Monday, April 20, 2009

Historic Santa Barbara Church in Iloilo

Last week, I went on a three-day trip to Iloilo to shoot a documentary about football. Of course, there was some sight-seeing. For the travelogue and my diary, check out http://bleachersbrew.blogspot.com/ .

Here you'll be seeing the pix I took that won't make it to that blog.

Santa Barbara has been declared a National Heritage site and that says a lot of how the Church plays a huge role in our country's make up. Perhaps more than any other church, it also was used as the headquarters for Philippine revolutionaries as led by Martin Delgado.

Spanish authorities accorded him commander of the Spanish volunteers and armed the militia not knowing that they had sworn to fight for Philippine Independence.

On October 28, 1898, Delgado and other Illongos enacted their own "Cry of Balintawak" as they tore their cedulas and declared war on Spain. And the Church served as a war room and hospital for the Katipunan.

The Church has been restored but many parts of it still make use of original stones and timber. Our "tour guides" Tito Greg and Kuya Roa pointed out the wooden beams and stones. How were they transported during this time? How many stone blocks were used in the construction of this church? And the bell? It has been there since 1860.

Wow!

As you can see from the pictures it was a beautiful summer day and the sky was resplendent in blue. It really made for great picture taking.












































































































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