Ten exceptional and poorly known Spanish colonial era cemetery chapels that are still existing in the Philippines scattered in Luzon and the Visayas.

A free downloadable and printable PDF guide is now available for those who would want to do the traditional visita iglesia in Cebu! This freebie features 28 still existing Spanish colonial era churches in this historic island province, the cradle of Christianity in the Philippines, either wholly built or with it’s façade intact.

This is the fifth installment of my Visita Iglesia series focusing on the southwestern churches of Cebu that are still standing in the province. This part features Samboan, Ginatilan, Malabuyoc, Badian, Moalboal and Dumanjug.

This is the fourth installment of my Visita Iglesia series focusing on the northern churches that are still standing in the province. This part features the churches of Catmon, Sogod, San Remegio, Daan Bantayan and Bantayan

This is the third installment of my Visita Iglesia series focusing on the northern churches that are still standing in the province. This part features the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral and the churches of Liloan Compostela, Danao and Poro in Camotes.

Balaanong Bahandi is your ultimate guide to the Archidocese of Cebu’s architectural heritage.

After much blood, sweat and tears, so to speak, our book, Balaanong Bahandi: Sacred Treasures of the Archdiocese of Cebu will be launched formally today, 26 November 09, 1830H at the Cathedral Museum of Cebu. It is by invitation only.

During my revisit at the Oslob church, I was surprised that the unfinished cuartel was already cleaned up and light fixtures were already placed for spectacular lighting at night.

But what about these pink marble slabs used to patch up some gaps?

Nineteen months after the fire in Oslob Church, the second in its history, I visited the church again during a south Cebu trip and from what I have found, there is still so much to do.

The town of Bogo is located near the northern end of Cebu Island and is a major economic hub in this part of the province. While the original church built by the Seculars is no longer standing at the main plaza (the present one was built after the war at an elevated area), there is one surprising find at the cemetery.

Thanx to Jobers Bersales, some Cebu archival images (scans) from the Ahlborn Collection was made available to me. Part of the collection are black and white images of Oslob Church, the mortuary chapel and the kumbento.

I’m showing my images of the North Cebu churches that are part of the photo exhibit Balaanong Bahandi: Sacred Treasures of the Archdiocese of Cebu. These are just 14 out of 50 photographs that have been especially selected for this show and covers different generations from Spanish colonial era structures in the 18th century, 19th century American colonial period to modern 20th century edifices.

Below is Jobers Bersales’ article at Cebu Daily News on the Balaanong Bahandi photo exhibit that appeared today entitled “Showcasing, publishing sacred treasures.”

Barrio Inayagan in Barangay Valladolid is the former site of the visita of Salug. In 1622, Muslim slave raiders destroyed it forcing the people to transfer inland where the present town center of Carcar is now located. While there are no longer any trace of the structures, archaeological excavations found segments of walls.

Salug continues to live in the memories of the people as Barrio Inayagan is also known as Daanglungsod or the old town.

The kumbento of Carcar Church is one of the biggest in the province of Cebu. It was also one of the richest. Unfortunately, the interior today is just a shadow of it’s former self when church items were sold by a parish priest during his incumbency between the 80s and 90s. But one can still see beautiful ceiling and wall paintings as well as sala embellishments inside.