If there is anything I am proud of, I will always say that I am proud of our Parish Church. This church building is made of lime stone and volcanic stones and is one of the 25 baroque churches in the Philippines considered by the National Commission on Culture and Arts as a national Treasure. The titular of this Church is St. John the Baptist, precursor of the Messiah. St. John the Baptist has been the favorite patron saint of missionaries. The recorded history of our city began in 1587 through the missionary works of the Franciscan Fathers. in 1616 Fr. Pedro de Alcareso built a church dedicated in honor of St. John the Baptist. I am not sure if this church is the one built by Fr. Alcareso. This church was built by the Secular Clergy a century ago. The unique markings and seals inscribed on the foundation of this church makes this one unique. This is the church of my childhood and very dear to me.
This is the picture of the church and courtyard. I took these pictures using my Nokia E61i mobile phone. Notice the bamboo poles at the stone belfry? the belfry is undergoing clean up. getting ready for easter. The significant events that reminded me so much of this courtyard are the processions, way of the cross and the easter liturgies.
This is the picture of the church and courtyard. I took these pictures using my Nokia E61i mobile phone. Notice the bamboo poles at the stone belfry? the belfry is undergoing clean up. getting ready for easter. The significant events that reminded me so much of this courtyard are the processions, way of the cross and the easter liturgies.
The Photo below is the belfry undergoing clean-up to remove unwanted vegetation. The Philippines is a tropical country and there are no pronounced climatic changes. It is almost always humid and hot. Thus buildings made of volcanic stones are usually susceptibe to growth of unwanted vegetation.
The Belfry without the scafoldings.
The newly renovated courtyard as it looks today. Observe the Christ the King altar. This is an outdoor altar designed according to the tridentine Rite with the altar attached to the wall. Unfortunately now it is unused because of the ad populum orientation of the Novus Ordo Mass. I wish that our parish priest like Pope Benedict XVI when he celebrated mass at the Sistine Chapel ad orientem on reason of preserving the architectural style of the chapel would also celebrate outdoor mass using this altar ad orientem.
This is the courtyard as it look like in November 2008 undergoing renovations.
Here are some street scenes near the church:
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