Ilocos Sur's Treasure: The Churches

I was born and raised in Bulacan but my roots came from the equally beautiful province of Ilocos Sur. Mama and Papa were both born and raised in the town of Sta. Maria, hence making me somehow a lost daughter of this province (haha as if it's looking for me). Well, there are so many things to be proud of with this place aside from the hospitable nature of the Ilocanos and the wonderful scenery that it can offer. Ilocos Region has been a cradle of our Historical evolution which is very evident in the structures that you will see when you go there.

What else could justify the claim that Ilocos Sur is rich in historical masterpieces than the churches that have become the witness of time passing us by?

Churches that witnessed the sorrow and triumph of our ancestors in the hands of the Spaniards, Americans, Japanese and up to the present time. Cammon, let's take a look:

1. San Vicente Church

Photo Courtesy of Google Images

From the time of the Spaniards until now, St. Vincent Parish Church has seen San Vicente evolved from a small sub part named Barrio Tuanong of Vigan City to an independent town that would be the local furniture town. Miracles are attributed to the parish’s patron saint, St. Vincent Ferrer, attracting pilgrims from far and near. The church façade has two layers of columns divided by ornate architraves. The convoluted cornices in the church’s top section add beauty to the structure. Octagonal columns top with mini-domes rise from the base on both sides of the church   façade. The ornate wooden pulpit is still preserved. The parish was established in 1795. (Refererence: www.sanvicente-ilocossur.gov.ph)

2. Church of Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion (Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur) - My Hometown :)

Originally built by the Augustinian priests, rebuilt in 1810. The Church of Sta. Maria is one of the four Baroque churches in the Philippines that was declared as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. The other three are: Immaculate Conception in Intramuros (Manila City), Santo Tomas Church in Miag-ao (Iloilo), and San Agustin Church in Paoay (Ilocos Norte). (Reference: VisitPinas.com)

3. San Guillermo de Aquitania Church, Mansingal Ilocos Sur

One of the most beautiful churches that you can see in Ilocos Sur is the San Guillermo de Aquitania Church in Magsingal. On July 31, 2001, the San Guillermo de Aquitania was one of the Philippine colonial churches declared by the National Museum as a national cultural treasure. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts  had identified and selected it as one of 26 Spanish Colonial Era churches to be under its conservation program. Younger than its counterpart in Laoag City by approximately 247 years, San Guillermo de Aquitania Church was built by the Augustinian Recollects in 1827. Like other Ilocos churches, it is supported by imposing buttresses. The church’s retablo is regarded as the most important examples of Baroque-influence art in the Ilocandia. (Reference: Tourism.Ilocossur.gov.ph)

4.  Vigan 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.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 are still in tact. (Reference: vigan.ph)

5. Sta. Lucia Church 

St. Lucy the Martyr Church was built by Father Juan Pascula Barreda and Father Manuel Arguelles in 1887. Its dome and ceiling was repaired and the surroundings were reinforced by Father Venusto Mata. its bell tower was damaged by an earthquake but was repaired eventually. It's one of the most beautiful churches in Ilocos. Its interior has a painted ceiling, pulpit and a carved retablo.

The Church has an image of the Dark Virgin of Santa Lucia, the patroness of those with failing eyesight. (Reference: Wikifilipino.com)

6. Bell Tower, Vigan

The Church has a deep brown, neo-gothic façade. Like the Saint Paul Cathedral, one can see that it also incorporates the distinctively Vigan earthquake baroque in its architecture to save the structure from the destructive force of earthquakes that visit the land. It is amongst the oldest surviving churches in Ilocos Sur and is under the care of the Augustine Order, first of who was Father Montoya Osa. Visitors will also see within St. Augustine Church the statue of Our Lady of Charity, who is Nueva Segovia’s patroness. From the church, she is said to have watched over the city over many generations. The church suffered damages from World War II and so it underwent reconstruction in 1950. The surroundings of the church and belfry are quite historic as well. Visitors will walk upon the same grounds where Diego Silang and his troops were said to have fought with the Spaniards in 1763. (Reference: www.vigan.ph)

These are just some of the wonderful heritage of this province. Religion and Architecture have been a great part of its history whuch I am really very proud of. So next time, if you happen to go to the north, please make sure to pass by and explore these treasures.. The Churches.

Disclaimer: All the pictures used are not mine and have just been lifted from Google. Proper labeling of source or references were also done to some of the paragraphs and descriptions that were used.