After two attempts of visiting Bauang as a side trip to shoot the celebrated San Pedro bell, I was finally successful for the third time, after a visit to the the Manaoag Shrine as well as its Catholic and municipal cemeteries in Pangasinan. All because I want to see the bell that was returned to …
The belfry of Balilihan is one of the unique belfries in Bohol in that it is the farthest positioned from the present church, atop a hill overlooking a wide area. It not only acted as a bell tower but during the Spanish era and World War II, was utilized as a watchtower due to its …
Removed from her place at the slender belfry of Maasin City’s Spanish colonial era church of coral stones, the main bell of the then church, The La Asuncion is now placed prominently, albiet braced with metal cables and fenced at the cathedral compound of Maasin City just infront of the kumbento. Maasin in Southern Leyte …
When it comes to heritage churches, Mindanao can only show us a few structures sprinkled around the big island. There’s just a few Spanish colonial era churches. There are a few forts and some ruins, a cemetery and a few more watchtowers. But when I read online that there is a ruin of a belfry …
Passi Church in Iloilo is, unlike its counterparts like San Joaquin, Miag-ao and Molo lacks the intricacy of details or the height that identifies these churches. What it does have are just some minor bas relief details and massive buttresses. The current facade’s main entrance has the Augustinian order’s emblem at the center, just atop …
Although much of the interior of Pitogo Church has been renovated, there are still some old construction that can be found, if one knows where. While the exterior, both the front and side facades have some interesting details etched in stone, the upper parts of the church holds some surprises. First, as one gaze up …
I was able to visit the Basilica Minore del Sto Nino and, as of 30 December 2013, there are already restoration works going on. Scaffolds are up infront and around the broken belfry that was badly damaged during the 15 October 2013 earthquake which might have been primarily caused by the movement of the major …
The Bohol 7.2 earthquake was very much felt in Cebu and the biggest casualty, in terms of damage to heritage sites was the toppling of the belfry of the Sto. Nino Minor Basilica at the height of the tremor. For an edifice that was built for durability, it has weathered several earthquakes from 1739, the …
The fateful day of 15 October 2013, when a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the town of Sagbayan in Central Bohol was an unexpected cataclysm. Almost all the heritage churches of that province were badly damaged with two churches in Maribojoc and Loon went down in rubble. The neighboring island province of Cebu was also badly …
In a visit, 30 October, the left beflry of Carcar Church, the heavily damaged portion due to the earthquake has now been attended to. When we first visited this structure, the architect who was with us advised that this needed to be steel braced to prevent one side from falling. I guess, this is what …
The belfry of Anini-y church consists of three tiers with a quadrilateral base and the remaining two tiers octagonal and capped with a dome. It is located at the right side of the facade and is attached to the church.