The Zamboanga City Cathedral, now standing along La Purisima Street, was originally situated at the front of Plaza Pershing, where the present Universidad de Zamboanga is located. Built in 1870, the first cathedral was made of wood and concrete, featuring a main altar dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, flanked by statues of Jesuit saints Ignatius of Loyola and Francis Xavier. When the Diocese of Zamboanga was established in 1910, the church was formally elevated to the status of a cathedral.

In the heart of Palawan’s capital stands the Immaculate Conception Cathedral. But beyond its pointed arches and Neo-Gothic towers lies a deeper story—one rooted in missionary zeal, colonial history, and the unwavering devotion of a man who would one day be canonized a saint: Fray Ezequiél Moreno.

The story of St. William’s Cathedral, more commonly known as Laoag Cathedral, began in 1580 when the Augustinian missionaries established a parish in Laoag. The original structure was made of wood and thatch, typical of early mission churches. As the town grew, a more permanent church was planned. The stone foundations of the current structure were laid in 1612, marking the start of what would become a central feature of the city for centuries.

In the town of Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, the Sta. Monica Church stands as one of the most notable landmarks in the province. Known as the largest church in Ilocos Norte, it is especially recognized for the remarkable length of its nave. Built of red bricks in a mix of Earthquake Baroque and Neoclassical architecture, the church complex also includes a convent, a belfry, and a unique brick bridge staircase called the curillo, which connects the church and convent.

Perched atop a hill overlooking the town of Sta. Maria in Ilocos Sur, the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption stands as one of the most remarkable heritage churches in the Philippines. Tt was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, included in the Baroque Churches of the Philippines, a collection of four Spanish-era churches noted for their adaptation of European Baroque architecture to local conditions, particularly earthquakes.

The architecture of the St. Anne Church of Piddig is inspired by the Jesuit Church of Il Gesù in Rome, built in 1568. The baroque-style façade features massive buttresses that serve as columns and volutes adorning the pediment. Inside, the original wooden pulpit remains intact, along with the central retablo displaying an image of St. Anne cradling the young Virgin Mary. Though the bell tower now stands partially in ruins, it continues to add a sense of grandeur to the site.

The Church of St. Andrew the Apostle, more commonly known as Bacarra Church, was founded in 1593 by Augustinian friars. It is considered one of the most significant Spanish-era churches in the Philippines. The town of Bacarra itself was established earlier, on September 18, 1590, by the Augustinians as a mission center for the Apayaos. The land was originally owned by local chieftains named Castillo and Andres Hermosa, and the church was built on the site where an Igorot chieftain named Bacsalandoc had once established his settlement.

La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc, a centuries-old Marian statue believed to have originated from Japan during the Christian persecution in the 1600s, is enshrined in the Minor Basilica of St. John the Baptist in Badoc, Ilocos Norte. Discovered floating off the coast in 1620 alongside the Black Nazarene of Sinait, the Virgin’s statue has since become a revered symbol of faith.

We completed the first ten churches of our Visita Iglesia in Ilocos Norte. Then we continued our Holy Thursday pilgrimage southward into Ilocos Sur. Four more historic churches awaited us there. The transition between the two provinces was smooth. The landscape subtly shifted from wide open plains to more clustered towns and rolling hills. Each bore silent testimony to the centuries-old Christian heritage of the region.

This year’s Maundy Thursday was a spiritually fulfilling one. We set out on a Visita Iglesia. We visited a total of 14 churches. There were 10 in Ilocos Norte and 4 in Ilocos Sur. More than a tradition, it was a quiet journey through centuries of faith and history in Northern Luzon.

One of the most tragic episodes in the history of St. Polycarp of Cabuyao, Lagjna occurred on May 3, 1935, during the Sakdalista uprising. Fifty-two members of the Sakdal Movement, a revolutionary group that called for immediate independence from the United States, land reform, lower taxes, and transparent governance, were killed inside the church by constabularies.

Nestled in the heart of Baras, Rizal, Baras Church, formally known as the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Saint Joseph, stands as one of the oldest churches in the province.