Loboc

The Church of San Pedro in Loboc is the second oldest church in Bohol. It
was originally built in 1602, but soon reduced to ashes. In 1638, a stronger
one was build. Located near the river, it has survived a number of floods.
Inside the church, you can admire some remarkable naive paintings on the
ceiling. A Spanish coat of arms can be found in the stone wall near the
entrance of the convent. The bell tower of Loboc is about 100 meters from
the church.
Attached to the building is a three storey convent, which today houses
the Museo de Loboc on the third floor. This museum houses a few old statues
of saints, and some other antique religious artifacts.
In Loboc, you can also admire a shameful witness of wasteful planning.
Exactly next to the church is a partly finished bridge across the river.
Hopefully, this bridge will never be completed, as, to do that, the Church will
have to be destroyed.
Loboc Church from the outside
The Church of San Pedro in Loboc, Bohol is the second oldest church in Bohol. It was
originally built in 1602, but soon reduced to ashes. In 1638, a stronger one was build.
Located near the river, it has survived a number of floods. Inside the church, you can
admire some remarkable naive paintings on the ceiling.
A Spanish coat of arms can be found in the stone wall near the entrance of the convent.
The bell tower of Loboc is about 100 meters from the church. Attached to the building is a
three storey convent, which today houses the Museo de Loboc on the third floor. This
museum houses a few old statues of saints, and some other antique religious artifacts. In
Loboc, you can also admire a shameful witness of wasteful planning. Exactly next to the
church is a partly finished bridge across the river. Hopefully, this bridge will never be
completed, as, to do that, the Church will have to be destroyed.

Loboc Church from the unfinished bridge

Loboc is 21 km east of Tagbilaran. Catch a bus to Loboc, or one in the direction of Carmen,
and ask the driver to drop you off at the church.
Loboc San Pedro y San Pablo Parish
In 1596, the Jesuit Gabriel Sanchez gathered together 12 separate settlements to form one
town in the interior of Bohol at a site where villagers from the mountains met to trade with
those from the coast. Sanchez convinced the villagers to build a church of wood and thatch
and to win their goodwill gave them trinkets, needles, beads and other small gifts he had
brought.
In 1602, Loboc was apparently constituted as a pueblo. During the early 17th century,
Loboc became well known as a pilgrimage site, because the saintly priest Alonso de
Humanes was buried in the church. A stone church was built ca. 1632 but was damaged by
fire. A newer and bigger church was completed in 1734. It was apparently in the process of
being decorated with carvings when the Jesuits were expelled from the Philippines. Loboc
became the residentia or center of the Jesuit missions because it was deemed safer from
slave raids than the coastal towns of Baclayon and Dauis where at one time the residentia
was located.

Loboc Church Facade

The Recollects succeeded Jesuits in their ministry to Loboc in 1768. Fr. Aquilino Bon built a
hexagonal bell tower located at a distance from the church. He added a portico and in effect
covered the Baroque faade of the Jesuit church. The Recollects installed a pipe organ in
the church in the 1820s. Parts of the L-shaped convento behind the church may trace to the
Jesuits, although an 1886 document credits them with building the convento which is
described as "de much solidez y capacidad." The convento is unusual for being three
stories rather than two as is more common.

Loboc Church Belfry

Heritage Features: The Loboc church is decorated with carvings of cherubs, the Papal tiara
and emblems of the Jesuit. It has two facades: the Jesuit-built Baroque faade decorated
with unfinished medallions depicting saints and the Neoclassical portico added by the
Recollects.
Although main altar is Neoclassical, two side altars are Baroque and two at the transept
ends are put together from several parts, creating a syncretic style. Many of the saints of
Jesuit devotion have been replaced by saints of Recollect devotion except for the image of
San Francisco Xavier found at the side altar to the right of the main altar. Hidden by the
main altar, is a bas relief of San Ignacio and San Francisco Xavier done in stucco
(reminders that this was once a Jesuit church).

Dome from the inside. Loboc Church.

Side Altar.Loboc Church

The sacristy behind the main altar is also decorated with relief. A greatly deteriorated bas
relief over the door show a scene with a number of persons: probably Jesus and the
apostles or Jesus with Jesuit saints. Part of a retablo whose pediment is embellished with
Veronica's veil and a crucifix decorate the interior. Stone stairs lead to upper story, which
the Jesuits probably used as a residence.
http://www.bohol-philippines.com/loboc-church.html

Main Nave. Loboc Church.

The rear wall of the church, just outside the sacristy entrance displays a relief of San
Ignacio flanked by women with feather headdress, a motif found in Latin American colonial
art. Loboc is known for music.
The convento built behind the church, though needing much conservation, has a number of
pleasing features, namely, a large sala with decorated walls and a stamped tin ceiling, a
dining hall with large armoire and a connecting hall whose covered balcony is decorated
with colored glass panes and a gilded ceiling. Loboc has a small museum on the third floor.
On the way to the museum are gargoyle heads one painted a deep blue.

LOOK: Bohols
centuries-old
churches two years
after the quake
By: Rissa M. Camongol - Copy Editor / @RCamongolINQ
INQUIRER.net / 11:04 AM June 26, 2015

Loboc Church

PANGLAO ISLAND, BoholThe earthquake that hit Bohol in October

2013 made an impact on the economy and infrastructure of the
province, affecting business operations and destroying buildings and
roads.
Two years later, the economy is back in full swing and productivity is
high, according to Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto.
Infrastructure, however, remains to be a work in progress. While
some buildings and roads have been rehabilitated, efforts are still
underway in some areas, particularly in the restoration of some of the
provinces historic churches.
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READ: Should all Bohol churches rise again? | Restoration of

Bohol churches a big challenge, say experts
Bohol is known not only for its environmental wonders but also for its
old churches, some of which are built during the Spanish colonial era
and considered national treasures.
Depending on the level of destruction of the structure, some of these
churches are now undergoing rehabilitation, while others are still on
retrieval operations.

Rehabilitation efforts are underway at Loboc Church.

Read more: http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/198313/look-boholscenturies-old-churches-two-years-after-the-quake/#ixzz4RvTYqjzY

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LOBOC CHURCH. Loboc Church is massive in scale and elegant in design.

Carved on its coral stone faade were cherubs, emblems of the Jesuits and the
Papal seal. Loboc is the only church in Bohol that has a free standing belfry
away from the nave. This is an architectural characteristic
common among Ilocos Earthquake Baroque churches.
The convent behind the church was converted into a museum. A room
in Museo de Loboc has been reserved for the internationally-acclaimed Loboc
Childrens Choir for their practices and voice lessons. These are the cultural
treasures of Loboc.

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