Cavite has a good number of intact heritage churches. Despite its proximity to Metro Manila, it was the first time I visited several of the churches. So here are some churches to visit if you want to do a visita iglesia in Cavite.
Our first stop was Kawit Church. According to the marker in front of the church, it became a Jesuit mission in 1624, with the first church of wood built in 1638 and placed under the patronage of Santa Maria Magdalena. The cornerstone of the current church was laid in 1737. It was transferred to the care of secular priests in 1768, and the Recollects in 1849. In 1869, President Emilio Aguinaldo was baptized in this church.
From Kawit, we drove all the way to the Maragondon Church, a National Cultural Treasure. It was first constructed by the Jesuits in 1618 under the patronage of the Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion. A new church was constructed from 1630 to 1633, but was demolished between 1646 to 1649 to prevent it from becoming a Dutch fortress. The current stone church was constructed in 1714.
In 1768, it was transferred to the care of secular priests, and the Recollects in 1860. It became a base of the Philippine Revolutionary Army when Maragondon became the headquarters of the forces of Gen. Aguinaldo in 1897. It became a National Cultural Treasure in 2001.
On our way back to Manila, we passed by three more churches namely Naic, Tanza and Gen. Trias.
The convent of the Tanza Church played a significant role in Philippine history. It was where Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and Gen. Mariano Trias took their oaths as president and vice president of the Philippine Revolutionary Government on March 23, 1897 after their election at the Tejeros Convention the day before.
Gen. Trias Church was first constructed by the Franciscans in 1611 as a visita of Kawit. It was turned over to the Jesuit mission of Cavite Puerto in 1624. In 1753, the Church of San Francisco Malabon (the old name of Gen. Trias) became a separate parish.
The current stone church was constructed under the leadership of Dona Maria Josepha Yrizzari y Ursula, Condesa de Lizarraga in 1769. Her gravestone is still prominently seen by the main door of the church. It was in this church that the Banda Matanda practiced the Marcha Filipina before it was played during the June 12, 1898 declaration of Philippine independence.
Although we weren't able to visit the Silang Church, it's another interesting church which you should visit if you're in Cavite.
Thank you so much Mr.Henares for letting your kababayans view the Cavite churches. They are part of the Filipino cultural heritage and should be proud of.
ReplyDeletedude its a lot of notes in your pocket to wander in provinces of our archipelago....lufet mo....sana ako din....dream ko din maikot ang bansa naten...but im just a lower class citizen of our country....:(
ReplyDeletewe need your contact number because we will having a tour in your different churches there in cavite .plss .
ReplyDeleteim a tour operator here in pasig city .. pls reply on my email ahpril_sexy10@yahoo.com
Hi Mr Ivan! Thanks for sharing this.. Every year, our family do the Visita Iglesia around Cavite and it's always a wonder to see our beautiful churches.. I'm from Silang and proud to say that our own church is more than 400 years old already.. Do come and visit us on your way to Tagaytay where there are small chapels as well for reflection during the Holy Week.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I've been to the Silang Church as well. I should post photos
ReplyDeleteI need at least 7 heritage churches for our Visita Iglesia pls help. thank you
ReplyDeletesir di q masasabi n ang maragondon ay isa p sa national treasures dhl sa ginwa ng parish priest jn my source po aq jn sa national historical commission na ang contract dw nila ni ang pag rerenovate ng loob ng bell tower hnd ioverhaul ang buong simbahan
ReplyDelete