CHURCHES BIG & SMALL

The Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity at Church Street, Hamilton City, Bermuda Island. 

The church was designed by John Cranston of Oxfortd, and constructed sometime in 1844 and completed in 1869 but it was opened in 1886. The Anglican Church of Bermuda is an extraprovincial diocese of the Archbishop of Canterbury.  

Photo by Henry Libo-on of Touristang Pobre

Churches in places I visited. 

Just a few of them. 
By Henry Libo-on 

 

Comment: Please do not "pluck" photos or use them without the Author's permission. 

Thank you. 

 

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For Catholics, "visita iglesia" is visiting 7 churches or 14 churches during the holy week, specifically during Holy Thursday and Good Friday. The 7 churches represents the 7 Last Words of Jesus Christ when he was crucified on the cross, while the 14 churches represents the 14 Stations of the Cross.

 

In this regard, let me share with you the pictures of several churches that I visited in a short span of time that I have been into blogging. This is my way of keeping in touch with you and telling you to stay safe while we are waiting for the right time to travel to places we love to visit. 

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Wherever I go, my itinerary will include the center of the town or city that I am going to visit, the historical sites and places like buildings, churches, pyramids, museums, beaches, the mountains, and many more. 

Most of the time, I cannot complete my itinerary. If I will be caught in time constraints, I will choose the local church and the places around it. 

Most bloggers may have traveled to many places but I am content with what I reached since I am a "touristang pobre" which literally means a poor tourist or traveler. That means, I only travel when someone offers me a "free ride", or when I have saved enough to spend for my travel. 

In this blog, I will present some of the churches that I visited in the short time that I became a travel blogger. 

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The photo below shows the Miagao Church in the town of Miagao, Province of Iloilo, Philippines.  It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since December 11, 1993. 

I have been to Miagao Church several times in the past since it is the hometown of our great grandfather. We used to hold the Libo-on Family Reunion in the town, specifically on the beachfront property of one of the relatives in Miagao. My last visit to Miagao occurred in 2017 after which I stayed long in the U.S. 

According to Wikipedia, this "church was constructed in 1787 through forced labor under the supervision of Fray Francisco Gonzales, parish priest, and Spanish Gobernadorcillo Domingo Libo-on.^[3] It was built on the highest point of the town to guard against invaders called Tacas. After ten years, the church was completed in 1797."

Miagao Church is also known as Santo Tomas de Villanueva Parish Church. It is located in the town of Miagao, Province of Iloilo. Source: Wikimedia Commons by Alienscream. 

"Miagao Church.  Construction of the began in 1787 while Fray Francisco M. Gonzales, O.S.A. was Parish Priest of this Town and Domingo Libo-on was Gobernadorcillo. The church was completed in 1797. It serves as (a) fortress against Muslim raiders.  In 1898, during the Revolution, the church was destroyed. Subsequently rebuilt, it was damaged by fire in 1910.  It was badly damaged by (an) earthquake in 1948.  Restoration work began in 1950 and completed in 1962, during the term of office of Most. Rev. Fr. Jose Ma. Cuenco, D.D. Metropolitan Archbishop of Jaro, of Msgr. Fernando S. Javillo, O.P., Parish Priest of this Town and Dioscoro Muega, Municipal Mayor." Photo Credit to www.choosephilippines.com and images.search.yahoo.com. 

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Top photo is the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy, Eden Hills, Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

The newly constructed St. Roch Church, Manapla, Negros Occidental.

St. Roch Church, Manapla, Province of Negros Occidental, Philippines.

(Photo by Touristang Pobre.)

  

This is the St. Peter's Chappell, also known as Their Majesty's Chappell at Bermuda Island, a territory of the United Kingdom. The oldest structure of the church was replaced in 1612 and it was extended in 1713. St. Peter's Church was also the site where the first Bermuda Parliament was held in 1620. (bermuda-attractions.com/bermuda)

Photo by Henry Libo-on

Prince Charles sat on this chair when he attended the Church Service in one of his visits to the islands, one in 1970 to open the 350th Session of Parliament, and another in 1982 to spend their honeymoon. With him was Princess Diana. 

The above photo shows an announcement at St. Peter's Church, Bermuda Island. I visited Bermuda Islands in September a few years ago. Bermuda is a territory of the United Kingdom. It has several beaches and historical sites. 

The photo below shows the entrance to the Monastery of The Holy Eucharist. It is located in the village called Lindogon, in the Municipality of Sibonga in the island-province of Cebu, Philippines.  Since the entrance to the village of Lindogan is known as Simala, the shrine has become famous as 

Simala Church.  

The original church was small when it was built by the Marian Monks. The present palace-like architecture was an improvement after a few years that the original church was considered to be miraculous by the locals. Many Catholics helped in the construction of what the shrine looks like now. 

What pushed me to visit Simala? Its popularity and unique architecture. It looks like a huge palace but actually, the construction was done piece by piece depending on the availability of funds, one source told me. Simala Shrine attracts thousands of tourists daily. 

The photo (above) shows the Blogger, TP, inside the main church of the Simala Shrine. 

Top photo shows the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Agana, Guam Island, U.S.A.

This photo was sourced from www.bing.com. This is just temporary because I cannot find my file photo of this church. I used to live in Guam a few years ago. 


The photo shown below shows a Chapel in the village of Ermita, Sipaway Island, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, Philippines. Sipaway Island is a 15-minute Outrigger boat ride from San Carlos City in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. 

Hereunder is the picture of the Chapel of Mary, Star of the Sea Mission at Sipaway Island, Negros Occidental.

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This is the San Nicolas de Tolentino Church, Talisay City, Negros Occidental.
Local heroes of the revolution against the Spanish rule of the island of Negros in 1898 were buried near the altar, shown below. 

