Churches | Pangasinan Blog

In the Philippines, a way of spending the Holy Week is through prayer, meditation and the traditional Visita Iglesias. It is a pilgrimage to various churches which people intend to pray the Stations of the Cross at each stop. The Stations of the Cross has 14 stations, each capturing the journey of Jesus Christ through the streets of Jerusalem to Golgotha. Ideally this would mean that there are about 14 churches to visit.

In case you are in Pangasinan, visit the following churches:

Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish Church photo by Cesar S. Ramirez

Pangasinan is sometimes synonymous to a pilgrimage to the miraculous Our Lady of Manaoag housed in the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish Church in Manaoag.

Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish Church photo by Ray B. Zambrano

Inside the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish Church photo by Ray B. Zambrano

Next stop would be at the St. Hyacinth Parish Church in San Jacinto, then to the St. Thomas Aquinas Parish Church in Mangaldan.

St. Thomas Aquinas Parish Church photo by Cesar S. Ramirez

A few kilometers away is the San Fabian Church. From San Fabian you could go to Dagupan via Bonuan Binloc. Near the junction going to the Bonuan Tondaligan Beach is the Annunciation of the Lord Parish in Bonuan Gueset. You could also visit the Simbaan Ya Bato (church made of stone), a small church beside it and within the compound. St. Gabriel the Archangel Church in Bonuan Boquig within the interior of Bonuan could also be visited.

San Fabian Catholic Church by Ray B. Zambrano

inside the San Fabian Church photo by ray B. Zambrano

At the heart of Dagupan City is the historic and newly renovated/ reconstructed St. John the Evangelist Cathedral (formerly known as the Old Cathedral).

The facade of St. John the Evangelist Cathedral by Ray B. Zambrano

The Altar photo by Ray B. Zambrano

The Cathedral's aisle photo by: Ray B. Zambrano

Near it is the bigger St. John the Evangelist Parish Church (formerly known as the St. John the Evangelist Metropolitan Cathedral).

St. John the Evangelist Parish Church by Cesar S. Ramirez

Calasiao is not just home to the famous and delectable Calasiao puto, it is also where you can find one of the oldest churches in the region, the Sts. Peter and Paul Parish Church. Although not a church, another famous pilgrimage site in Calasiao is the Senor Divino Tesoro, where a statue of crucified Jesus of Nazarene is enshrined.

Sts. Peter and Paul Parish Church photo by Cesar S. Ramirez

photo by Cesar S. Ramirez

From Calasiao, you could go to San Ildefonso Parish Church in Malasiqui,

San Ildefonso Parish Church by Cesar S. Ramirez

Inside the San Ildefonso Parish Church by Ray B. Zambrano

St. Vincent Ferrer in Bayambang or St. Dominic Church in San Carlos City.

St. Dominic Parish Church photo by Cesar S. Ramirez

On the way to Western Pangasinan, pass by Our Lady of Purification Parish Church in Binmaley and the Epiphany of Our Lord Parish Church in Lingayen. Lingayen (soon to be a city?) is the province’s capital. It is also famous for its bagoong and patis (fish paste and sauce).

Our Lady of Purification Parish Church photo by Cesar S. Ramirez

Our Lady of Purification Parish Church by Ray B. Zambrano

Although there are a lot of other notable churches along the way towards Alaminos City, I’ll just leave that your adventurous and devotional spirit.

Last stop could be at the St. Joseph Catherdal in Alaminos City. To culminate your day, stay at the one of the natural wonders of the world, The Hundred Islands.

St. Joseph Catherdal at night by Ray B. Zambrano

Have a Blessed Holy Week!

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One Historic Church

By Restituto C. Basa
Source: People’s Digest Newsweekly
February 8-14, 2006
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The facade of St. John the Evangelist Cathedral
Digitally photographed by:

ONE religious temple that should be of interest to the Dagupan City Historical and Cultural Committee for conservation is the ancient St. John The Evangelist Cathedral situated along Zamora Street. (Note: Daily noontime masses are held in this church which has recently undergone reconstruction.)

Towards the close of the Katipunan revolution, the Spanish authorities of Pangasinan abandoned Lingayen and moved to Dagupan.

The provincial government was housed at the Dagupan convento.
The Altar

Digitally photographed by:

All the Spanish friars in Pangasinan abandoned their posts in the various towns and sought the safety of the Dagupan convent. The Spanish forces of Pangasinan were all moved to Dagupan.

Even the Nuestra Señor del Rosario of Manaoag was brought to the Dagupan convent, probably in the hope that she could turn the tide of battle in favor of the Spanish defenders?

Just as the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) made its last stand in Bataan against the Japanese invasion army in 1942, the Spanish forces in Pangasinan in 1898 took their last stand against the Katipunan forces in Dagupan.

The cathedral's aisle

Digitally photographed by:

The beleaguered Spaniards sought cover behind the thick abode walls on the convent and the church.

The Spanish defenders were well armed. They were in control of the financial resources of the province. They could procure all the firearms they needed.

On the other hand, the Katipunan troopers were poorly armed. Only a few of them had rifles. What was sad that some of those who had firearms, (captured from Spanish soldiers in previous encounters) did not know how to shoot. The rest were armed with bolos.

The battle of Dagupan lasted for four days from July 19 t0 28, 1898. Generals Servillano Aquino and Francisco Macabulos have already liberated Tarlac from Spanish rule.

Makabulos and his trooper came to Dagupan to assist the Pangasinan Katipuneros.

The Filipino freedom fighters surrounded the Spanish citadel in all sides.

There was actually very little exchange of fire between the two contending forces.

It would seem to be that the Spanish forces and the civil and ecclesiastical authorities who were holed up there run out of food supply. Since they could not go out to procure food supplies from the market, they raised the white flag rather than perish from hunger and disease.

With the Spanish surrender, Spanish rule in Pangasinan ended once and for all.

The cathedral's bell tower view

Digitally photographed by:

Side note: Because the old St. John the Evangelist Cathedral was renovated, there became two cathedrals: The old and the new big Metropolitan Cathedral (just beside the old one). But no cathedrals can be in one place so the restored old cathedral is now the St. John the Evangelist Cathedral and the big church is now the St. John the Evangelist Parish Church. (Information provided by: Marcelo L. Vistro)