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.

I’ve always been fascinated with the all-steel structure of the San Sebastian Minor Basilica in Quiapo, Manila and when the opportunity came to document it inside and out, I grabbed it.

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.

A free downloadable and printable PDF guide is now available for those who would want to do the traditional visita iglesia in Manila! This freebie features the remaining eight still existing Spanish colonial era churches in the historic city, either wholly built or with it’s façade intact.

This downloadable PDF file is an inventory of colonial and post colonial, including contemporary, Philippine Catholic churches that I have accumulated starting in 2004. Consisting of 213 thumbnail images of church facades and 87 interior shots from 40 provinces in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

The first Franciscans arrived in the Philippines in 1578, the second order to come after the Augustinians. They founded many schools, bridges, roads, dams and hospitals. They also built many impressive stone churches that still stand today and can be found in Manila (Sta. Ana), the southern towns of Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, Quezon, the Bicol region and the Visayan islands of Samar and Leyte.

A few kilometers from the poblacion of Nasugbu, Batangas, in the town of Lumangbayan, aptly named as this translates to “old town” which is the original location of Nasugbu, is a Spanish colonial period church ruin that is still being used by devotees today. However, it was in this church that many of the townspeople were imprisoned and burned in 1896.

The interior of Caraga Church has been much renovated that there are no longer traces of the old, except for the hardwood posts and lateral walls. The old and dilapidated retablos were replaced with new ones during preparations for its centennial celebrations.

There are only three bells dated 1802, 1893 and 1895 remaining in the church of Caraga, Davao Oriental and these might have been placed at the top of the pediment. Now, all of these are just placed on the floor.

Caraga Church in Davao Oriental is a quadrilateral structure that is sparsely decorated. The lower level is made of mamposteria or rubble/stones with some parts finished with finely cut coral. There are only quite a few architectural details that might be interesting.

The town of Caraga in Davao Oriental has the distinction of having the oldest Catholic structure in the island of Mindanao. It was built by Fr. Pablo Pastells in 1884 when the Jesuits took charge of the spiritual administration of the town in 1871 from the Recollects.