Guiuan Church

The Immaculate Conception Parish Church (Spanish: Iglesia Parroquial de la Inmaculada Concepción), commonly known as Guiuan Church, is a Roman Catholic church in the municipality of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, Philippines, within the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Borongan.

Guiuan Church
Immaculate Conception Parish Church Iglesia Parroquial de la Inmaculada Concepción
Façade and bell tower of Guiuan Church in 2019
Guiuan Church Republic of the Philippines
11°01′53″N 125°43′22″E
Location	Guiuan, Eastern Samar
Country	Philippines
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Status	Parish church
Founder(s)	Jesuits
Dedication	Immaculate Conception
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	National Cultural Treasure
Architectural type	Church building
Style	Baroque
Completed	1844 2018 (restoration from typhoon Yolanda)
Demolished	2013 (Typhoon Yolanda)
Administration
Archdiocese	Palo
Metropolis	Borongan
Clergy
Archbishop	John F. Du
Bishop(s)	Crispin Barrete Varquez

The church is classified as a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines. It was formerly nominated to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Philippines under two categories, the Baroque Churches of the Philippines (Extension) and the Jesuit Churches of the Philippines.

It was totally destroyed when Typhoon Haiyan (locally named as Yolanda) made landfall in Guiuan and struck other parts of Central Visayas on November 8, 2013.

Church history

Guiuan (also spelled as Guiguan) was founded by the Jesuits in 1595. It was handed over to the Augustinians upon instructions from the Spanish colonial government due to the Jesuits Suppression in 1768. It was then transferred to the Franciscans in 1795 but due to lack of priests, Father Miguel Pérez, the first Franciscan priest of Guiuan was only assigned in 1804.[1] The original church of Guiuan was made of wood and destroyed by fire.[2]

The present stone church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception and was built by the early Jesuits and was renovated by adding a transept and baptistery during the term of Father Manuel Valverde and Pedro Monasterio in 1844.[3][4] A bell tower on top fort was built in 1854. Another convent was built by Father Arsenio Figueroa in 1872. The church was refurbished in 1935 and the sanctuary was renovated in 1987.[4] On November 8, 2013, the church along with other buildings and structures in Guiuan was severely damaged due to Typhoon Haiyan.[5] While the roof was destroyed and the facade was damaged, the church's stone walls remain unscathed, as do the floors and the crypts.

• 
  Guiuan Church before (left) and after (right) Typhoon Haiyan.

Historical and cultural declarations

The National Museum of the Philippines named Guiuan Church a National Cultural Treasure in 2001.[6] As a nominee for the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Philippines, it is grouped with Maragondon Church, Baclayon Church and Loboc Church for the Jesuit Churches of the Philippines[7] and with Boljoon Church, Loboc Church, Tumauini Church and Lazi Church for the Baroque Churches of the Philippines (Extension) nomination.[8] However, due to its total destruction, it was then removed to the roster of nominated sites.[9]

Description

Guiuan Church is nestled inside a fort. It is well known for its extensive shell ornamentation in its interiors.[5] Studies revealed that at least eight types of seashells were used. Before its destruction, it still has two elaborately carved doors out of the original three doors. The main door on the entrance has exquisite carvings of the Twelve Apostles while a side door has carved representations of angels.[4] Former First Lady Imelda Marcos was interested in purchasing the church's door for ₱1,000,000 using government funds siphoned by her husband, Ferdinand Marcos.[10]

Present condition

Due to Typhoon Haiyan, all of its original retablo, roof (dated 1700s) and other church relics were damaged.[5][11] Only the stone walls and bell tower remained standing.[12] Restoration of the church is on-going under the supervision of the National Museum of the Philippines.[13] Funds for the reconstruction of the church amounting to $300,000 was given by the Embassy of the United States in the Philippines.[14]

Notes

1. Huerta 1865, p. 314
2. Labro, Vicenter. "Guiuan's treasure chest of history, natural wonders". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
3. Huerta 1865, p. 315
4. "Guiuan Parish". Panublion: Heritage Sites of the Visayan Islands in the Philippines. Archived from the original on 11 February 2006. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
5. Villaon, Augusto (18 November 2013). "Guiuan church, a National Cultural Treasure in Samar, heavily damaged by 'Yolanda'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
6. Alba, Reinerio (29 September 2003). "The Restoration of 26 Philippine Churches". National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
7. "Jesuit Churches of the Philippines". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
8. "Baroque churches of the Philippines (Extension)". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
9. "3 damaged Visayas churches removed from World Heritage tentative list". GMA News. 13 August 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
10. Batham, Tere (December 2007). "Treasures of the Philippines". Cruising World Magazine: 58.
11. Aljibe, Ted (12 November 2013). "Guiuan, E. Samar a 'terrifying' wasteland in wake of 'Yolanda'". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
12. AFP Central Command. "Aerial view of the Church of Guiuan in Eastern Samar". CBCP News. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
13. "NMP rebuilds typhoon-ravaged church of Guiuan". Manila News Online. 12 July 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
14. Mabasa, Roy (31 October 2014). "Guiuan church gets P13M from US Embassy". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 3 January 2015.

Bibliography

• Huerta, Felix de (1865). Estado geográfico, topográfico, estadístico, histórico-religioso [Geographical, topographical, statistical, historical and religious state] (in Spanish). Binondo: Imprenta de M. Sanchez y Ca.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

Further reading

• Bautista, Angel (2003). Shell Ornamentation of La Purísima Concepción Church, Guiuan, Eastern Samar. Manila: National Commission for Culture and the Arts. p. 64. ISBN 9718140395.
• An Historical Essay on the Beginnings of the Evangelization of Guiuan