced from www.etravelpilipinas.com)

My Visit to the Church: I have been to CarCar Church twice or thrice and everytime the Church was closed but last January 2014 it was open! They were doing some restoration / Renovation works on the Church and the doors were open. What I saw inside made my trip to Cebu WORTH it. The Church was not just Impressive outside but was equally beautiful and impressive inside. The ceiling boasted of lovely paintings. At the top of the Old Main Altar was a Beautiful painting of the Holy Family and just below it is a statue of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. On each pillar of the Church is a Station of the cross and above the stations of the cross are Angels holding lights.

Other Pictures of the Church:

The Church of Carcar (2013)

The Church of Carcar (2011)