Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza (Sibonga)
The facade of the church.
Sibonga was established as a visita of Carcar in 1690 and was later put under Argao’s jurisdiction. Becoming an independent parish, construction of the church started between 1846-1868 and was completed during the term of Father Enrique Magaz in 1881. The parish house nearby was built earlier in 1839 by Bishop Santos Gomez Marañon.
The interior of the church.
The church was restored in 1907 and consecrated by Archbishop Jeremias Harty of Manila with the assistance of Bishop Thomas Hendrick, the first American bishop of Cebu, Bishop Juan Gorordo and seventeen other priests.
The church features pre-war ceiling frescoes that depict various biblical scenes. This magnificent work of art was rendered by Rey Francia, a Cebuano artist, who also painted the frescoes in some Spanish-era churches in Bohol.
Details of the communion rail.
The walls of the church are dotted with tombstones.
July 25th, 2010 at 8:08 am
The Church and the painting is nice i hope it will be preserved and some details will be restored… Sibonganhon ni,,,, Hapit na ang Fiesta! Viva!
November 26th, 2010 at 10:44 pm
[...] the University of the Philippines-Cebu College Administration Building in Barangay Lahug, and the Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragosa Church in the southern town of [...]
January 21st, 2011 at 3:31 pm
[...] National Historical Commission of the Philippines earlier placed cast iron markers on the Nuestra Señora del Pilar (Our Lady of the Pillar) Church in [...]