St. James Church and Catholic Rectory

In continuation to my previous post on Dr. Jose P. Rizal's 154th birthday, here's another post dedicated to our national hero.  Just a 5 to 8-minute drive away from Rizal Shrine stands the church where Rizal heard mass every Sunday during his exile in Dapitan, the St. James Church and Catholic Rectory.  It is a simple church of unpainted exterior in Baroque-style just like Jimenez's St. John the Baptist Church.  And it also has a touch of Gothic with the two bell towers by the sides of the crucifix just like the only Catholic church in Vietnam that I just recently visited, the St. Joseph's Cathedral .

   

This is a smaller and humble church compared with the said cathedral that was built by the Jesuits during the Spanish rule in our country in 1871 to honor the town's patron saint, St. James the Greater.

It surprised me to see an image of a saint riding on a horse for it was my first time plus, I'm only accustomed to St. Michael with the devil at his foot and Señor Sto. Niño, my childhood saint.  

The church's interior is even simpler with a fascinating ceiling of pink and white tiles.

Look up and you'll  be mesmerized by the hypnotic design and eventually, you'll get dizzy staring at it.

Simple as it is, there are no great treasures hidden inside the church. 

The only treasure is the word of God being preached during mass to the people of Dapitan who had preserved the conservative culture of Filipinos in maintaining peace and order to the silent town.

By the way, across the church is the relief map of Mindanao that was also one of the many projects of Dr. Jose Rizal in Dapitan.  Nowadays, this serves as a plaza where families get together after mass for the corn, samalamig, and balloons for the kids.

Visit the peaceful town of Dapitan this July 25 for its Kinabayo festival in celebration of St. James the Greater's feast day!

  

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Spiritual Sunday: Iloilo's Must-See Churches

Spiritual Sunday teaches all about life and our Big Boss.

My restless feet had brought me to two historic provinces in our country for two consecutive years in a row.  Aside from their historical features, these provinces also happen to be the home of Philippines' grandiose colonial churches.  One was Albay last year and the other one was Iloilo just this year.  

When I travel, I do away with too much shopping.  What I do is just go around for a leisurely walk, take snapshots, connect with the locals, and eat whatever food the place offers.  It has always been eat, pray, love journeys for me because what I'm after for is the experience!  So for this post, I'll be sharing about Iloilo's finest churches.

Church # 1 Jaro Cathedral

Jaro Cathedral is the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Candles.  I found this church very unique for it has two stairways right in front of its exterior leading to the relic of the patroness.  

  

Situated across the street is the belfry of the original church which stands as a remains after a massive earthquake that shook the place in 1948.  This belfry had been declared as a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Institute of the Philippines. 

  

The pillars of the cathedral were also unique for its collection of male saints.  I just found this ironic to the name of the church which is devoted to a female saint.

Church # 2 Molo Church

Contrary to Jaro Cathedral, Molo Church is dubbed as a feminist church of Iloilo for it houses a total of sixteen images of female saints.  It is also known as the Parish of St. Anne in honor of its patron saint Sta. Ana.     

The spires of Molo Church put me in a trance, letting me experience a feel of England while watching 'em.  This Gothic-Renaissance architecture is one of its kind especially to a remote province in our country.

The interior of Molo Church is also rich in Gothic elements which is flanked by five wooden altars.  And in contrast to the pillars of Jaro Cathedral, female saints hemmed the place.

Church # 3 Guimbal Church

Guimbal Church is also known as St. Nicholas of Tolentino Church.  It is a humble church reflecting the patron saint's workings with the poor.  The facade is made of goldenrod adobe stones called igang.    

  

As a modest church, there are no extravagant paintings nor statues inside it.  But what made it distinct among the others were the saints outside it, giving a homey atmosphere and warm welcome to anyone who wants to get inside.

Church # 4 Miag-ao Church

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site of Iloilo, Miag-ao Church is a world iconic spot that has two big belfries. 

Also known as the Church of Sto. Tomas de Villanueva, Miag-ao Church is also renowned for its artistic design right on its whole facade.  It is intricately sculpted depicting the way of life of the Filipinos.

At the upper center of the church's facade is the relief sculpture of St. Christopher carrying the child Jesus.  Though the church is in Baroque-Romanesque style, it stays indigenous native to Philippine architecture for the additional coconut tree, guava, and papaya shrubs carved on it.

Going against with the church's grand exterior is its simple interior.  Nonetheless, the altar is being highlighted by a gold-plated retablo with the crucifix at its center.

  

Having gone to a handful of places of worship not just in the Philippines, every church visit is a noteworthy experience for me.  I've come to know that every church has its own story to tell and own pride to boast.  I've come to also realize that every church has its own culture that one must respect and observe while being there.  So for your church visit, take time to solemnly say a little prayer for God's presence to endow the place.

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