Fascinated by the Churches – Part Deux
I was supposed to wake up early Saturday morning of June 13. But I decided to let go of the chance to seize the sunrise in Alcoy. I needed time to rest from the long drive through the southern towns of Cebu.
Of course I was not alone. Bro Bear was in town to share this experience with me. We spent the previous night here at Bodo’s Bamboo Bar Resort. It’s relatively new, built a few meters off from the national highway and located on a hill overlooking the sea that separates Cebu from Bohol.
There may be some parts of the services that the resort may have to polish but I must say it was generally good. The resort has free wi-fi, the food was great but it was served way too long. And the place really is good ”pit stop” from a long drive.
As we left the resort at 10am, I recalled the churches we visited after the destroyed church of Moalboal.
Before one reaches the public market of Badian, one has to make a full left turn to an inclined road leading to the municipio, the district hospital and the old church.
This is the Church of St. James the Apostle. Compared to the churches in other towns, Badian’s own is a bit small. But researchers find resemblance of the now-destroyed Moalboal church to this one. The pediment was supported by four massive columns, two of which have intricate floral carvings.
Except for the tiles of the roof, much of this church’s upper section was preserved. It has no transept but the nave is clearly divided into three parts by two rows of columns that support a loft and the pulpit. The intricate design of the canopy of the pulpit, still remains at the right side of the nave.
We headed down to Alegria. A mass was being held for the dead so Bro Bear and I had to be content in taking a couple of pictures from outside. The structure seemed to be as old as that of Badian or of Dumanjug, having built in 1857 but nonetheless interesting.
It had a single central tower as the church’s facade. There are three arches from the base of the belfry itself plus the three arches that serve as the entrance to the church. It has no transept, only a long and lofty nave.
This photo was taken from a seaside restaurant in Alegria. Across this strait is Negros Island. We took a break from our church visits and we found this eating place across the church of St. Francis of Assisi that served us with carbonara, calamares and pancit.
Malabuyoc’s church is also a jewel in the south. The facade is still intact with a simple pediment and one single arched door. A six-sided belfry is attached to the 19th century church of San Nicolas de Tolentino.
After the idle town of Malabuyoc is Ginatilan. As we reached the poblacion, the sky had brought in the rain clouds and it started to cover Ginatilan with darkness and swift breeze. Bro Bear took photos of the church’s unique tower.
San Gregorio Magno Church is almost 180 years old. Its bell tower continues to dominate the town’s skyline. Unmindful of the impending shower, Bro Bear and I walked around the church and found a green corner behind the belfry.
The church served as a marker of a town that has yet to start its journey towards development. Ginatilan holds the late pre-hispanic burial grounds in Brgy. Guinaran. It also hosts several old structures and ancestral house which the local government listed and declared as cultural treasures. A block away from the church is the Puerta del Marina.
The church of San Gregorio Magno is still the primary spot to be visited in Ginatilan.
Its tower is 4-sided, made up of five levels with at least an arch window in each side except on the topmost level where circular windows were placed. The single spire pierced this southern town’s skyline.
Bro Bear and I decided to retreat to the car and leave the town before the rain was about to fall. From Ginatilan to Samboan, we drove through several kilometers under the downpour and crooked roads.
Similar to the churches of Moalboal and Badian, the Churh of St. Michael the Archangel sits on a hill overlooking the coastline of Samboan.
This church was built by people from Alegria thru forced labor. Until in 1880, Alegria along with Oslob was pert of Samboan. Several meters from the church and convent is the watchtower, found at the landing of Escalon (Jacob’s Ladder). The old grotto can also be found at the opposite corner.
Part of my roots is in Samboan. It’s the birthplace of my dad. In this very church, dad was christened and given a name which I am also carrying now. Seeing the interior of this neo-classical church, with its huge wooden retablo, the old choir loft and the pulpit, made me think of the days when dad wished and prayed for a better life. His intentions may have been heard here and I thank the heavens for the roots that were anchored and always will be anchored in Samboan.
From Samboan we sped down and up to Alcoy where we had our ’pit stop’ at Bodo’s Bamboo Bar.
(to be concluded)
