The story of the Immaculate Conception Parish Church in Oton, Iloilo, is less a chronicle of faith and more a tragic epic of architectural hubris battling geological destiny. Founded in 1566 as Ogtong, the town was the second Spanish settlement in the Philippines after Cebu, establishing its pivotal role as…

The Campanario de Dumaguete, while globally recognized as the paramount civic and religious landmark of Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, possesses a foundational history rooted not in ecclesiastical design but in the rigorous exigencies of Spanish colonial military defense. Its genesis is directly traceable to the volatile socio-political landscape of the…

If you’ve ever travelled the coast road of Baclayon, Bohol, chances are your eyes have been drawn to the stately mansions standing guard over the Visayan Sea. But few possess the sheer scale and storied soul of the Malon House. This imposing structure, dating back to a time before the…

The history of Miagao, Iloilo, is often narrated through the epic scale of its Miagao Fortress Church, a UNESCO masterpiece completed in 1797. Yet, a short distance away, another, less-heralded stone sentinel stands as a crucial physical link to the town’s evolution from a simple administrative post to a commercial…

Have you ever arrived at Siquijor Port and been immediately greeted by a looming, solitary stone tower? That’s the Siquijor Belltower or Watchtower of the St. Francis of Assisi Parish Church in Poblacion, and trust me, it’s more than just a place for ringing bells. It’s the island’s original stone…

For the curious traveler stepping off the ferry at Siquijor Port 1, the immediate greeting is not a sign for a resort, but the formidable, austere silhouette of the Saint Francis de Assisi Parish Church. While its younger, more ornate sister in Lazi often steals the heritage spotlight, the Siquijor…

There are houses, and then there are monuments—architectural anchors that refuse to be swept away by the river of history. In the heart of Jaro, Iloilo City, stands Casa Mariquit, officially the Javellana–Lopez Heritage House, a seemingly unassuming structure that is, in truth, an 1880s-1890s home of grand, yet understated…

The Rocha Ancestral House, nestled in the historic Sitio Ubos of Tagbilaran City, Bohol, isn’t just a house—it’s a time capsule forged from coral stone, molave, and the immense wealth of 19th-century maritime trade. Often referred to simply as Casa Rocha, this architectural behemoth is one of the Visayas’ most…

The pipe organ of Boljoon is more than just an instrument; it’s a National Cultural Treasure whose survival is a gripping tale of architectural defense, colonial politics, and relentless modern conservation. Nestled within the Archdiocesan Shrine of Patrocinio de María Santísima, this masterpiece is inextricably linked to the church’s identity…

Okay, let’s be real. When you think of Panglao, you think beaches—Alona, Dumaluan, all that white sand goodness. You think diving, sun, and perhaps the chocolate hills if you venture off-island. But just a stone’s throw from the new international airport, tucked next to the centuries-old church, there’s a structure…