San Joaquin Church is about 2 hours by jeep south from Iloilo City. It was the furthest we got during our stay in Iloilo a month ago. Unfortunately, the façade of the San Joaquin Church was being restored when we visited the place. Fortunately, we were still able to see the interior of the church.
The San Joaquin Church has a very interesting belfry with a staircase located outside. The side of the church also has buttresses which makes it earthquake resistant. The columns used on the side elevation are Corinthians. The façade of the church has a statue of San Joaquin (father of the Virgin Mary), the Sto. Nino (which is typical of Iloilo Churches) and San Pedro Regalado (St. Peter de Regalado).
The ceiling and interior of the church is very simple. San Joaquin Church in Iloilo has a very unique baptistery. San Joaquin is the one on the main altar and they also have statues of Our Lady of Fatima and the Sto. Nino (the Child Jesus) in the side altar.
The marker of the church reads (in Filipino):
“Makasaysayang Simbahan ng San Joaquin
Sa bias ng pagpapatibay ng Pambansang Suriang Pangkasaysayan noong Setyembre 22, 1977 na binigyan ng karapatan ng Kautusan ng Pangulo ng Pilipinas Bilang 260 Agosto 1, 1973 na sinusugan ng Kautusan ng Pangulo Bilang 375 Enero 14, 1974, ang simbahang ito ay ipinahayag na Pambansang Palatandaang Makasaysayan.”
For my foreign friends and readers, it is roughly translated as:
“Historical Church of San Joaquin
By virtue of a proclamation by the National Historical Institute dated September 22, 1977 as promulgated by the Presidential Decree 260 dated August 1, 1973 as amended by Presidential Decree 375 dated January 14, 1974, this church is declared a National Heritage Site.”
Another marker reads:
San Joaquin Church
Year Built: 1859 by Fr. Tomas Santaren
Year Completed: 1869
Materials: Coral stones and limestone
Façade: Depicts the celebrated victory of Spanish Cavalry against the Moors in the Battle of Tetuan.
(Marker) Donated by: Alpha Phi Omega International (Phils.) Inc. and Scouts Royale Brotherhood ®
A tarpaulin gives further information about the on-going restoration:
Restoration of San Joaquin Church Façade
(NCCA Board Resolution No. 2012-117)
Project Site: San Joaquin Parish Church, San Joaquin, Iloilo
Amount of Grant: PHP1,050,000.00
Scope of Work:
- Project Documentation (Before, during and after restoration)
- Mechanical and chemical cleaning of façade
- Façade consolidation and treatment
- Removal and replacement of plants along the façade with gravel fills
- Restoration of the main door includes application of wood preservatives
- Cleaning and clearing of site
- Restoration consultancy and supervision
Project duration: 182 calendar days
Funding Agency: National Commission for Culture and the Arts
Implementing Agency: Municipal Government of San Joaquin, Iloilo
Assigned Cultural Agency: National Historical Commission of the Philippines
Beneficiary: Archdiocese of Jaro
The buttresses of the church gives it stability during earthquakes.
Details of the Corinthian Order columns of the church.
The side entrance of the church.
The Belfry of the San Joaquin Church is impressive.
The way the blocks are built on the façade of the church is impressive.
The interior of the church.
The baptistery of the San Joaquin Church in Iloilo City.
The ceiling of the church is quite simple. It’s almost like a tongue and groove.
The interior of San Joaquin Church in Iloilo Province taken from the main altar.
It’s common for churches in Iloilo Province to have the statue of the Sto. Nino (Child Jesus).
I highly suggest that they improve the stained glass on the sides of the altar.
The main altar of San Joaquin Church in Iloilo and the statues of Our Lady of Fatima and San Joaquin.
The façade of San Joaquin Church is under renovation. Hopefully, it will be over before the Dinagyang Festival 2014.
Details of the Belfry of San Joaquin Church in Iloilo Province.
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