Our pilgrimage to the Pahiyas festival also turned out to be a Visita Iglesia of sorts. We were able to visit at least four ancient churches! Ever since getting married in a 16th century church last January, I’ve been obsessed with their history and details. The Roman Catholic houses of worship in the Philippines may not be as grand as the ones in Europe but they’re still comparable in terms of historical value. They remain enduring symbols of Spain’s colonization of the Philippines, and some of them have housed revolutionaries fighting for Philippine Independence.
First on the agenda is the Lucban Church in Quezon, which is almost 400 years old. Said the inscription: ” The first church, built in 1595, was ruined in 1629. The second church was constructed between 1630 and 1640, but was seriously damaged by fire in 1733. The present church was completed in 1738 and the convent in 1743.”
The Liliw Church in Laguna is another thing of beauty, and dates back to the 1600s. It is notable for its orange-y brick color.
The church is the centerpiece of a town known for being the country’s premier slipper-makers. It is surrounded by a parking lot and a couple of pergolas or open-air quadrangles.
