Seven churches to visit in Albay for Visita Iglesia

ALBAY, Philippines – Bicol stands as a region deeply rooted in Catholic faith, with the latest census confirming that it has the country’s highest concentration of Catholic households. Home to 1.32 million Catholics, Albayanos maintain a devotion sustained through generations.

This enduring devotion remains the foundation of the province’s numerous old churches, offering a rich landscape for the tradition of Visita Iglesia for both locals and visitors during the solemnity of Lent.

Visita Iglesia is a Catholic tradition that dates back to the 1560s, wherein believers visit and pray in at least seven churches during Holy Week to give honor to the Blessed Sacrament and the sacrifices of Jesus Christ. Just a few years after the practice was established, some of the churches in Albay had already been built, including St. Gregory the Great Cathedral in the heart of Legazpi City.

St. Gregory the Great Cathedral

Also known as the Cathedral of San Gregorio Magno, St. Gregory the Great Cathedral, located in the heart of Legazpi City, was first built in 1587 by early Spanish missionaries as a small chapel made of wood and nipa, resembling a typical traditional bahay kubo.

According to the church inscriptions, it was the Franciscans who established the mission in Albay, formerly Visita Cagsaua, leading to the preaching of Catholicism in the land of Ibalong (also referred to as Gibalong).

Other historical records suggest that the Spanish expedition and earliest Catholic practices in the province can be traced back to 1569.

The Franciscan missionaries later worked to sustain the Catholic conversions of the locals and formally established the parish in 1616. Due to a Mayon volcanic eruption in the early 1750s, the church was buried and later rebuilt in 1754.

It was Fr. Pedro Romero who led the construction of the church using stones and concrete materials, but the church was then turned into ruins during the war against the Americans in 1900.

The church again endured the same faith in 1945 when World War 2 erupted. Then-parish priest Nicanor Belleza led the renovation efforts of the church Albayanos see now. It was later elevated and became a cathedral in 1951 when the Episcopal Seat of the Diocese of Legazpi was being established.

Surviving numerous fires and Mayon eruptions, the Albay Cathedral remains one of the oldest churches in the Philippines.

Nuestra Señora de la Porteria Church (Daraga Church)

Located just a few kilometers from Albay Cathedral, the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Porteria, commonly known as Daraga Church, offers more than just a place of worship. Its elevated setting provides a breathtaking vista, framing the 18th-century baroque architecture against the majestic backdrop of Mayon Volcano.

Beyond its spiritual significance, the church stands as a powerful testament to the resilience of Albayanos, who have endured numerous volcanic eruptions. Church history recounts that following several eruptions that buried the original church in Cagsaua (now the site of Albay Cathedral), Franciscan missionaries spearheaded the construction of this stone edifice in 1773.

Local builders primarily utilized volcanic rocks in the church’s walls and foundation, a tangible link to the very landscape that has both challenged and sustained them. Just four decades after its construction, another significant eruption in 1814 buried the Cagsawa Church (now called Cagsawa Ruins) in Busay, Daraga Town, now a poignant tourist attraction in Albay.

Survivors of that devastating eruption sought refuge in nearby areas, their faith finding a new home in the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Porteria. Within a year, the town of Daraga was formally established, blossoming into a vibrant community deeply rooted in stories of resilience and unwavering faith.

Like many historical structures, the church suffered severe damage during World War 2 but was tirelessly restored between 1971 and 1973. It was later declared as a national historical treasure by the National Museum in 2007 and by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines in 2008.

St. Raphael the Archangel Parish Church

Adjacent to medical facilities like Albay Doctors Hospital, St. Raphael the Archangel Parish serves as a significant place of worship for Albayanos seeking solace and miracles through its patron saint. Revered as the “medicine of God,” St. Raphael is widely regarded as the patron of good health and healing.

Located in Legazpi City’s bustling port district, the current church structure was built in 1834. However, historical records indicate earlier constructions between 1587 and 1616, during a time when the town’s spiritual administration was still under the jurisdiction of Cagsaua.

The church endured a devastating fire in 1754 from the Mayon Volcano’s eruption that ravaged half the town. In a poignant commemoration of this history, the current altar table is crafted from a single block of hardened lava, symbolizing a stronger faith built from the spiritual testimonies amid tribulations.

