Loboc Church
Loboc Church | |
---|---|
San Pedro Apostol Parish Church | |
Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Extremadura | |
Iglesia Parroquial de San Pedro Apóstol y Santuario Diocesano de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Extremadura ( stones | |
Administration | |
Province | Cebu |
Diocese | Tagbilaran (since 1941) |
Deanery | St. Peter the Apostle |
Parish | St. Peter the Apostle |
Clergy | |
Priest(s) | Fr. Al John Miñoza |
Assistant priest(s) | Fr. Alvin C. Pusta |
National Historical Landmarks | |
Official name | Church of San Pedro Apostol |
Designated | December 12, 1998 |
Legal Basis | Resolution No. 7, s. 1998[2] |
Official name | Parish Church of San Pedro and San Pablo of Loboc |
Designated | July 31, 2001 |
The San Pedro Apostol Parish Church (
After the
The church is classified as a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines.
It was severely damaged when a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Bohol and other parts of Central Visayas on October 15, 2013. Restoration works began in 2017 and the church was reopened on May 16, 2021.[4]
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/Loboc_river_-_panoramio_%281%29.jpg/240px-Loboc_river_-_panoramio_%281%29.jpg)
After the establishment of the Jesuit mission in Bohol, Father Juan de Torres,
Fire destroyed the original wooden church in 1638; it was later reconstructed by the Jesuit priest Jose Sanchez.[9] A larger church was built in 1670, on the site of the present day convent.[10] The coral stone church was finished in 1734.[9] After the Jesuits were expelled from the country in May 1768, the Augustinian Recollects assumed the administration of the parish and the church that November.[9][11]
Historical and cultural designations
On December 12, 1998, Loboc Church was declared a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Institute, now the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.[2] It was also listed as a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines on July 31, 2001.[12]
The church complex was a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Philippines, under two distinct categories. The Jesuit Churches of the Philippines nomination includes the churches of
2013 earthquake, restoration, and contemporary history
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Remains_of_Loboc_church_post-2013_earthquake_03.jpg/220px-Remains_of_Loboc_church_post-2013_earthquake_03.jpg)
On October 15, 2013, a strong earthquake heavily damaged the church and several other churches designated as National Cultural Treasures.[16] The church suffered major damage to its structure, particularly its façade and tower, which both partially collapsed.[17]
While waiting for the complete restoration and rehabilitation of the old church, an alternate church was opened on October 12, 2014.[18]
Restoration works began in 2017. After more than seven years since the earthquake, the National Museum of the Philippines turned over the restored church on May 16, 2021, Ascension Sunday[a], the same day the church was reopened.[4]
On May 24, 2021, the church was declared as the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Extremadura, the same day that it was also affiliated with the
Architecture
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/The_Church_of_San_Pedro_%28Loboc_Church%29.jpg/220px-The_Church_of_San_Pedro_%28Loboc_Church%29.jpg)
The church is built along the banks of the Loboc River. The coral stone church follows a cruciform plan, with a sunken pyramidal roof on its crossing. As a church built by the Jesuits, exterior walls of the church have the Jesuit insignia and icons of an angel's wing and head.[9] Major renovations were undertaken by Augustinian priest Father Aquilino Bon, including the addition of a portico to the façade (1863–1866) and re-roofing with tiles (1873).[9] Father José Sánchez, OAR, added stone buttresses to the walls (1891–1893) and side porticoes (1895–1896).[9] Because of frequent flooding, its wooden flooring was changed to cement tiles in 1895[20] and was elevated in 1969.[21]
Interior
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/Loboc_Church_inside_%28Loay_Interior_Road%2C_Loboc%2C_Bohol%3B_01-12-2023%29.jpg/220px-Loboc_Church_inside_%28Loay_Interior_Road%2C_Loboc%2C_Bohol%3B_01-12-2023%29.jpg)
