I love visiting Panay Island and most of their churches eh since Spanish times pa.
If you're planning to go to Iloilo try to visit these churches from different town:
1. Miag-ao Church - UNESCO heritage site sya at ang ganda ng loob at labas ng church. Intricate yung mga designs na naka ukit sa mismong taas nung church.
2. Molo Church in Molo Iloilo - Gothic church na ang pillars nya eh napapaligiran ng lahat ng female Catholic saints. Tapos ang ganda rin ng loob kasi sinauna pa yung pulpit nya saka yung mga remains ng mga sinaunang kilalang tao eh nakalagay sa loob ng church. Historical din sya kasi na-visit sya ni Jose Rizal before proceeding to Dapitan for exile.
3. Jaro Cathedral - I know under renovation sya ngayon pero super interesting lang dahil yung old bell tower nya eh nasa tapat lang ng church. Na-visit sya ni Pope John Paul II nung 1981 saka opposite sya ng Molo Church kasi puro naman male saints yung nasa paligid ng pillars nya. Isa pang interesting story about this cathedral yung Our Lady of Candles na nakalagay sa labas ng cathedral is known to grant blessings and miracles. Sabi dati daw yung icon ng saint na yun eh maliit lang pero habang tumatagal lumalaki ng lumalaki kasama yung baby na kalong nya hanggang sa ginawan na sya ng glass stand kasi di na sya kasya sa dati nyang niche sa cathedral.
4. Pavia Church or Sta. Monica Parish Church in Pavia - ganda lang din i-visit kasi red bricks yung ginamit sa walls ng church.
5. Guimbal Church in Guimbal Iloilo - ganda rin ng church na ito though medyo may part na naluluma na at nasisira pero since Spanish times pa sya at yellow bricks / stones ginamit sa walls nya. Added bonus pa, masarap tumambay sa plaza nila dahil malinis at sinaunang plaza na may bandstand pa.
6. Sta. Barbara Church in Sta. Barbara Iloilo - historical site sya at baroque type of church sya. During Spanish times ginamit sya na taguan ng mga revolutionaries against Spanish. Bonus din dito yung maganda nilang plaza at museum near the church. Malapit din sya sa Iloilo International airport.
7. Cabatuan Church in Cabatuan Iloilo - Red brick type din yung ginamit sa walls nya and since Spanish times din yung design ng church nila. Interesting history lang din ilang beses din nasira yung church gawa ng earthquake and fire pero yung ibang original structure nya intact pa rin. Masarap din mag food trip sa plaza nila.
8. Tigbauan Church in Tigbauan - Yung facade nya medyo sira na pero once you go inside maganda yung interiors nya. Made of tile mosaic yung stations of the cross nila at makikita pa yung pinakaunang bell na ginamit sa church.
yan yung mga personal ko na-visit na church sa Iloilo and pag umuuwi kami usually binibisita ko or dun ko dinadala yung mga friends ko na naisama ko sa province.
Iba pang nakita ko magandang church din sa Negros eh yung
Silay Cathedral - ganda rin ng loob at labas. Though may parts na renovated na pero sinauna pa rin yung altar saka yung pulpit.
Isa pa is yung sa
Chapel sa Guimaras na kelangan mo muna umakyat sa Balaan Bukid to reach the chapel. Isa din sya favorite destination during Holy Week as site for penitensya kasi meron din re-enactment nung last days ni Jesus and most people flock to do their penitensya at the top of the mountain.