The church you see in the top photo and below is the St. Joseph's Oratory which is a Minor Basilica and a Shrine in Montreal, Canada.  Whenever you are in Montreal, I suggest you visit this Church.  It has a good lookout that overlooks the city below. 

My children, Tyl, Nic, and grandchildren Coco, Mai, and Ina attended a Sunday service here at the St. Joseph's Oratory in Montreal, Canada.  Photo by Henry Libo-on.

The unfinished Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, Canetowne, Victorias City, Philippines. 

The photo shows the side (top) of the inside of the unfinished cathedral. It is considered the biggest cathedral on the island of Negros but construction was halted because of a lack of funds. 

The top photo shows the mural of the Last Supper which is found at the back of St. Joseph's The Worker Chapel otherwise known as the Church of the Angry Christ at Victorias Milling Company Compound, Victorias City, Negros Occidental, Philippines. 

The inside of the Church of the Angry Christ.  According to the artist, Alfonso Ossorio, the scion of the owners of Victorias Milling Company, the world's largest sugar refinery until the early '60s, this is how Jesus Christ looks like at the time of Judgment. 
Photo by Henry Libo-on. 

The Aztec-designed Chapel in the Fort of Santa Isabel was built in 1667, Taytay Town, Palawan. This small chapel must have been built by the Spanish "Fuerza Militar" who were from Mexico where Aztec arts and style of architecture must have originated. The chapel overlooks the sea where oncoming ships enter the port of Taytay Town.  There are relics of Cannons around this high fort which is known as Fuerza de Santa Isabel.  Taytay Town is the old capital of the island province of Palawan, the Philippines where you can find the world's famous beaches and islands at El Nido and the UNESCO'S Heritage Site - the Underground Rivers of Puerto Princesa. 

Hacienda Sta. Rosalia Chapel is also known as The Chapel of the Cartwheels. It is located in the town of Manapla, Negros Occidental, Philippines. The farm is the location of the most acclaimed movie, "Oro, Plata, Mata", directed by Peque Gallaga. 

St. Roch Church, Manapla, Negros Occidental. Does it look familiar? Well, it has a far semblance with the Sydney Opera House which I visited in October 2000, just days after the Sydney Olympics. 

The top photo shows the inside of St. Roch Church. This is actually a newly constructed church.  The old church was renovated during the time of Fr. Esplico who contracted my father to improve and/or renovate the old church.  That was around the later part of the 1960s and early 1970s. But that was, I guess, totally demolished to give way to the new construction, this present church. 

Below is the Chapel in Apo Island, Negros Oriental. Apo Island is world-famous for its scuba dive sites that attract the world's divers. In 2008, Sport Diver Magazine listed Apo Island as one of the top 100 diving spots in the world, (Wikipedia). 

This is the historical Boljoon Church in Boljoon Town, Southern Cebu. Top photo and below. 

Boljoon Church was established in 1599 by the Augustinians and was dedicated to Nuestra Senora de Patrocinio. The Church now bears this Historical Marker from the National Historical Institute, Philippines. 

Boljoon is a town in the Southern end of Cebu Island Province. It is also a 30-minute fast craft (boat) ride from Sibulan Port in nearby Dumaguete City. 

This photo (above) shows the Poro Church in the town of Poro, Camotes Island, Cebu. 
Poro is the port of entry to the Camotes Islands. 
Camotes Islands consist of three neighboring islands that comprise the Camotes group of islands which is 2 hours by fast craft from Cebu City. 

Manila Cathedral. 

Photo by Henry Libo-on.

Inside the Manila Cathedral. 

 The photo above shows the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Valladolid, Negros Occidental. It is one of the oldest churches in the island province of Negros. It is believed to have been constructed during the time of the Recollect Missionaries. It is considered the biggest church on Negros Island. During my visit to this church, however, it looked like the church's altar had been moved closer to the main door making the main church appear smaller.  When I checked the back part of the church I discovered that the area of the old altar was made into a meeting place but the old structure shows its age or the time that it was constructed in the mid-1800s (1851-1860). 

 Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe, Orlando, Florida, shown above. I attended a Sunday Mass in this Basilica during our tour of Orlando, Florida. My grandchildren are shown walking to the church with their cousins. 

 San Isidro Labrador Parish Church, Lazi Town, Siquijor Island. Although this church was found in 1857, its construction ended in 1884. 

The inside of the Lazi Church or the SIL Parish Church. Near the church are the Lazi Convent and an open-air area for a garden mass. 

 My grandson, Coco, is going inside the reception and prayer room of the National Shrine Grotto Of Our Lady of Lourdes, Maryland. 

Basilica of Notre Dame, Montreal, Canada. The Basilica is a tourist attraction in Montreal because of its architecture and interior. At the time of my visit here, the tourists are required to pay a $5 entrance fee to get inside the Basilica. 

All photos by Henry Libo-on, Touristang Pobre. 

The photo above shows the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy Catholic Church at Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Thousands of Pilgrims gather at the Shrine to attend the Sunday Mass and get blessed by the Priests. Because of the volume of pilgrims visiting the shrine, it is advisable to be there earlier so that you can have a parking spot. 

All photos by Henry Libo-on of Touristang Pobre. 

                     

  

Finally, there are so many historical churches that are part of a country's heritage which I have not explored yet. One of them may be located in your hometown.  If you want me to visit that please send me a message. 

 

San Vicente Ferrer Church, Vito, Sagay City, Negros Occidental.

 

 

St. James Church, Hda. Manaul, Talisay City, Philippines.   Now, if you think you like this blog please LIKE my Facebook Page, and SHARE this with your friends.  Thank you. 

 

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May 14, 2020.

Reviewed on April 2, 2021. 

Reviewed on April 7, 2023

Reviewed on March 19, 2024