By Anna Valmero
MIAG-AO, ILOILO—The artistic facade and imposing structure of the Miag-ao Church is a lasting testament to the genuine craftmanship of Filipino master builders or maestro de obras more than two centuries ago.
First-time visitors often include a visit to Miag-ao church in their itinerary to bask at the magnificence of its Baroque Romanesque architecture, which can be seen only in four churches in the Philippines.
The church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Only three other churches are characterized by Baroque architecture - San Agustin Church in Manila, Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion in Santa Maria in Ilocos Sur, and San Agustin Church in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.
According to the National Historical Institute marker, construction of the Miag-ao church began in 1787 under Fray Francisco Gonzales, parish priest of this town and Spanish gobernadorcillo Domingo Libo-on.
In case you are wondering, there are several legends as to how Miag-ao got its name. One legend says it was derived from miagos, a wild plant that grew in the area while another version said it was derived from the name of a Negrito called Miyagaw, who gave his name when asked by the Spaniards of the name of the place.
According to folklore, the name was derived from the tale of two lovers, Maya and Gao.
It took a decade to build the edifice, and served as the town's fortress against Moro raiders. In fact, its fortress design, composed of massive stone walls at 1.5-meters thick and strong four-meter-thick buttresses, is stipulated under Royal Decree 111 of 1573 (Law of the Indies), said Iloilo native Randy Madrid, who also wrote the Miagao Church Bicentennial Yearbook in 1997.
Local accounts said that the concrete slabs of igang (sandstone), making up the original church, were hauled from Sitio Tubog in nearby San Joaquin town and from the mountains of Igbaras. The sandstones were bonded by lime mortar.
A native from Igbaras named Matias is said to be the foreman who supervised the early construction of the church until he was replaced by Aquino, a native from Alimodian, according to the church's historical records.
The church was destroyed during the 1898 Filipino revolt against Spain. After it was rebuilt, it was damaged heavily by fire in 1910 and an earthquake in 1948.
The church, in its present state, is a product of an ongoing restoration work that began in 1960, funds of which came from donations of local devotees and residents.
Recognizing its significance among Iloilo residents, the Miagao church was declared a national shrine by Presidential Decree No. 260 of former President Ferdinand Marcos.
Marcos' widow and now Ilocos Sur Representative Imelda Marcos was said to be instrumental in making the church popular when she presented a painting of the Miag-ao Church to the late Pope John Paul II.
In terms of the church's ornate motifs and designs, Madrid said that it was a combination of Medieval Spanish, Chinese and Muslim influences based on the symbols of the church.
The most iconic of these symbols is the sculpture of St. Christopher, which was selected by the Spanish missionaries because for them, it embodies their mission to spread Christianity to other countries.
A legend goes that St. Christopher was tasked to carry people across the river and one day he carried a child who became increasingly heavy as he rowed to the other bank. Later, St. Christopher was told that it was Jesus Christ.
As Miag-ao Church stood the test of time and disasters, it shows how the locals of this quiet town have endured hardships and tough times guided by their faith.
