Lino Photography

this church near macapagal boulevard has been an icon in weddings, i know i’ve post something like this before, but this recent shot i like the colors…

Focal Length: 40mm
Exposure Mode: Manual
Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern
1/1000 sec - F/13
Exposure Comp.: 0 EV

The Church of Santo Tomas de Villanueva in the town of Miagao, Iloilo is one of the Philippines architectural and religious gems.

click pic for larger view

Built between 1787 and 1797, its fortress-like design suggests its dual purpose as a place of worship and as a fort used in defending the town against moro raiders at the time.

Handles and carving on the front door of the church

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It is one of only four (Augustinian-built) churches in the country to make it to the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List.

The central feature of the bas-relief facade is a large coconut tree which reaches almost to the apex. While an integral part of the Philippine landscape, the coconut tree is also the subject of lore. According to an old Philippine legend, the coconut tree was the only bequest from a loving mother to her two children, a tree which sustained them for life. On the church’s facade the coconut tree appears as the “tree of life” to which St. Christopher carrying the Child Jesus on his shoulder is clinging to. The lesser facades feature the daily life of Miagaowanons during the time. Also depicted are other native flora and fauna, as well as native dress.

click pic for larger view

The church and its watchtowers were also built to defend the town and its people against raids by the Moros. It therefore has thick walls and, reportedly, secret passages. Indeed stretching along the Iloilo coast are defensive towers, but none that equal the size of the Miag-ao. It is because of this defensive purpose that it is sometimes referred to as the Miag-ao Fortress Church.

Also of note are the dissimilar designs of the two belfries; both were commissioned by two different parish priests.

I was fortunate enough to get inside, the door was closed at first and I didn’t know if someone was inside.  So when the door opened, I politely ask if I can take pictures inside, he obliged but for only a few minutes because they need to get ready for an afternoon mass.

an old window on the side of the bell tower

this is my favorite among the churches that we visited in iloilo, when i behold the site while we were still in the jeepney, it really captured me. 

thanks to wikipedia and waypoints for the added infos…

sorry for the late post folks, i was in davao for a few days, i’ll complete my iloilo series first then post the pics of davao.

here’s my 2nd fave chruch in our iloilo trip… the Molo Church.  

The Molo Parish Church is one of the most beautiful churches in Western Visayas. It is an awesome imposing edifice of massive white corral rock lording over the Molo Plaza.

The only Gothic church in the entire country outside of Manila, Molo Church was constructed in 1831 under Fray Pablo Montaño and further expanded and finished by Fray Agapito Buenaflor in 1888 under the supervision of Don Jose Manuel Locsin.

Its two belfries had around 30 bells of different sizes ranging from small handbells to big campaniles making a musical tone.

The church, which is dedicated to Santa Ana, the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

i had a great time capturing this architecture, there were so many angles to choose from.  

up next, my no. 1 favorite church from the entire iloilo trip…

write up courtesy of http://www.thenewstoday.info/