Aside from their beautiful chapels, I have visited two old churches in Batanes. : the San Carlos Borromeo Church in Mahatao and the San Jose de Obrero Church in Ivana.

San Carlos Borromeo Church in Mahatao

The first church included in our side trip is San Carlos Borromeo Church located in the town of Mahatao. It was built in 1787 initially made up of light materials. Consequently, in 1789, it was reconstructed as the first stone church in Batanes.

The church was declared a national cultural treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines in 2001 due to its beauty and excellent state of preservation. It is also one of the 26 Spanish Colonial Era churches identified by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts to be under its conservation program.

San Jose de Obrero Church in Ivana

While we were in the Honesty Coffee Shop, I noticed the old church nearby. Just across the street is the San Jose de Obrero Church commonly known as the Ivana Church. It was first established as a chapel by the Dominicans in 1787. In 1795, the present stone church and convent was constructed. The church was declared a National Historical Landmark in 2008 by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.

Aside from these two 2-century old churches in Batanes, there are also other old churches that I have failed to see there.