Old Oton Church

Last updated

Oton Church
Immaculate Conception Church
Kerk in Oton (Iloilo), KITLV 506233.tiff
The church in the 1890s
Philippines location map (Visayas).svg
Red pog.svg
Oton Church
Location in the Visayas
Philippines location map (square).svg
Red pog.svg
Oton Church
Location in the Philippines
10°41′33.4″N122°28′45.3″E / 10.692611°N 122.479250°E / 10.692611; 122.479250
Location Oton, Iloilo
CountryPhilippines
Denomination Roman Catholic
History
Status Parish church
Founded1572;452 years ago (1572)
Dedication Immaculate Conception
Consecrated 1891;133 years ago (1891)
Architecture
Functional statusDemolished
Architectural type Church building
Style Gothic-Neoclassical
Groundbreaking 1845;179 years ago (1845)
Completed1882;142 years ago (1882)
Demolished1948;76 years ago (1948)
Specifications
Height68.28 m (224.0 ft)
Number of domes 1
Number of towers 6
Administration
Archdiocese Jaro

The old Oton Church, also known as the Immaculate Conception Church, was a Gothic-Neoclassical Roman Catholic church located in Oton, Iloilo, Philippines. Once one of the largest churches in the country, it was destroyed in an earthquake in 1948. [1]

Contents

History

The town of Ogtong (now known as Oton) was founded in 1566 by the Spaniards, becoming the second Spanish settlement in the Philippines, after Cebu. The first chapel was built in the same year following the Spanish establishment of Oton.

In 1572, the Augustinian friars, led by Friar Martin de Rada, arrived in Oton from Dumangas, where they had successfully evangelized the local population. They founded their chapter house in Oton on May 3, 1572, making it the third such establishment after Cebu and Manila. That same year, the church dedicated to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception was declared a parish. The initial church in Oton was destroyed on September 29, 1614, during an attack by Dutch privateers led by Georges Spillberg. The town faced additional attacks from British forces in 1593, the Dutch in 1630, and Moro raiders in 1662. Despite these challenges, the Augustinians maintained their mission in Oton.

The Spanish-era colonial church was constructed under Friar Demetrio Cobos between 1845 and 1853. Construction continued and was completed by Friar Joaquin Fernandez in 1882, with interior decorations credited to Friar Nicolas Gallo between 1889 and 1890. The church was officially consecrated in 1891. [2]

1948 Lady Caycay earthquake

On January 24, 1948, the Lady Caycay Earthquake, with an estimated magnitude of 7.8, struck the Philippines, causing extensive damage. The church was severely damaged and reduced to rubble. In the aftermath, the church was demolished to make way for the present-day Immaculate Conception Church. The construction of the new church, initiated by Fr. Ernesto L. Calvo, the first Filipino parish priest in Oton, took two decades to complete. The new church was blessed on Christmas Day, December 25, 1972, and a marker commemorating its consecration was installed by the main entrance by Fr. Renato Elmido in 1988. Only two bells and some stone remnants of the old church survived the disaster. [3]

Architecture

The church was once among the largest churches in the Philippines. It was notable for its combination of Greek, Byzantine, and Gothic-Classical architectural elements. The church was designed in the shape of a Greek cross, with all four arms of equal length. Each side of the cross featured two towers, totaling six towers for the entire church. At the center of the church is a large altar or retablo mayor , a distinctive feature not commonly found in Philippine churches. The church's dome rises to a height of 68.28 metres (224.0 ft). [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oton</span> Municipality in Iloilo, Philippines

Oton, officially the Municipality of Oton, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 98,509 people making it as the most populous town in the province and the entire Panay island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baroque Churches of the Philippines</span> Baroque churches included in UNESCO World Heritage Site list

The Baroque Churches of the Philippines are a collection of four Spanish Colonial-era baroque churches in the Philippines, which were included in UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1993. The churches are also considered as national cultural treasures of the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Augustinian Province of Santo Niño de Cebu</span>

