Baroque Churches of Cebu

Ever travel somewhere far out of your country yet still feel like you’re at home? You really will feel this way when you visit Cebu especially if you’re from Europe, this not because of the lifestyle here though but because of the Gothic churches found in Cebu and to its neighboring islands. Most century old churches in Cebu are inspired by the churches in Spain and some other Western churches like the Basílica de Santiago. What’s more interesting about these churches are the materials use to build them, they’re coral stones and eggs to cement them together but lasts till now.

Among the thousands of cultural structures that’s being preserved here in Cebu are Fuerza de San Pedro which was built in 1738 and some of the famous Baroque Churches of the Philippines like the Baclayon Church in Bohol which was built in 1717 and it also have a small museum beside it with the preserved centuries-old religious relics and other artifacts dating back to the 16th century. But the famous church here in Cebu is the Basilica de Santo Nino. It was built purportedly on the spot where the image of the Santo Niño, a sculpture depicting the Holy Child Jesus found by Spanish explorers in 1565 preserved in a burned wooden box which was left behind during the 1521 Magellan expedition.

There is also Patrocinio de Maria Church which is located in Boljoon, Cebu and was built in 1599 under the direction of the Augustinians. The jurisdiction over the church was then transferred to the Jesuits in 1737. Conceived as a fortress-church, which stands on a hill overlooking the sea, with features that provide safety for the parishioners against Speriodic Moro raids.

San Fernando Rey Parish Church in Liloan, Cebu is somehow different as it faces the mountains to the West, whereas most churches face the sea to the East. It was believed that the church’s direction has a symbolic significance related to church rites.

This is probably the reason why most Europeans that have visited Philippines feels like they never leave their country as it feels home when seeing these type of churches. There are lot more interesting churches around Cebu like Dumanjug Church, Bantayan Church, Carcar Church, Argao Church, Dalaguete Church and Naga Church.

Anyway, All foreigners Not just Europeans will really feel at home when they visit Cebu not because of these cultural structures but would feel like staying in the hostels in London because of Cebuano’s hospitality.