July 10, 2005
Ilocos Sur, Philippines – Visiting Old Churches
A guest article by Celine Roque. Ilocos Sur is found at the northern part of the Philippines. To get there, you can hire a shuttle driver or take a bus from Manila. It is approximately an eight hour drive. You can take an alternate route by taking a local flight from the international airport to the Laoag International Airport in Ilocos Norte. From there, going to Ilocos Sur will take roughly a two-hour drive.
One of the primary reasons tourists come to Ilocos Sur is to marvel at the grand old churches that this province boasts of. This particular type of journey will be appreciated most by history buffs and architecture enthusiasts.
Stop one: Sta Lucia Church
This church is located in the town of Sta. Lucia. It is the only church in the province with a transept. Experts describe the dome overhead as Renaissance in style. Consoles projecting downward from the cornice make the church façade attractive. A four-storey tower with a mini-dome at the top stands to the right side of the church façade. One can also see here a statue of St. Lucy that dates back to the 19th century.
Stop two: Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion Church
This church is located in the town of Sta. Maria. It was designated as a National Historical Landmark on Sept. 26, 1982 and included in the World Heritage List on December 11, 1993. Because it was built on top of a hill, visitors can glimpse a panoramic view of the town, the green fields, and the blue sea. One can reach the Baroque church via an 82-step stairway. The walk is long and tiring, but the view at the end is so breathtaking, making the effort worth it.
Stop three: The Shrine of Nuestra Señora de la Caridad
This church is located in the town of Bantay. It is home “Our Lady of Charity, patroness of Nueva Segovia”. The Statue of Our Lady adorns a niche at the top section just below the ornate cornice of the church façade.
Stop four: St. Paul’s Cathedral
This church is found in the capital of Ilocos Sur, which is Vigan City. This was erected in 1574 under the order of the Spanish conquistador, Juan de Salcedo. The church stands as the center of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia. A three-storey bell tower with a square base and a mini-dome at the top lies nearby.
Stop five: Simbaan a Bassit
At the end of Vigan’s Quezon Avenue stands the Simbaan a Bassit, which is actually a cemetery chapel. Rectangular columns support the church façade. It is the only one in the region having an espadaña hung with church bells.
Stop six: San Vicente Church
This church is located in the town of San Vicente. Miracles are attributed to the parish’s patron saint, St. Vincent Ferrer, attracting pilgrims from far and near. The church façade has two layers of columns divided by ornate architraves.
Stop seven: The Church of St. William the Hermit
One can find this church in the town of Magsingal. Experts classify this church as Baroque. It is famous for its antique wooden altar (retablo), which is still being used. The beautifully carved three-layered retablo is divided into eight niches, each occupied by a saint.
Stop eight: The Shrine of Santo Cristo Milagroso
The church itself is simple with the façade flanked by two square columns. The main attraction of the church is the statue of the crucified Christ. Every year, flocks of devotees from all over Ilocos and nearby provinces come to pay homage to the Santo Cristo Milagroso.
Visiting all the said churches may take two to three days.
Posted by James Trotta at July 10, 2005 9:23 AM
re: article by ms roque whats wrong with the town of Sinait,ilocos sur ,stop #8
where apo milagroso is located how come it was never mentioned while all the rest of the towns visited were is this a safe place?