San Joaquin Church

Last April 07, 2011, I went home for a burial of my grandfather. We arrived at Iloilo Airport around 4:35 in the afternoon. My sister and I decided to have our lunch at SM City Iloilo since we didn't have it before leaving manila. After our lunch done we bought some " pasalubong " and "manong" the driver of van head our way to san joaquin. We reached the town around 8:00 o'clock in the evening. There were so many people playing majong, tong-its and patumbo in every corner of the house. Patumbo local name for playing a toss coin. A probability of getting 3 heads or 3 tails to win the game. Head belongs to bagka ang tail belongs to those who play against  the banka.

Friday morning I was so exited to visit the church, we have our digital cam fully charged, we already had our coffee. So my friend and I decided to take a walk since the church is near our house. Awesome! Magnificent!  Those words came in my mind when I see it. It was a lovely scenario, the sun's light hit almost half of the church create such a beautiful reflection. The church look like a gold that shines in the middle of the town.

Do you know that San Joaquin Church was built in 1859 and finished in 1869? Ten years of hard labor of our forefathers. According to my great grandmother the stones use for this church was quarried in Igbaras and the coral stones quarried in Brgy. Igcadlum. During the construction pupils taking Latin subject  were required to contribute one  egg per day. Egg whites was used to paste blocks of coral stones. 

Rendicion Tetuan

What makes this church unique from other churches in the Philippines? If you go for a " Visita Iglesia" try to observe  each  church  you will notice carved saints, angels, Virgin Marry and the image of Jesus Christ dominates the entire facade. In contrary San Joaquin Church facade portrays a bloody battle between Spanish army and moors in Tetuan. This is how this masterpiece gets its name " Rendicion Tetuan ". Rendicion or Rendition means the act of rendering; the act of surrendering from war. In literal meaning " Rendicion de Tetuan " means a surrender from Tetuan.  I can say this is the most artistic and dramatic church facade in the entire country ever been built.

Baptistry

The Baptistry is located at the right side of the church while entering the church's main entrance. You can see Jesus baptism in river Jordan with John the Baptist. This was used for baptism during Spanish era. 

San Pedro Regalado

If you notice this image is at the left side of the lower chevron of the church. This saint is "St. Pedro Regalado" a Franciscan order who was born in Valladolid, Spain  in 1399. He is the patron Saint of bullfighter. Patron Saint of bullfighter because during his stay in convent (Abrojo in Laguna de Duero) there was a furious bull running away from the bullring of Valladolid no one could stop, but through the prayer and miraculous hand of this Saint  the bull stopped. This is the reason why San Joaquin has its famous " Pasungay Festival" or Bullfighting. A tradition handed from our forefathers.

  

Last april 20, 2010 CNN enlisted San Joaquin Church as one of the most overlooked destination in Asia. This means that San Joaquin Church might not be included in the list of most visited tourist destination in the country but worth visiting for. Isn't it truly amazing? Hoping that this appreciation from CNN news will awaken the Philippine National Historical Institute and the UNESCO to include San Joaquin Roman Catholic Church in the list of nominees for UNESCO World Heritage site in the Philippines.