The interior of the church is adorned with ceiling paintings by Canuto Avila and his sons, Ricardo and Ray Francia, created from May 1926 to July 1927, and retouched by Cris Naparota in 1995.[21] A mural of Our Lady of Guadalupe, secondary patron of Loboc, painted by Max Aya-ay in 1930[11] at the center of the nave depicts the Virgin saving Loboc from floods.[21] The church also has a separate cantilevered organ loft, hosting a large pipe organ believed to be connected with Father Diego Cera, maker of the Las Piñas Bamboo organ.[21]
Façade
The inner baroque façade, which is part of the 1734 church built by the Jesuits, is decorated with
Altars
The church has five retablos (
Epistle retablo
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Loboc_church_interior.png/220px-Loboc_church_interior.png)
On the right side of the altar are two retablos. The larger altar on the right side currently houses the image of St. Francis Xavier as preacher on the topmost level. On the middle level of the same retablo are images of
Gospel retablo
On the left side of the altar are also two retablos. The larger altar, which is a twin of the altar opposite it, houses an image of an unidentified saint on the topmost level, presumably Michael the Archangel, and the crucified Christ (originally
Outbuildings
Sacristy and Convent
The
Belltower
A detached four-storey
Mortuary chapel
A hexagonal
See also
Notes and references
Notes
- ^ While the Feast of the Ascension is traditionally celebrated on a Thursday, some countries including the Philippines celebrate it on the following Sunday.
References
- ^ "Nat'l Museum turns over restored Loboc Church". Bohol Chronicle. May 17, 2017. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ a b "Resolution No. 7, s. 1998 Declaring the church of San Pedro Apostol in Loboc, Bohol as a National Historical Landmark" (PDF). National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 18, 2014. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
- ^ a b "Loboc Church". bohol-philippines.com. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
- ^ a b "Loboc church reopens 7 years after Bohol quake". May 18, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Jose 2001, p. 68
- ^ a b Javellana 1988, p. 90
- ^ Jose 2001, pp. 68–69
- ^ O'Malley 1999, p. 429
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Jose 2001, p. 69
- ^ a b c d e f Jose 2001, p. 74
- ^ a b c Javellana 1988, p. 92
- National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Archived from the originalon May 12, 2014. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
- ^ "Jesuit Churches of the Philippines". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
- ^ "Baroque churches of the Philippines (Extension)". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
- ^ "3 damaged Visayas churches removed from World Heritage tentative list". GMA News. August 13, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
- GMA News. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
- National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
- ^ Refran, Saleema (October 12, 2014). "Alternate church na gagamitin habang inaayos ang Loboc Church, binuksan" (in Filipino). GMA News. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
- ^ Luci-Atienza, Charissa (May 23, 2021). "'Everything is grace!': Loboc Church now officially affiliated to Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
- ^ a b c Jose 2001, p. 71
- ^ a b c d e Jose 2001, p. 70
- ^ a b Japan Consortium for International Cooperation in Cultural Heritage. (2014). Survey Report on the Protection of Cultural Heritage in Republic of the Philippines. Tokyo, Japan.
- ^ Javellana 1988, p. 93
- ^ a b c d Jose 2001, p. 72
- ^ a b c d e f g Jose 2001, p. 73
- ^ Javellana 1988, p. 91
- ^ Reinerio, Alba (September 29, 2003). "The Restoration of 26 Philippine Churches". National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
- ^ a b c d Jose 2001, p. 75
Bibliography
- Javellana, Rene SJ (1988). "Angels and Gargoyles of Loboc Church" (pdf). Philippine Studies. 36 (1). Ateneo de Manila University: 88–97.
- Jose, Regalado Trota (2001). Visita Iglesia Bohol (A Guide to Historic Churches). Manila: National Commission for Culture and the Arts. pp. 68–75. ISBN 9718140166.
- O'Malley, John (1999). The Jesuits: Cultures, Sciences, and the Arts, 1540-1773, Volume 1. University of Toronto Press. p. 429. ISBN 9780802042873.
External links
Media related to Loboc Church at Wikimedia Commons