Completed in 1888, Sta Maria Church represents the strong faith and perseverance of the Itbayat community. The church, was constructed for 16 years using a human chain extending to 1.7 kilometers so people can transport materials from the port to the town center.
Category Archives: Churches
Miag-ao Church
Built in 1787 by Spanish Augustinian missionaries, Miag-ao Church in Iloilo is one of the four Baroque Churches listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites here in he Philippines. The church has a fortress-like design as its been used as a place of worship and as defense against moro raiders at the time. The church facade has a unique Aztec-like bas relief depicting depicting St. Christopher carrying the baby Jesus through a tropical forest.
St. Augustine Church, Ilocos Norte
One of the more popular church in the country is the St. Augustine Church in Ilocos Norte, also famously known as the Paoay Church. Built in 1694 with baked bricks, coral rocks, salbot (tree sap), and lumber and 24 carved buttresses, this church is considered as the most outstanding example of “earthquake baroque.” Former President Ferdinand Marcos declared this church as a National Treasure and is now proudly enlisted in UNESCO’s World Heritage List.


