Located less than a kilometer from the church grounds and ruins of Oton in Iloilo is the old Catholic cemetery of the municipality. Lacking the artistry and sophistication when compared with the other chapels in the province, it is a simple structure

Part of my visita iglesia series, this free PDF download features the six existing Spanish colonial era churches of Capiz province: Roxas City, Loctugan, Pan-ay, Dumarao, Dumalag and Dao.

Capiz province in Panay Island has six existing Spanish colonial era churches to date: Roxas City, Panay, Dao, Dumarao, Dumalag and Loctugan presented here as a visita iglesia route.

At the Oton Church grounds, remnants of the once massive and elegant gothic style church and a portion of the original wall can still be seen.

Dumarao means to be in mourning.

On 16 November 2009, a fire broke out at the ceiling of the second level of the Our Lady of the Snow Institute at 0130H that gutted the whole building and the adjacent parish church of Dumarao. Today, it is being rebuilt.

It would have been a sight as one enters the lost church of Oton with its trompe l’oiels massive copula and an impressive gothic style and four sided retablo at the center.

The lost church of Oton was the only one of its kind in the Philippines in form and structure. It’s architecture is a combination of different architectural styles: gothic, classical and romanesque, a trait that is very much common in most Spanish colonial period churches in the country.

It would have been one of the country’s spectacular churches, if not the most beautiful were it not for a natural cataclysm that razed it to the ground. Oton’s once majestic church, in the form of a Greek cross, was unique as it was the only one with such a plan and architecture blending Byzantine with Gothic and classical elements.

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?