The Augustinian Province of Sto. Niño de Cebu, based in Cebu City, Philippines, is a geographical and administrative subdivision of the religious Order of St. Augustine. The Province is actively involved in education, parish administration, mission work and formation of candidates for religious life. It has worked on joint missions with other Augustinian provinces, namely, the Australian Province in South Korea, the Dutch Province in Indonesia, and the Provinces of Villanova, Ireland and England-Scotland in South Africa. In keeping with its goal to become a missionary Province, it has begun sending friars overseas to help in apostolic and pastoral ministries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malolos Cathedral</span> Roman Catholic cathedral in Bulacan, Philippines

The Cathedral-Basilica Minore and Parish of the Immaculate Conception, commonly known as Malolos Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic minor basilica and cathedral in the city of Malolos, Bulacan in the Philippines. The cathedral is the see of the Bishop of Malolos, a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Manila. The shrine is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Immaculate Conception.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malate Church</span> Roman Catholic church in Manila, Philippines

The Our Lady of Remedies Parish, also known as Malate Church, is a Roman Catholic parish church in the district of Malate in the city of Manila, Philippines. This Mexican Baroque-style church is overlooking Plaza Rajah Sulayman and, ultimately, Manila Bay. The church is dedicated to Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, the patroness of childbirth. A revered statue of the Virgin Mary in her role as Our Lady of Remedies was brought from Spain in 1624 and stands at the altar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pasig Cathedral</span> Roman Catholic church in Pasig, Philippines

The Immaculate Conception Cathedral, commonly known as Pasig Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic church located in Plaza Rizal, Barangay Malinao, Pasig in Metro Manila, Philippines. It is the mother church, and serves as the episcopal seat of the Bishop of Pasig and is one of the oldest structures in the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaro Cathedral</span> Roman Catholic church in Iloilo City, Philippines

The National Shrine of the Our Lady of Candles, also known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary and colloquially as Jaro Cathedral, is a cathedral located in the district of Jaro in Iloilo City, on the island of Panay in the Philippines. The seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro, it was placed under the patronage of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary. It was established in 1575 as a visita (chapel-of-ease) of Oton by the Augustinians and as a separate parish in 1587. The present-day structure of Jaro Cathedral was built in 1874.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basilica del Santo Niño</span> Roman Catholic church in Cebu City, Philippines

The Basílica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebú, alternatively known as the Minor Basilica of the Holy Child and simply the Santo Niño Basilica, is a minor basilica in Cebu City in the Philippines that was founded in 1565 by Fray Andrés de Urdaneta and Fray Diego de Herrera. It is the oldest Roman Catholic church in the country, allegedly built on the spot where the image of the Santo Niño de Cebú was found during the expedition of Miguel López de Legazpi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paoay Church</span> Roman Catholic church in Ilocos Norte, Philippines

The Saint Augustine Parish Church, commonly known as the Paoay Church, is a Roman Catholic church in the municipality of Paoay, Ilocos Norte in the Philippines. It is under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Laoag. Completed in 1710, the church is famous for its distinctive architecture, a highlight of which is the enormous buttresses on the sides and back of the building. It is declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the Philippine government in 1973 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the collective group of Baroque Churches of the Philippines in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Monica Parish Church (Minalin)</span> Roman Catholic church in Pampanga, Philippines

The Santa Monica Parish Church, commonly known as the Minalin Church, is a Baroque Roman Catholic church, located in poblacion area of San Nicolas in Minalin, Pampanga, Philippines. The church, built during the Spanish era, was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the National Museum of the Philippines on August 27, 2011, one of 37 churches in the country bestowed that honor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Immaculate Conception Parish Church (Dasmariñas)</span> Roman Catholic church in Cavite, Philippines

The Immaculate Conception Parish Church, also known as Dasmariñas Church, is the first Roman Catholic parish church in the city of Dasmariñas, province of Cavite, Philippines. It is under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Imus. The stone church was constructed right after the establishment of Dasmariñas as a separate parish in 1866. The church and convent was the site of bloodshed during the Battle of Perez Dasmari ñas of the Philippine revolution against Spain. It was declared as an important historical structure by the National Historical Institute with the placing of a historical marker in 1986.

