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You are here: Home / Destination / Iloilo Heritage Tour : San Joaquin Church and San Joaquin Cemetery

Iloilo Heritage Tour : San Joaquin Church and San Joaquin Cemetery

June 12, 2011 by Edcel 2 Comments

After the Visayas Blogging Summit and Philippine Blog Awards – Visayas, the Iloilo Bloggers Organization have organized a Heritage Tour of Iloilo for the bloggers to showcase the historical and cultural attractions of Iloilo City and Province.

The assembly area was at Museo Iloilo located at Bonifacio Drive, City Proper, Iloilo City (beside the Iloilo Provincial Capitol). After a few minutes of briefing and a few chitchats, we boarded our Starex-shaped jeepney and started the tour. The jeepneys in Iloilo features wide-bodies and streamlined designs with hoods copied from branded cars, pick-ups and vans. So If you go to Iloilo, stop your jaws from dropping if you see a jeepney looking like you neighbor’s expensive vehicle.

Our first stop would go all the way to the southernmost town of the province, San Joaquin, located 53.5 km. west of Iloilo City. San Joaquin borders the province of Antique. This town is known to be one of the landing sites of the mythical Ten Bornean Datus. The crowning jewel of this southern town would be its 19th century church and its cemetery.

San Joaquin Church
The San Joaquin Church was built in 1869, under the supervision of the Spanish priest Tomas Santaren. San Joaquin Church is made of limestones quarried from the mountains of Igbaras and white coral stones from the shores of San Joaquin. San Joaquin Church is located beside San Joaquin’s town plaza.
A very simple single-level church with a broad pediment and a single tapering bell tower, the militaristic-themed facade of San Joaquin Church distinguishes itself from other churches in the Country. Intricate sculptural details depicting the Spanish victory over Moroccan forces in the Battle of Tetuan are carved on the church’s facade. The title of the composition “Rendicion de Tetuan” (The Surrender of Tetouan) is carved at the base of carvings on the facade.

San Joaquin Church was declared as one of the National Cultural Treasures by the National Historical Institute.

We were not able to go inside San Joaquin Church since there was a mass ongoing and I was too busy munching on the buko pie that we had for snacks (the buko pie was heaven!).

Next off, San Joaquin Cemetery.

San Joaquin Cemetery
The San Joaquin Cemetery is located along the main highway in San Jaoquin Town. The construction od San Joaquin Cemetery was initiated by Fray Mariano Vamba, the last Augustinian parish priest of the town (a little history class for you) in 1892. 20 stone steps aftering entering the gate and you will be greeted by the Baroque designed mortuary chapel standing on the center. Never have I been in a cemetery as old and as beautiful as San Joaquin Cemetery. TheThe capilla also, known as “Campo Santo,” is made of coral rocks and baked bricks. you will be greeted by an iron gate.

I did not bother going up to see the details of the “Campo Santo” up close. With all the bloggers around, the was this eerie feeling in the place so I did not bother going up (yeah, I chickened out).

If only the National Historical Institute can also declare San Joaquin Cemetery as a National Cultural Treasures.

Next stop, Miagao Church and Molo Church.

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Comments

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Filed Under: Destination, Iloilo, Philippines Tagged With: San Joaquin Cemetery, San Joaquin Church

Comments

  1. Christian | Lakad Pilipinas says

    June 30, 2011 at 10:04 pm

    ganda naman ng cemetery na yan!

    Reply
  2. silvertoes says

    July 3, 2011 at 4:51 am

    @Christian – yeah. definitely. I was in awe when I saw it

    Reply

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