This is a series on the different churches in various areas in the country that can be followed as a guide for the much observed Filipino Catholic Lenten tradition of the Visita Iglesia.

This is the second part of a feature on Augustinian built churches in Cebu covering six churches all located at the southeastern side of the island province. Part 1 can be accessed in this post.

The Church of Nuestra Senora del Pilar de Zaragoza in Sibonga is just beside the provincial highway a few kilometers after Carcar and precedes Argao. Like that of the former, the convent is not directly attached to the main church building.

Originally a visita of Carcar in 1690, it became an independent parish in 1830. The first structures were temporary and the current one was built and finished probably between 1868 and 1881. The convent, on the other hand was built much earlier.

The style of the church is Gothic. A high main entrance dominates the facade flanked with two massive bell towers. Compared to the churches featured in this series, the decorations are quite scant and the facade simple.

The Church of San Miguel Arcangel in Argao is one of the interesting churches in the south not only because of its age (one side entrance has the year 1783 inscribed on it) but also because of its facade that is baroque in style introduced with rococo elements. While it is just simple, relieves of birds, cherubs and flowers decorate it. The interior too is rich with its ceiling paintings and baroque retablo.

This church was considered for inclusion in the second batch of Philippine baroque churches for the World Heritage Site list to be submitted to UNESCO a few years ago but when the insensitive parish priest defiled by painting the centuries old retablo with gold, it was left out.

The Church of San Guillermo el Hermitano in Dalaguete is several meters away from the main road overlooking the sea. A century old watchtower fronting it gives testament to its turbulent past when Moro slave raiders frequented the town. The current structure, made from coral blocks, was started in 1802.

This church and that of Argao is similar in design from the form of the facade to the placement of the belltower as well as the attached convent that it is easy to confuse the two. Compared with the latter, the relieves are simpler and fewer and the convent longer.

The Church of the Nuestra Senora del Patrocinio in Boljoon is one of the oldest churches in the province. The first structures were destroyed by Muslim slave raiders and the current one was started in 1783. Because of the threat of these raiders, the famous soldier priest, Fr. Julian Bermejo started to fortify this town by enclosing it with walls (the front wall was demolished by the Americans) and organized the townspeople. His series of watchtowers stretching from Carcar to Santander eventually repelled further raider incursions.

The facade is simple topped with a triangular pediment. Relieves of saints, floral and animal motifs decorate it. A short belltower is connected to the main building by the camarin. This church, together with a few others in Luzon and the Visayas has been submitted to the UNESCO for consideration in the second batch of baroque churches in the World Heritage Site list.

Just a few kilometers before reaching the town center of Oslob is the small Church of San Jose Labrador in Nueva Caceres, still a part of this municipality. It has none of the imposing and grand architecture that defines the other structures in this series but nevertheless, its simplicity is its defining element. This was constructed By Fr. Julian Bermejo, the parish priest of Boljoon at around 1812.

Rounding off this series, is the Church of the Nuestra Senora de la Inmaculada Concepcion in Oslob. Like Dalaguete, it is several meters from the highway fronting the coast. The current structure was started by Fr. Julian Bermejo in 1830 and was finished 18 years later.

The facade is simple in design with no elaborate embellishments except for a royal seal at the pediment and a few finials above it. Its massive belfry flanks its left. Originally, it has five levels but the topmost was destroyed by a typhoon and never rebuilt. The convent is attached at its right. Fronting the church is a small chapel and the entire complex is surrounded with it’s still original fence.

Estan Cabigas is a multiawarded blogger and freelance photographer based in Makati City, the Philippines. A true blue Cebuano, he makes stunning images and meaningful photo stories. He has writtten for CNN Go and his photograph will be published in the May 2010 issue of the National Geographic Magazine.

To know more about him and his photography, visit estancabigas.com.

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