The 1948 Lady Caycay earthquake occurred at 01:46 PST (UTC+08:00) on 25 January 1948 with an estimated moment magnitude of 7.8 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme). The epicenter was between the municipalities of Anini-y, Antique, and Dao on Panay Island, Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miagao Church</span> Roman Catholic church in Iloilo, Philippines

The Santo Tomás de Villanueva Parish, also known as Miagao Church, is a Roman Catholic church located in Miagao, Iloilo, Philippines. It is under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Jaro. The church was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on December 11, 1993, together with San Agustin Church in Manila; Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion Church in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur; and San Agustin Church in Paoay, Ilocos Norte under the collective title Baroque Churches of the Philippines, a collection of four Baroque Spanish-era churches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bacarra Church</span> Roman Catholic church in Ilocos Norte, Philippines

Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish, commonly known as Bacarra Church, is a Roman Catholic church located in the municipality of Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, Philippines under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Laoag.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Namacpacan Church</span> Roman Catholic church in La Union, Philippines

Saint Catherine of Alexandria Parish Church, also known as the Shrine of Our Lady of Namacpacan and Namacpacan Church, is a Roman Catholic church located in Luna, La Union, Philippines under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of San Fernando de La Union. Once called Luna Church, its titular is Saint Catherine of Alexandria. Built in 1690, it is also known as the shrine for the image of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of Namacpacan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baclayon Church</span> Roman Catholic church in Bohol, Philippines

Immaculate Conception Parish Church, also known as La Purisima Concepcion de la Virgen Maria Parish Church and Baclayon Church, is a Roman Catholic church in the municipality of Baclayon, Bohol, Philippines within the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Tagbilaran. Baclayon was founded by the Jesuit priest Juan de Torres and Gabriel Sánchez in 1596, and became the oldest Christian settlement in Bohol. It was elevated as a parish in 1717 and the present coral stone church was completed in 1727. The Augustinian Recollects succeeded the Jesuits in 1768 and heavily renovated the church since then.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion</span> Roman Catholic church in Bulacan, Philippines

The Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion, commonly known as Bulakan Church, is a 19th-century Neo-Byzantine-Romanesque stone church located at Brgy. San Jose, in the Municipality of Bulakan, Bulacan province, Philippines. It is one of the parishes of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Malolos under the Vicariate of the Immaculate Conception. The church was declared Marked Historical Structure of the Philippines in 2007 by the National Historical Institute, the precursor of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. A historical marker bearing a brief history of the church was installed by the commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Urdaneta Cathedral</span> Roman Catholic church in Pangasinan, Philippines

The Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, commonly known as Urdaneta Cathedral, is a cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church located in the city of Urdaneta, Pangasinan in the Ilocos Region of the Philippines. Situated at Barangay Poblacion of Urdaneta, it is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Urdaneta and is dedicated to Mary under the title of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santo Niño de Arévalo</span> Title of the Child Jesus in the Catholic Church

The Santo Niño de Arévalo is a Filipino Roman Catholic title of the Holy Child, associated with a Christ Child image in the island of Panay in the Philippines. This is the third oldest image of the Holy Child in the Philippines, after the Santo Niño de Cebú and Santo Niño de Tondo. It was brought by Spanish Governor General Gonzalo Ronquillo de Peñalosa in 1581 to the town of La Villa Rica de Arévalo, now known as district of Arevalo in Iloilo City.

References

  1. "Old Oton Church". Explore Iloilo. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  2. Team, Editorial (October 16, 2022). "Parish of Immaculate Conception in Oton, Iloilo". THEOLDCHURCHES. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  3. J. Planta Dela Cruz (2021) ADVOCATES for HERITAGE PRESERVATION (AHP). "The lost Church of "Ogtong" modern day Oton Iloilo. The Church of the Immaculate Conception in Ogtong (Oton), Iloilo, One of the Oldest Churches in Philippines"
  4. "OTON: A Historical Town to Match". mybeautifuliloilo1.rssing.com. Retrieved July 24, 2024.