Monday, March 30, 2015

Visita Iglesia: Historical Churches in Cavite

Cavite is regarded as a historical province because it is the place where many battles of the 1896 Revolution occurred here and the proclamation of independence happened in Kawit on 1898. In fact, the province is known as "The Cradle of the Philippine Revolution" and "The Birthplace of Philippine Independence."

It is located at Metro Manila's southern doorstep, Cavite is known for several tourist attractions and historical sites. In addition, the province is also a home of the churches which was built during the Spanish era and various prayer houses and chapels which can be found in Tagaytay City. Therefore, the pilgrims can have their Visita Iglesia (a visit to fourteen churches which was commemorated during Holy Week) in this province.
Nuestra Senora de Candelaria Church, located in the town center of Silang.
Our Lady of Candelaria Parish
Silang

The Our Lady of Candelaria Parish Church (Nuestra Senora de Candelaria Church) in Silang is one of the oldest churches in Cavite. It was established on 1595 by the Franciscan friars where it was built with a small chapel. The Silang Church was a simple Baroque church without any magnificent ornamentation in the facade of the church. It also has a large wooden church entrance. 
The Immaculate Conception Parish Church in Dasmarinas City
Immaculate Conception Parish Church
Dasmarinas City

The Immaculate Conception Parish Church is located near the city hall. It was the site of bloodshed of Philippine Revolution in 1897. During the Japanese occupation, several men detained inside the church in 1944 where many of the residents died during that time.
Imus Cathedral, the seat of the bishop in Cavite. In front of the cathedral is the Battle of Alapan Marker.
Our Lady of the Pillar Cathedral
Imus City

The Our Lady of the Pillar Cathedral (also known as Imus Cathedral) is the seat of the bishop of the Diocese of Imus. It was established in 1616 by Augustinian missionaries. Fr. Nicolas Becerra wanted to move the town center to its present location. The present church was constructed in 1823 using forced labor and the structure was made of stone and bricks. Its facade was patterned after the Manila Cathedral. On November 25, 1961 by the virtue of Apostolic Constitution Christi fideli, promulgated by Pope John XXIII that Cavite was created a separate bishopric from Manila. 
The facade of St. Michael the Archangel Parish Church in Bacoor City.
St. Michael the Archangel Parish Church
Bacoor City

The church was located in the coastal city of Bacoor, Cavite. It was built through a cedula real on 1752. Father Mariano Gomez, one of the GOMBURZA, was assigned to be the head priest of Bacoor.
The historical St. Mary Magdalene Church is located near the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit.
St. Mary Magdalene Church
Kawit

Located in the small but historical town of Kawit is the St. Mary Magdalene Church. The church was built in 1624 by the Jesuit friars. It was the church where the first president of the Philippines, Emilio Aguinaldo, was baptized in 1869. 

San Roque Parish Church
Cavite City

This tall church located in Cavite City was built during the Spanish era. The patroness of this city is the Our Lady of Solitude of Porta Vaga. The icon of the Virgin Mary of Our Lady of Solitude is enshrined in this church.

Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Queen of the Caracol
Rosario

The church is located in the coastal town of Rosario, formerly known as Salinas. The town is famous for its salt evaporation industry. The church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the patroness of the town who saved the people's lives in the midst of the strong typhoon during the Spanish Era. Rosario became a town in 1845.  
Maragondon Church is one of the National Historical Treasures in the Philippines.
Our Lady of the Assumption Parish Church
Maragondon

It was built in 1618 by the Jesuits, followed by the construction of the new church from 1630 to 1633. The current stone church was built in 1714. This church is also a base during the Philippine Revolution in 1897 where Maragondon became the headquarters of Emilio Aguinaldo. In 2001, it was declared as  National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum.
The facade of Sto. Nino de Ternate Parish.
Sto. Nino de Ternate Parish
Ternate

In a coastal town located in western part of Cavite and the natives speak in Chavacano, there's the Sto. Nino de Ternate Parish. It was built in 1663 by the Jesuit missionaries. During the Philippine revolution, the church was ruined in a battle and the Holy Image of Santo Nino was left.
The tall church of Naic with its white facade,
Diocesan Shrine Parish of Immaculate Conception
Naic

It is one of the largest churches, Naic Church was established in 1796 and the stone church was completed in 1839 by the Dominican friars. The church was dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. The church features its golden altar and the beautiful stained glass windows aligning the walls. 
The facade of Indang Church, located within the town's poblacion.
Saint Gregory the Great Parish Church
Indang

Saint Gregory the Great Church is located in the poblacion of the historic town of Indang. It was used to be part of Silang, the town established a parish in 1625. The church features its beautiful interiors, the paintings on the ceiling and the old pulpit in the platform where the priests used to preach during the mass.

Santa Cruz Church played an important role in the Philippine Revolution in Cavite.
Santa Cruz Church
Tanza

Santa Cruz Church was built in 1780 where Tanza was part of San Francisco de Malabon, which is the present town of General Trias. Tanza was formerly known as Santa Cruz de Malabon. The church played a relevant role in the Philippine Revolution where Emilio Aguinaldo and Mariano Trias took their oaths in the church. The event led to the organization of Revolutionary Government in 1897.


Saint Francis of Assisi Parish Church
General Trias

The church was built by the Franciscans in 1611 where the town was formerly called as San Francisco de Malabon, a visita of Cavite Viejo. It was transferred to the Jesuit order of Cavite Puerto (now Cavite City). In 1753, it eventually lead to a separate parish. The church featured its convent where the Banda Matanda, a local marching band, practiced the Marcha Filipina, the music of the Philippine National Anthem, before they played it in the Proclamation of  Independence in 1898.

Our Lady of Lourdes Parish
Tagaytay City

Our Lady of Lourdes Parish is located in the Second Summer Capital of the Philippines and the highland town of Tagaytay. It was built in 1945 by the Order of Capuchin Friars. The church is also a typical venue for weddings.

This journey means a lot where I get to know more about my home town and I discovered a lot about the historical province of Cavite through this pilgrimage. I would like to thank the Lord for this wonderful opportunity and I'm looking forward for more places to visit in a Visita Iglesia.

Date of Travel: April 17, 2014

8 comments:

  1. I'm so glad that I was able to visit all these churches na! Thanks for the share!

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  2. I am so excited for this year's Visita Iglesia! We've been planning to go to other places to visit churches. Thanks for sharing this, I will let my hubby read your article.

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  3. This is another great church you just shared.Thanks for this,keep it up.

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  4. We used to do the Visita Iglesia every year :) hoping that these year we could visit the churches in Cavite.

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  5. I wish I could do Visita Iglesia in these churches too. It has been almost 7 years since I last joined Visita Iglesia in the province.

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  6. Churches particularly of the Catholics as we look at them have similarities, have a common structures, their facades, their interior, among others. I am not a Catholic, but I have a feeling of reverence when I enter any one of them.

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  7. The St. Michael the Archangel Parish Church looks like it holds a deep history in our culture. I didn't know that this kind of Church can be found here in Cavite.

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  8. Will surely visit these churches this holy week..thanks forgiving us idea on where to go to in Cavite...

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