Check out Iloilo’s iconic churches

Miagao Church in Iloilo, Philippines. EXPLORE ILOILO

ILOILO – This Holy Week is a good time to visit the province’s iconic churches, mostly centuries old and built during the Spanish era, according to the Provincial Tourism Office (PTO).

During Lent, the faithful (mostly Catholics) do the traditional Visita Iglesia – a practice of visiting at least seven churches to pray and meditate on the passion and death of Jesus Christ.

According to PTO chief Gilbert Marin, the week is also a good time to explore different places of interest such as, among others, the Agony Hill in Alimodian town that has the Stations of the Cross for Lent pilgrims, the Garin Farm in San Joaquin that practices agri-religious tourism and Bucari in upland Leon town which is considered the “little Baguio” of the province due to its cool climate.

“We promote our churches. We promote our different Lenten practices. We promote areas kun diin makakadto sila kag maka-contemplate during Holy Week,” said Marin.

The PTO chief enumerated the churches that should interest pilgrims and tourists alike:

1ST DISTRICT

* Miagao Church, or the St. Thomas of Villanova Parish – in Baroque-Romanesque architectural style built in 1734

* San Joaquin Church – a Baroque church built in 1869

* St. Anthony the Abbot Parish Church in Tubungan town – in Romanesque architectural style

* St. John of Sahagun Parish Church in Tigbauan – in Mexican plateresque architectural style

* St. Nicolas of Tolintine Parish Church in Guimbal – in Baroque architectural style

3RD DISTRICT

* St. Nicholas De Toletine Parish Church in Lambunao – in Baroque architectural style built beginning in 1883

* Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Parish Church in Calinog – in Baroque architectural style built in 1874.

2ND DISTRICT

* Sta. Monica Parish Church in Pavia – in Romanesque-Byzantine architectural style completed between 1864 and 1873

* Santa Barbara Church and Convent – in Baroque-Renaissance architectural style built in 1849

* St. Nicolas of Tolentine Parish Church in Cabatuan – in Neo-Classical architectural style built in 1834

4TH DISTRICT

* St. Agustin Parish Church in Dumangas – in Gothic Byzantine architectural style built in 1887

* St. Anthony De Padua Parish Church in Barotac Nuevo – in Neo-Classical architectural design built in 1710

* St. John Baptist Parish Church in Dingle – in Filipino Baroque architectural style completed in 1886

* San Guillermo Parish Church in Passi City – in Baroque architectural style

* St. Jerome Parish Church in Dueñas – in Baroque-Romanesque architectural style built in 1878

* St. John the Baptist Parish Church in Banate – completed in 1870./PN

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