Tabaco Church in the Municipality of Tabaco in Albay stands breathtaking in its beautiful and enigmatic simplicity. The Tabaco Church, also known as the Saint John the Baptist Parish Church, was one of our stopovers during our tour in Bicol in 2014.
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| Tabaco Church |
Heritage Series: Tabaco Church, Albay’s Beautiful Enigma
The town of Tabaco
Tabaco, as a small town, was established by the Franciscan friars in the late 1500s, with St. John the Baptist as patron saint. It gained independence from
the old town of Cagsaua in the early 1600s during the term of the parish priest
Father Pedro de Alcareso.
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| At the plaza |
Bicol Region, which is typified by a volcanic topography because of Mayon
Volcano is rich in dark volcanic soil and stones from which the Tabaco Church
is constructed.
Tabaco Church
Like many churches in the Philippines, Tabaco Church is located in the city center. It was not grand if you would compare it, say, to the heritage churches of Bohol. However, this fact does not diminish Tabaco Church’s allure.
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| Inside Tabaco Church |
In truth, the simplicity of its façade would draw any visitor closer. I would even consider one of the Bicol Region’s many cherished landmarks. As a testament to Tabaco Church’s significance, it was declared as a National
Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines, one of the only two such sites in the Bicol Region.
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| The belfry |
Another characteristic of Tabaco Church that is easily noticeable, and perhaps puzzling, is that its belfry is disconnected from the main church. This architectural style is common among churches in the Ilocos Region.
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| Candle offerings |
The reason behind this construction style was to spare the main church during the collapse of a massive belfry during earthquakes which are fairly common in the Philippines. This bell tower, meanwhile, is intricately designed with rococo patterns, in absolute contrast to the simplicity of the main church.
On the stones of the church, one may see mason’s marks inscribed during the construction of the building upon closer inspection. Historians revealed that these marks are a rarity among buildings in the country.
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| Christ the King statue |
Another mind-boggling feature of the Tabaco Church is the compartments on its
floor, which remains a mystery even among heritage experts.
In front of the Tabaco Church is a spacious plaza; in the middle of which is,
a monument of Christ the King surrounded by angels that act as sentinels.
Epilogue
The Tabaco Church is one of the most unforgettable sights when we went to
Albay. It looks beautiful, especially the belltower with its details. I'd definitely recommend a stopover at Tabaco Church for all travelers who plan to go to Albay in Bicol.
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Amazing! Thank you for this post. :) I feel like I stepped into the place after more than a decade just by reading. My dad hails from Tabaco, and we usually set aside some time to visit that church.
You are welcome! Thank you also for dropping by.
beautiful and splendid indeed!!! I loved that the masons left their marks!!! wow!!
Yup, really magnificent piece of architecture. Thank you for dropping by!
the visuals remind me of the visit i had undertaken to the churches in the state of Goa , India . There are a testament to our past and provide links to our journey . Thanks for the share
Wow, really? Now, I am really more interested with India. Thank you also for dropping by!
Omg, from Bicol here🙋growing up lagi na kami napunta Dito. Although almost 3hrs Ang byahe namin from home to Tabaco church. I've been here many times Daddy. At masasabi ko tlagang napakasarap SA pakiramdam kapag nagpunta ka Dito. Iba po tlaga Ang feeling. Ang gaan gaan ng loob mo.basta po. Ganun Yung feelings ko everytime nandito ako s Church n to. Naalala ko dati kinakarga pa kami ni papa kapag hahalik kami sa statue ni Jesus Christ. Pero nung lumaki nAko. Iniisip ko Ang baba Lang pala nung statue. Ganun pa ako kaliit nun. Ang saya po na feature nio ang Tabaco Church. Thank you po.❤️
Simply beautiful 😃 the architecture are nice.