Iloilo: Jaro Cathedral

The house of the miraculous Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of Candles), Jaro, Iloilo City is usually by visited by tourists, like me, because of this stunning church that is in the heart of this remarkable town.

With its town feast every second Sunday of the month of February, I and two of my superfriends, had a chance to see this impressive work-of-art last July during our Eat, Pray, Love Vacation. With our super tight schedule, I am really glad that we had the opportunity to see this church and lightt up candles for our wishes and prayers.

Going here ain't really that hard because taxi cabs and jeepneys can be easily hired. For us, during our trip, since we came from a hefty breakfast at Ted's La Paz Batchoy, we just hailed a cab to get here. It cost us Php80.00 from Ted's La Paz Batchoy, which is in front of SM Dominga, to this cathedral. The travel time was roughly 15 minutes, with a very smooth, traffic-free roads.

Upon stepping our feet on the ground of this stunning church, we were welcomed by candle vendors. With different colors of candles to offer to the miraculous saint, my friends and I bought each of the colors and lit them up in the candelarias or candle stands that are in front of the church.

Also, on the ground of the church were these two statues, the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Virgin Mary that serves as a welcoming monuments to this sacred place.

The striking look of its facade was matched really well by its interior that look so glorious. We got a chance to check every corner of this cathedral and to my surprise, they have a corner there for Our Lady of Guadalupe, who I adore the most. No wonder, why I am so eager to visit this church, Our Lady of Guadalupe wants me to see her. ^_^

To be honest, the interior of the church - the space, the style and the ambiance - feels a lot like the Sto. Niño de Tondo Parish in Tondo, Manila, a church that is so close to my heart, I feel so at-home.

After checking out the saints that they have in here, we spent some few minutes to pray and to thank the creator for this superb chance of seeing this wonderful church.

When we went back outside, we climb some step to reach the veranda of the cathedral where a glass-encased Madonna and a Child is located. There were some people who were doing their novena that time, so we really didn't spent so much time up there for we may disturb them with our camera's clicking.

It was indeed a blessed time. 

But before leaving Jaro, one should not miss the belfry that is standing on the other side of Jaro Cathedral. This belfry is said to be holding a great part to the history of this town, and up until now, the whole town gives importance to this structure.

Iloilo: Saint Clement Church

Saint Clement Church is located at La Paz, Iloilo City. This church is known for its novena for the devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help every Wednesday were you could see lots of devotees.

The image brought in the Philippines in 1906, as part of their mission to spread the devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. It was adopted by Saint Clement’s Parish in Iloilo in 1948. The novena attracted many adherents.

Catholic Mass Schedule at St. Clement's Church

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday Mass

6am – 7am

5:30pm – 6:30pm

Wednesday Novena Mass

6am – 7am

11am – 12pm

3pm – 4pm

4pm – 5pm

5pm – 6pm

Sunday Mass

6am-7am

7:30am-8:30am

9am-10am

10:30am-11:30am

3pm-4pm

 4:30pm-5:30pm

 6pm-7pm

St. Clement Church

Luna Street, La Paz Iloilo City

5000 Philippines

33 320-0717 / 33 320-7928

Read more: http://www.karenjardeleza.com/2011/08/iloilo-saint-clement-church.html#ixzz1XKk3zIVN

Santa Barbara is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 46,076 in 8,821 households and is strategically located in the center of Iloilo, 15.7 kilometers away from the Iloilo City.The Iloilo International Airport is located in Santa Barbara.

History

The Agustinian Archives, Vol. 17-18, which record the missionary achievements of the Agustinian missionaries, mentions that in 1617 the missionaries ministered of a community then known as Catmon, a name derived from a fruit tree which was an imposing landmark, which sat on a rich and fertile plain traversed by the Salug (now Tigum) and Aganan rivers, producing rice, corn, sugar, mongo and tobacco. Then Catmon was only a “Visita Catmon” of Jaro vicariate.

In 1760, Catmon was established as an independent parish, whose patron saint was Santa Barbara and the settlement became a “pueblo” named after her. Its total population at the time wwas 15,094.

In 1845, its population was 19,719 and it covered area which are now the Municipalities of Zarraga, New Lucena and parts of Leganes and Pavia.

When the Philippine Revolution broke out on Luzon in 1896, it did not spread immediately to Iloilo. The Spanish authorities thought that they could keep the Ilonggos loyal to Spain. Governador–General Basilio Agustin organized the Volunteer Militia in Iloilo to enlist Ilonggos to fight the Tagalog rebels. Being a “mestizo” and having occupied the highest office in his town, Martin T. Delgado was appointed commander of the “voluntaries” in Santa Barbara.

Unknown to the Spaniards, however, Delgado had already become a “revolucionario”. On October 28, 1898 he publicly declared himself for the Revolution and took the municipal building. The Revolutionary Government of the Visayas was organized and on November 17, 1898, was formally inaugurated at the town plaza of Santa Barbara. A large crowd of people gathered from many place in Iloilo for the historic occasion. The Philippine flagwas raised for the first time outside of Luzon.

The officials of the Revolutionary Government were Roque Lopez, president; Vicente Franco, vice president and secretary of the interior; Venancio Concepcion, secretary of finance; Ramon Avanceňa, secretary of state; Jovito Yusay, secretary of justice; Julio Hernandez, secretary of war; Fernando Salas, secretary general. General Martin T. Delgado was chosen General –in-Chief of the Revolutionary Forces.

Santa Barbara became the base of the Revolutionary Forces and from Gen. Delgado launched the campaign to liberate the whole province which culminated in the surrender of Iloilo City by Governor-General de los Rios on December 24, 1898.

The victory against Spain was short-lived for the Philippine–American War followed. Gen. Delgado led the same army against Americans from 1899 to 1901. Delgado was forced to surrender on February 2, 1901.

Upon the establishment of the civil government, Martin Delgado was appointed as the first provincial Governor of Iloilo and was elected to the same position in the first elections held in 1903. Santa Barbara became a town under American regime and was incorporated into a municipality by the Commonwealth Government. The town began to progress.

In 1948, Barangay Tuburan-Solbud was transferred to Zarraga, Iloilo.^[1

Guimbal Church: One of the oldest in the Philippines

The Guimbal Church is one of the oldest churches in the country. This yellow sandstone church is made made from adobe stones called igang and coral stones quarried from Guimaras. It was built in 1774 by Father Campos.

The facade is a two-story affair flanked by twinned round pilasters decorated with floral carvings. Its vintage belfry is 4 stories high and doubles as a watchtower during the Spanish occupation against pillaging Moro pirates. It has undergone some reconstruction after it was destroyed twice, during the Second World War and during the 1948 earthquake. Recently, it was rehabilitated to its original structure.

Location Map

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Map

Satellite

To go to Guimbal Church, you can ride a Guimbal Jeepney in front of Iloilo Supermart – Molo Branch or in the Terminal Market (locally called “Super”) near Robinsons Place. You can also ride a Miagao or San Joaquin Jeepney. Just tell the driver to drop your off at Guimbal Plaza.