9 Churches to Explore in Central Visayas

The Church of Immaculada Concepcion in Baclayon is considered to be one of the oldest in the Philippines. Construction began in 1717 where some 200 native forced laborers cut and dragged coral blocks from the sea, using only bamboos in moving and lifting the stones in position. The church is now one of the great pilgrimage centers in the Philippines.

The Church of the Infant is located near the Magellan's Cross and was rebuilt in 1740. It has been more than 200 years old and is the old Roman Catholic church in the Philippines. There is a statue of a young Jesus in a room in the Church of the Infant. It is said that Magellan gave the Queen of Cebu in 1521, and many locals will line up to pray.

Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral is a wide religious structure of Spanish colonial design. Built between the 17th and 20th centuries, it is among the most important emblems of Catholicism in the Philippines. Inspect the statues of religious figures that decorate the square outside the church.

Magellan's Cross is a Christian cross made by Portuguese and Spanish explorers on 15 March 1521 as ordered by Ferdinand Magellan upon arriving in Cebu in the Philippines. As you can see, the cross is being housed in a chapel next to the Basilica Minore del Santo Nino , also popular site on Magallanes Street. The reason why the magellan krus is put in house is not only to protect the Cross from rain or the hot tropical sun, but also from fanatics who chipped away pieces believing it has miraculou

Magellan Marker was constructed to mark the spot where Ferdinand Magellan died. He was a great explorer who spread Christianity in Cebu and was killed in the Mactan Island in an effort to spread the faith. Spanish Governor-General Francisco Alcala approved the plan to construct the monument to commemorate the life of the Portuguese “discoverer” of the Philippines- Ferdinand Magellan. According to historians the original monument was a monument-cum-lighthouse.

The Church of San Pedro in Loboc, Bohol is the second oldest church in Bohol. It was originally built in 1602, but soon reduced to ashes. In 1638, a stronger one was build. Located near the river, it has survived a number of floods. Inside the church, you can admire some remarkable naive paintings on the ceiling. it is now one of the great pilgrimage attraction in this area.

The Sta. Monica Parish Church in Alburquerque town was founded in 1869 after being separated from Baclayon town. Reports dating as far as 1886 indicate that the church was first built of light materials. The imposing structure is famous for its sturdy arches supporting a pathway that connected the church to the convent, which is described as “de grandes dimensiones”. What makes the church special is that the altar was carved manually by a local and the intricate design makes it one of a kind.

Founded in 1620, Dumaguete City is one of the older parishes in Negros and its parochial administration included the southeastern part of the island from Sibulan up to Bayawan as well as Siquijor. it was one of the oldest parishes in this area and it is now one of the pilgrimage centres.

The parish of Tagbilaran is one of the first 6 parishes founded by the Jesuit missionaries who came to Bohol in 1595. Saint Joseph the Worker, a favorite among the Jesuits, was enthroned as the patron saint by Rev. Fr. Joaquin de San Jose in 1767, a year before the Jesuits were expelled from the country.