Just before reaching the church, I had to stop at the invitation of the calm yet exciting Loboc River where several floating restaurants carried visitors to the awesome source of the river. The water was blue. Its bed is lined by smooth white rocks and fine light-colored sand. The enchantment, however, vanished when I realized that I went there to see the church.
Loboc Church
The Loboc Church was first established in dedication to San Pedro Apostol. The church, however, was badly destroyed by fire sometime in 1660. But the parishioners did not lose hope. In 1670, the present church was built from the ruins of the old church, and it was completed in 1734.
Inside the church, remarkable native paintings on the ceilings and walls tell fascinating stories of the past. The Spanish coat of arms can also be found in the stone wall near the entrance of the convent. Snugly nestled in the compound of the ancient building of God is Museo de Loboc where the well-preserved historical artifacts and a few old statues of saints are kept. Also an interesting sight is the separate octagonal bell tower located a few meters away from the main church structure. According to parishioners, the bell tower was purposely detached from the church after the first church was razed by fire. The priests thought of building the tower away from the church so that the bell could be used to alarm parishioners in case another fire takes place.
In Loboc, you can also admire a shameful witness of wasteful planning. Exactly next to the church is a partly finished bridge across the river. Hopefully, this bridge will never be completed since the Church will have to be destroyed to do so.
Dauis Church
Another beautiful church in Bohol is the Church of the Our Lady of the Assumption in Dauis, on the Island of Panglao. It is located not far from the bridge that connects Panglao with Bohol.
The church is a magnificent replica of mixed styles influenced by both Byzantine and Romanesque architecture. Although no date is carved up on its walls, the look of the church, founded by the Jesuits Fr. Diego de Ayala and Joseph Gregorio, explains why it should be considered as one of the oldest churches in the country. Impressive frescoes painted by Ray Francia in 1916 also decorate the ceiling of the church.
Go To Page: 1 2
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Mars Mosqueda Jr.'s Philippine Culture topic, please visit the Discussions page.