For this year’s Visita Iglesia, we have decided to go to Bataan to visit 7 churches this Maundy Thursday. Bataan is a province located in the Central Luzon of the Philippines.

St. Michael the Archangel Church, Orion, Bataan

So after the 6 hours of stressful traffic at the North Luzon Expressway, we arrived at our first church: the St. Michael the Archangel Church in Orion, Bataan. Considered one of the oldest churches in Bataan, the Orion Church was established in 1667. The church facade is of Baroque barn-style. To the left of the church rises the four-level, slender belfry.

Nuestra Señora del Pilar Church, Pilar, Bataan

A few minutes away from our first church is the Nuestra Señora del Pilar Church, our second stop. The town itself, Pilar, Bataan, was named after the miraculous image of the Our Lady of the Pillar. The church was constructed in 1834 and was completely finished in 1885. The revolution in 1898, however, utterly damaged and destroyed the church and the restoration took place until 1966. The church has a very simple architectural design with the belfry of the church located at the top of the main facade.

Diocesan Shrine and Cathedral of St. Joseph, Balanga, Bataan

Our third stop is located at the provincial capital of Bataan, the City of Balanga. The Balanga Cathedral, also known as Diocesan Shrine and Cathedral Parish of St. Joseph is the seat of the Diocese of Balanga. The church was founded in 1793 and was used as an artillery emplacement during the Japanese invasion to bombard Mt. Samat, where the Filipino-American troops made their last stand.

Sto. Domingo de Guzman Church, Abucay, Bataan

Our next stop is the Sto. Domingo de Guzman Church in Abucay, Bataan. The parish church was established in 1587 and was administered by the Dominican friars in 1588. The church is historically significant as it used to house one of the earliest printing presses in the Philippines, established in 1608 by Father Francisco Blancas de San Jose and Tomas Pinpin. The church was also a witness to the massacre of hundreds of Filipinos and Spaniards by the Dutch Invaders in 1647.

St. Catherine of Siena Church, Samal, Bataan

St. Catherine of Siena Church in Samal, Bataan was the next church on our destination. The church was founded by the Dominicans in 1596. It has been destroyed and rebuilt several times including the Dutch attack in 1647 and the fire caused by the Katipuneros in 1898. The present church was rebuilt from 1903 to 1905. Its belfry is currently renovated.

Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Orani, Bataan

The municipality of Orani in Bataan was our next stop where we visited the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. The church was founded in the 1600s as a chapel but was established as an independent parish church in 1714. The historic 1806 heritage bell of the church was displayed in front as a symbol of the faith of the people of Orani.

St. Peter of Verona Church, Hermosa, Bataan

Our seventh and last stop is the St. Peter of Verona Church in Hermosa, Bataan. Unfortunately, it was closed when we arrived there. The church was established in 1717 and according to history, the people of Hermosa found a broken boat near the river and inside the boat was the image of St. Peter Martyr of Verona, a 13th Century Catholic priest.

So that’s our Visita Iglesia for 2023. I wonder where will be our destination for the next year.