Literature of Churches in Ilocos Sur

Abstract

Phase II ofthe study presents the colonial churches in the first district of Ilocos Sur and those located in the interior municipalities of the province. The history of these churches tells us that the first diocese of Nueva Segovia was established in Lallo, Cagayan but the inconvenience of long travel necessitated most of the bishops to stay and administer in Vigan and this finally transferred the diocese to the capital town of Ilocos Sur in 1758. Since then, the diocese covered the entire Northern Luzon. This elevated Vigan to a status ofa city and was renamed "Ciudad Fernandina". Vigan then became the most important city north ofManila for almost two centuries. The colonial churches are the most conspicuous reminder of the Spanish heritage in our countrytoday. Most of the church architecture was an influence of religious groups, which commissioned the actual builders who based the designs in Europe and Latin America. Most of these churches were built fur performance with inspiring designs to attract more natives to the Christian faith. We can notice other structures like monasteries, the convento (parish) belfry/belltower, seminary, chapels and the cemetery. A close look at these churches will make us believe in their
structures as Latin American and European Art, but actually they are not, for there is indigenousness of the foreign influence to prove the strong Filipino cultural identity. Aside fromthis, our region lies on an earthquake belt; modifications were made detaching belltowers giving rise to what we call now "Ilocano Baroque." The following colonial churches were described by UNP researchers who went from town to town with documentation instruments and interviewschedule.