Miag-ao Church…
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
click pic for larger view
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.
grabe it’s fascinating and beautiful. parnag mas maganda pa sya kesa sa san agustin na isa ding world heritage site.
iRonnie
7 Nov 07 at 11:46 am
Lino, these shots are fabulous!! You just keeps getting better and better! You should have a portfolio by now, you know. Ako manager mo ha?
Give me a guided tour here when I visit home, perhaps?
(check your emails)
Thess
8 Nov 07 at 9:43 am
ganda talaga ng facade nya. di ko pa yan napuntahan
tutubi
9 Nov 07 at 4:02 am
One of those churches I also wanted to visit. Ang ganda nya! I also like your detailed shots of the church
Ferdz
9 Nov 07 at 11:05 am
naku ronnie, bumababa pa lang ako ng jeep napapa wow na ko…
hehe, thanks auntie, sige ikaw na lang… sige pag uwi mo magli-leave ako, hehehe
korek tutubi, makakarating ka rin dyan…
thanks Ferdz…
Lino
9 Nov 07 at 12:15 pm
wow! ang ganda ganda nga ng church na to, sana makapunta rin ako d2. ang galeng
pusa
10 Nov 07 at 3:45 am
Wow! Indeed a gem!
Sidney
11 Nov 07 at 7:02 am
just look at the details. amazing! pinoy na pinoy!
zherwin
12 Nov 07 at 8:04 am
truly beautiful churches! lalo na yung miag-ao. i’ll make it a point to drop by if ever i wander sa iloilo. tfs, bai lino!
lagal[og]
12 Nov 07 at 8:41 am
salamat pusa…
right on Sidney…
korek zherwin…
thanks oggie…
Lino
12 Nov 07 at 4:56 pm
I havent seen Miagao church in at least 13 years, when I was still in UPV! Still so beautiful! Thank you so much for the wonderful pictures.
Bloghopping po
glad I did!
cheryl joy
20 Nov 07 at 6:24 pm
thanks cheryl joy….
Lino
21 Nov 07 at 5:31 am
wooooow!
been meaning to see the last baroque i haven’t seen here in PI. but i never thought it is this amazing! as in WOOOOW!
banggigay
5 Dec 07 at 11:50 am
ey, thanks banggigay…
lino
5 Dec 07 at 10:13 pm
I had visited this church several times in the past but wasn’t able to take a peek of what’s inside. Glad to see it from here. These are all awesome photos. By the way, adopted son ako ng Iloilo so I got to stay there for quite sometime in my photography life
dodong flores
6 Dec 07 at 1:35 am
uy talaga dodong? ako naman, my mom is from alimodian, the last time i was there was when I was around 2 years old i think… i’m going back to iloilo to visit alimodian, just cant find the time yet…
Lino
6 Dec 07 at 4:25 am
Wow! This church is astonishingly beautiful, and your shots are awesome!
luna miranda
20 Dec 07 at 1:00 pm
thanks luna, i agree, the church is really beautiful…
Lino
21 Dec 07 at 3:21 am
wow! ang ganda talaga!i was looking for beautiful spots in region 6 for my inaanak’s assignment, and i found this site, you took photos exceptionally well. Hope I can visit this church someday…
Minnie
4 Mar 08 at 2:16 am
thanks minnie…
Lino
5 Mar 08 at 2:57 am
thank you i saw the miagao church is so beautiful
palmos
8 Mar 08 at 7:11 am
thanks palmos…
Lino
10 Mar 08 at 2:11 pm
i’m from miag-ao and been to this church countless times. i have to admit it’s really beautiful, but it’s undeniable your shots, lino, are super!
melissa
5 Apr 08 at 5:31 am
thanks melissa…
Lino
6 Apr 08 at 1:02 am
You’ve got the best site ever in photography…Keep it up Lino..I can view the place so very religious and peaceful.Hope I could have visita iglesia there so soon.
joy
3 May 08 at 1:29 pm
thank you very much joy… God bless you!
Lino
5 May 08 at 3:13 am