GROUP 2

Augustinian Churches in Panay

BERMEJO

Sibalom, Antique(1732-1906)
Sibalom was founded as a parish in 1732. at that time, Sibalom was a flousrishing little
settlement of about two thousand inhabitants at the site on the northwestern part of the present
town which was called Barabanua.
Source: The Augustinians in Panay, R. Morales Maza, 1987
GONZALES

Santa Monica Church (Pan-ay Capiz) (1774)

It is known for its massive bell, the biggest in the Philippines and was cast from 70 sacks
of coins donated by the townsfolk at the foundry of Don Juan reina from Iloilo City. It is 7 feet in
diameter and weighs 10.4 tons.
Source: http://simbahan.net/2015/04/28/10-augustinian-built-heritage-churches-in-the-
philippines-you-should-see/
ALFARO

Miag-ao Church
This structure, fortress like and located on top of a hill was built in 1786-1797. The twin
belfries are asymmetric with one taller than the other. It is the stunning bas relief at the pediment
and facade of the church that makes this one of the interesting churches in the country. It depicts
St. Christopher with the Christ Child at the center with native flora around. Its patron is St.
Thomas, Tolentine.
Source: http://simbahan.net/2015/04/28/10-augustinian-built-heritage-churches-in-the-
philippines-you-should-see/
FARHAN

Church of St. Augustine in Dumangas

Constructed together with a convent by Fr. Martin de RadaOSA in 1572 under the
patronage of St. Augustine. Burned in 1628 and rebuilt but later destroyed by earthquake on
1787. Reconstructed with Gothic and Byzantine influence by Fr. Fernando Llorente on 1887 and
completed at the administration of Fr. Rafael Murillo on 1896.
Source: http://iloiloilove.com/church-of-st-augustine-at-dumangas/
RIZON
MOLO CHURCH, ILOILO
On a day in April, 1946, he went on a trip westward along Iloilos southern shore. The
Molo Church, he was told, was built by secular clergy, but after Molo all along the coast from
Villa de Arevalo, the churches were built by Augustinians.
Source: The Augustinians in Panay, R. Morales Maza, 1987
COATE

Lambunao Church
The Church in Lambunao owes its present site to the Father Jose Lobo. However, it may
not until 1758 that Lambunao became an independent parish. He came to this town as a Parish
priest in 1878. In 1879, he transferred the Church from near the river of Lambunao to
Buenavista. In 1880, he supervised the building of a new Church made of stone. The new stone
church was of blessed and inaugurated at 4 oclock in the afternoon of Sept. 9, 1890 with Fr.
Castandellio, O.S.A.
Source: The Augustinians in Panay, R. Morales Maza, 1987
LOSANTA

San Joaquin Church (Iloilo)

The current structure was built during the curacy of Fray Tomas Santaren (1855-1886). It
was during building of this church that news of the victory of Spain against the Moroccans, thus
capturing Tetuan. It was with this news that the priest depicted the victory as a bas relief at the
pediment entitled Rendicion de Tetuan.
Source: http://simbahan.net/2015/04/28/10-augustinian-built-heritage-churches-in-the-
philippines-you-should-see/
SUELLO

Anini-y Antique
In Anini-y, on the southwestern-most point of Panay, the church still stood. Guerilleros
had tried to burn its roof three times but each time, young boys between the ages of 8 and 10
years had gone up the roof and put out the fire. The older men had not gone up because they
feared a reprisal but the children did and the church building was saved.
Source: The Augustinians in Panay, R. Morales Maza, 1987
MALICIA

The Church of San Jose de Buenavista

The ruins of an old church still stand at Maybato, San Jose, Antique from which the
barangay got its name, short for Maybato nga simbahan. The old name of Maybato was
tubigon for it was then very close to the waters edge on the estuary of the present Malandog
River. The Church was built of bricks and stone which served as ballasts for ships coming from
Mexico. This was the original hamtik Church. The Moros raided the church several times but the
people under the leadership of their priest were able to fight and win. The Moros rammed down
the thick walls of the Church and burned its combustible roof. Then they took away the big
bronze bell.
Because of the constant Moro raids, the people along the seaside fled to a higher place
not easily accessible from sea. They called their village buenavista. The Augustinians
consecrated the village to Saint Joseph the Worker. Thus, the name San Jose de Beunavista.
After the Moros disaster, the Augustinians decided to abandon their ruined church and
branch out. One went to hamtik proper and built a church near where the present now stands. The
other started to built a Church in San Jose de Beunavista, which became a parish in 1973. Its
first parish priest was Fr. Manuel Ibaez, O.S.A. As soon as the uprising was put down, the
General of the Augustinian order urged that Augustinian religious be placed back in the parishes.
Source: The Augustinians in Panay, R. Morales Maza, 1987
CAPAYAN

The Parish of San Jose de Iloilo

This article is taken from Fr. Juan Fernandez. OSAs Fundacion de Iloilo. In 1581, the
governor general of the Philippines Gonzalo Ronquillo de Pealosa decided to establish a
Spanish settlement near Oton. He called it Villa Rica de Arevalo after his hometown in Spain; it
was merely called Dunte. It was uninhabited until 1602 when Gov. Pedro Bravo de Acua
ordered C wooden fortress to be built their station in two companies of Solder. In 1840s, Iloilo
was still a make shift town built on a shaky foundation for and inhabited. The church was gutted
by Fire auwl 1850s. In 1865, Fr. Leonardo Lazaro, a native of Mandurriao has appointed parish
priest. With the help of Don Manus Iznart, the governor of the province, started constructing the
new church.
Source: The Augustinians in Panay, R. Morales Maza, 1987
ESCONDO

Church of the Immaculate Conception (Oton, Iloilo)

he Augustinian Friars first arrived in Oton as early as 1572 under Friar Martin Rada from
Dumangas where he had established the church in southern Panay having been sent there from
the town of Pan-ay in Capiz in 1566, because of his success in evangelizing the population and
his ability in the languages of the region. According to history the first Church built by Friar
Rada (date unknown) was destroyed in 1614 when Oton was attacked by Dutch Privateers who
razed the church in one of their raids.
Source: https://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/ShowUserReviews-g298466-d7311281-r251205123-
Immaculate_Conception_of_Mary_Church-Iloilo_City_Iloilo_Province_Panay_Island_Vi.html
BORRA

Iglesia de Arevalo, Iloilo

After reading the article, 2 had more questions in my mind than answers. There were a lot
of claims but few sources of facts. Most of the claims were based pm a long standing tradition.
There were no means of proving their truth because they cannot trace any written document
which supports them.