Notable Churches in Cagayan Valley – Part I
Cagayan Valley is home to centuries-old Dominican churches. A visit to the region, therefore, would be incomplete without visiting the numerous churches in the valley, many of which are located along or near the Maharlika Highway.
In Nueva Vizcaya, the two churches worth visiting are the St. Dominic Cathedral in the province’s capital, Bayombong; and St. Vincent Ferrer Church in Dupax Del Sur.
St. Dominic is the first cathedral in the province. Before it was wrecked by fire in 1986 and by the powerful earthquake in 1990, it boasted of having the best sounding bells in the country. The church has been rebuilt in the same old site, retaining its original 18th century Spanish style façade.
St. Vincent Ferrer Church, on the other hand, is one of the oldest churches in Northern Luzon. Constructed in the 16th century, it is declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum. It has an underground museum that houses centuries-old artifacts, and the statue of St. Vincent Ferrer, the town’s patron saint.
In Isabela, four of the churches we have visited were: Our Lady of Atocha Church, The Shrine of Our lady of Visitation, The Parish Church of St. Mattias, and the San Pablo Church.
Located along the national highway in Alicia, Isabela, Our Lady of Atocha is a 19th century church built under the leadership of Fr. Francisco Gainza, OP. Inaugurated in 1805, it is a Dominican church, like all the other old churches in Cagayan Valley. With its bricked façade, it is a magnificent sight, diminished by the green tarpaulin posted at the front which we chanced upon on our visit.
The Shrine of Our Lady of Visitacion in Gamu houses the Miraculous Lady of the Visitacion, hence it is a famous pilgrimage site. Located along the Maharlika Highway, travelers frequently stop over at the shrine, but the busiest month is July, when most pilgrims come to offer their thanks and make personal appeals.
Built in 1783 and completed in 1805, The Parish Church of St. Mattias features a cylindrical bell tower, a one of its kind in the country. A baroque church, its façade is made of customized clay bricks stamped with finely designed ornaments like cherubs and saints, and flowers and foliage. Like the façade, the interior is also veneered with ornately designed bricks. The fence that enclosed the church complex also used ornamented bricks like the ones used in the church façade as evident in the distinguishable designs in the fence ruins. Partly damaged during the Second World War, the church was restored to its original form by the People of Tumaini. It was declared a Historical National Landmark in 1989 by virtue of Presidential Decrees 260 (1973) and 1505 (1978).
The San Pablo Church in San Pablo town is the oldest church in the province, built in 1624. It is a church within church ruins. Its six-layer bell tower with a circular apex made of adobe is the tallest in the region. From the outside, the church looks imposing (which it was before it was razed). But as one lets himself in through the gate, one would be welcomed by what remained of what was once a magnificent church. But while the relatively new church inside the ruins is much smaller now, it commands a different kind of awe, as the ruins surrounding it have added a different kind of character to it — one that is hard to define, but good nonetheless.
Cagayan is home to numerous old churches, but we have managed to visit only two so far: the San Jacinto de Ermita Church in Tuguegarao City and the Iguig Church in Iguig town.
Currently being managed by the St. Paul Sisters, the San Jacinto de Ermita Church was constructed in 1604. It served as headquarters by the American soldiers in the Filipino-American War (1899). It was reconstructed after the Second World War.
The Iguig Church was constructed from 1765 to 1787. It is unique in that it is the only centuries-old church in the country that features flying buttresses behind it. But more than that, it is also believed that the church houses the Jubilee Cross containing relic of the True Cross of the Lord Jesus. A certification is displayed inside the church.
Wow! These images are great. Thanks for the great read brainteaser.
heheh. Dami din palang magagandang tourist spots sa Region 2
Hi MS! Indeed, there are a lot to visit in R2. I was amazed to find that out. And there are still a lot of churches not included in the list, hence the “Part I.” I hope to write another piece soon, featuring the other old churches.
R2 is also a spelunking haven. Hope we can feature our caves as well!