Saint Padre Pio Parish Church

For Albayanos seeking divine intervention and the touch of a healing hand, the Saint Padre Pio Parish in Rawis, Legazpi City, offers a sanctuary of hope and redirection. Established on December 16, 2018, this church has quickly become a focal point for devotees drawn to the saint’s reputation for miracles.

Padre Pio was a devout priest who performed miracles and founded the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza (Home for the Relief of Suffering) hospital in San Giovanni Rotondo during his lifetime. The Catholic Church remembers Padre Pio for his view on suffering, saying, “Suffering, when united with the suffering of Christ, could be redemptive.”

This Holy Week, believers not only ask Padre Pio for healing miracles but also for the blessing of strengthened faith. The church also offers scheduled masses in Bicol every day.

St. Dominic of Guzman Church

Further along the route in Albay’s 1st District, the St. Dominic of Guzman Church in Santo Domingo town presents a captivating fusion of local customs and Catholic traditions. Originally constructed in 1785 using wood and bamboo, its location over 30 kilometers from Mayon unfortunately offered little protection when the volcano erupted, reducing it to ashes.

Demonstrating unwavering dedication, the local community subsequently rebuilt the church using lava blocks, a construction effort that spanned decades from 1782 until its completion in 1832. Reflecting common building practices of the era for old Philippine churches, lime, egg albumin, and molasses were later incorporated into its structure.

Tragically, the church was again burned in 1882. However, it was once again reconstructed, this time utilizing intricately carved stones. Today, this resilient church stands in the town center, readily accessible to visitors doing the Visita Iglesia tradition.

Sts. Joachim and Anne Parish Church

Following St. Gregory the Great Cathedral on the list of the oldest churches in the region, Sts. Joachim and Anne Parish Church was built in 1619. According to the church’s records, Franciscan Fr. Francisco de Sta. Ana led the construction of the original church structure.

However, due to various typhoons and volcanic eruptions, the church was repeatedly damaged, particularly during the 1766 Mayon Volcano eruption that claimed over 30 lives because of its destructive lahar flow.

The church’s patrons, Saints Joachim and Anne, are Mary’s parents. Their own answered prayers for a child inspire those seeking the blessing of conception, and their unique place as Jesus’ maternal grandparents make them revered intercessors for grandparents, embodying the love and legacy of family.

Shrine of Our Lady of Salvation, Joroan Church

The Shrine of Our Lady of Salvation in Joroan, Tiwi, is a deeply venerated church, home to the heavenly patroness of Albay. The focal point of devotion is a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary, believed to have protected the local community from Moro invaders who raided Joroan in Albay’s early history. This sacred image was sculpted in the 1770s.

Local tradition recounts that the image originated from a Calpe tree discovered by a land tiller named Mariano Dacuba. Noticing that the severed leaves of the tree remained unwilted, he informed the landowner, Don Silverio Arcilla, who sought counsel from the pastor of Buhi, Camarines Sur.

From the severed trunk, three sacred statues were carved: San Antonio de Padua (St. Anthony of Padua), Nuestra Señora de Soledad (Our Lady of Sorrows), and Nuestra Señora de Salvacion (Our Lady of Salvation).

As Arcilla, the pastor, and the sculptor were all from Buhi, Camarines Sur, the images were initially intended for Buhi. However, Nuestra Señora de Salvacion was gifted to Joroan in 1776, under the condition that the locals would build a shrine in the center of their barangay.

The people of Joroan diligently worked together in bayanihan to construct the shrine. Tragically, a typhoon destroyed the original chapel in 1805, though the revered image miraculously survived.

Despite repeated efforts to rebuild the chapel, numerous subsequent typhoons caused further damage. It was through persistent dedication that, in 1853, Nuestra Señora de Salvacion was officially entrusted to Joroan through a formal agreement between the Joroan and Buhi parishes.

In the 1880s, with the chapel still unrestored, the image was temporarily moved to the Tigpi Parish Church. It took several decades before a permanent shrine was finally realized.

The current structure that houses the sacred image was completed in 1919, standing as a testament to the deep-rooted faith of the people of Joroan. – Rappler.com