A Quick Peek at Tabaco Church

The grey Catholic church is the first landmark that I saw when our bus entered the poblacion of Tabaco City. Its massive structure is impressive and I vowed to visit this church. I was surprised when my companion asked me this question: “do you want to visit that church now?” It seems like he knows that visiting churches is part of my itinerary.

I answered “no” to his question. We came to Tabaco City to work and I placed work over my unofficial “sightseeing”. My time to visit this church will come so there is no rush to visit this church.
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Tabaco Church, Tabaco City, Bicolandia

That time came in the afternoon of our first day in Tabaco City. I left our cheap hotel and proceeded directly to Tabaco Church. The Holy Mass is currently underway so the church is crowded.
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Tabaco Church (in Bicolandia) is crowded.

I failed to take photos of the interior of Tabaco Church because of the crowd. I just contented myself with taking photos outside of the church. The bell tower caught the attention of my camera.
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Bell tower of Tabaco Church, Bicolandia

The bell tower is old and grey like the church beside it. I noticed that the gate blocking the stairs leading to the top of the bell tower is ajar. I decided to climb without any permission.

The interior of Tabaco Church bell tower is dark and damp. Rubbles are everywhere and it seems like the place is in dire need of cleaning. Still, the place is the good place to take photos of Tabaco City. I took a good shot of the park in front of Tabaco Church.
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A park located in front of Tabaco Church, Bicolandia

The monument of “Christ the King” is located at the center of the park. Do you notice the angels surrounding Jesus Christ?

I also took this shot:
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A shot of Tabaco City from the bell tower of Tabaco Church, Bicolandia.


I am about to take another photo when an old man suddenly appeared inside the bell tower. I thought that he will scold me and throw me out of the bell tower. He didn't.

The old man told me that the kampanero (ringer of the bell) is dead that's why no one cleans the bell tower. He is at the bell tower to fix the wirings in preparation for Semana Santa (Holy Week). I am grateful that he allowed me to continue taking photos.
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Bell of Tabaco Church, Bicolandia
Bell of Tabaco Church

The old man told me that the Tabaco Church was built through the donations of the parishioners. He told me that his grandmother and other Tabaqueños donated blocks that were used to build the church. The original structure of Tabaco Church was established in 1616 but it was destroyed by the 1814 Mayon Volcano eruption. The current structure was built between 1864 to 1879.

I didn't linger long in Tabaco Church. I left after I made a mini-tour of the bell tower. I hope to see the interior of this church in the future.

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11 comments:

  1. siguro lampas 400 years na ang simbahan na iyan.....

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  2. I love the last picture the most Ish

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  3. buti ka pa nakakapagtravel and naiiexplore mo ang philippines.. hayst sana ako din eheehe

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  4. cute nyan simple at lumang desenyo ganyang ganyan naiimagine ko pag simbahan ang pinaguusapan

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  5. An awesomely spellbinding church! A wedding in one like this would be so beautiful, so memorable. When is yours, Ishmael? At which church will it be? Remember to invite me, ok? Wink! Wink!

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  6. Sana may mag volunteer ,man lang maging kampanero para malinis nila yung bell.

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  7. Wow, talagang nililibot mo ang buong Pilipinas ah!

    Astig naman nitong old church ng Tabaco. Nice shots!

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  8. ganda! naalala ko din tuloy ang isa sa pinakalumang simbahan na nabisita nmin sa Bohol sa Dauis...parang ganyan din...:D

    Sa mga kuha ng pictures..galing lalo na yung sa Monument...:)

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  9. pashare ng pics mo sa fb ha? kasi dinaanan namin ito but failed to take pictures

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  10. Arvin

    Sa tingin ko hindi 400 years. Yung current structure ng Tabaco Church ay itinayo sa pagitan ng taong 1864 at 1879. So and pinakamatandang age ng simbahan na ito ay mga 148 years.

    Bluedreamer

    Oo. Yan ang pinaka-paborito kong picture sa lahat ng nakalagay sa post na ito.

    MeCoy

    Yeah. Old style ang disenyo ng Tabaco Church. Mas OK ito kesa sa mga modern design na hindi mo maintindihan kung ano ang hitsura.

    STP

    Ha ha ha. My wedding is still a long way in the future. :-P

    KillerFillers

    Thank you for visiting my blog.

    Fiel-kun

    S'yempre. Isa akong gala na tao eh. ;-)

    Anney

    Sana nga eh. Sayang naman kung hindi maalagan ang kampana ng Tabaco Church.

    Super Gulaman

    Uy. Parang gusto ko tuloy na bisitahin yung simbahan ninyo sa Dauis.

    R.O.

    Sure. No problem.

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