Form 2G series January 2019

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS

SUBCOMMISSION ON CULTURAL HERITAGE
CULTURAL MAPPING PROGRAM

Mapping of Significant Tangible Immovable Heritage

Category: Heritage Houses/Vernacular Architecture

NAME OF IMMOVABLE HERITAGE: Lapaz Church, (also known as Nuestra Señora De La Paz Y Buen
Viaje, Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Church)

PHOTO:

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

A. PERIOD: [ ] INDIGENOUS [ ] AMERICAN PERIOD [ ] POSTWAR

[✓] SPANISH PERIOD [ ] WORLD WAR II PERIOD
_____________________

B. OWNERSHIP [ ] PUBLIC [✓] PRIVATE

C. ADDRESS/LOCATION/COORDINATES (Longitude & Latitude): 10.7156° N, 122.5703° E

D. AREA: 1. Total Land Area: 1,700 sq. m.2. Structure: 1, 671 sq. m.

E. YEAR CONSTRUCTED/ESTIMATED AGE: Built in 1847, estimated age around 175 years old.

F. OWNERSHIP/JURISDICTION: Private ownership

G. DECLARATION/LEGISLATION: N/A

__________________________________________________________________________________
Significant Tangible Immovable Heritage
Iloilo
Municipality/City of ________________________
Province of _______________________________
Iloilo
VI-Western Visayas
Region ___________________________________
Form 2G series January 2019

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS

SUBCOMMISSION ON CULTURAL HERITAGE
CULTURAL MAPPING PROGRAM

II. DESCRIPTION

A. Physical Description (Describe the exterior, , the interior (the various rooms of the house, the stairs, the floor, the
architectural details such as woodcarvings, windows, implements, caryatids and others), and the surrounding landscape
and other structure around the house such as the water source/cistern/well, camarin/kamalig, gazebo, and/or pergola).

A temporary church and convent were built in 1847 by Fr. Candido Gonzales. It was made mostly of wood, bricks
and tabique pampango. Designed based on a Neoclassical-style. This church, constructed from 1870 to 1874, was
made of light materials and had to be renovated several times as the years passed. Neoclassic features, and
rustication stand in sharp contrast to the bricks used in the church. Two engaged columns supporting a triangular
pediment bear the date 1970, apparently recent additions.

B. History of the Structure (Write the history of construction, use/function of the building over the years, history of
intervention)

La Paz, called Lobo, Llaunon or Ilawood, then Iznart after Gov. Manuel Iznart, was a newly established as a parish
in 1868. In 1847, Fr. Candido Gonzales built a temporary church and convento of wood, bricks and tabique
pampango. A temporary church and convent were built in 1847 by Fr. Candido Gonzales. It was made mostly of
wood, bricks and tabique pampango. This church, constructed from 1870 to 1874, was made of light materials
and had to be renovated several times as the years passed. The most notable development of the La Paz church
was in 1995, in its 125th year, with the management of Msgr. Melencio V. Fegarido.

C. Status [✓] Occupied [ ] Not occupied

III. STORIES ASSOCIATED WITH STRUCTURE

The La Paz church is sometimes mistaken as the San Jose Church, another century-old church found in Iloilo,
because of its dual towers found on the sides of the church as well as its color. The church houses the image of
the Nuestra Señora De La Paz Y Buen Viaje in the altar. The neoclassical red brick edifice of Our Lady of Peace and
Good Voyage Church in La Paz welcomes believers of the patroness of travelers. In the early 1600’s, the image of
Nuestra Señora De La Paz Y Buen Viaje was brought to the Philippines by a Spanish galleon. Its successful voyage
across the Pacific Ocean, plus several other unharmed travels earned its recognition as a guide and protector
for seafarers and pilgrims.

IV. SIGNIFICANCE

Indicate type of significance, e.g. historical, aesthetic, scientific, social, socioeconomic, socio-political, spiritual and then
explain

Historical- Lapaz Church has an historical value. Built during the Spanish colonial period, and was held witness as
generation passed and witnessed the progress of the locality of Lapaz.

Spiritual- The Lapaz church houses the image of Nuestra Señora De La Paz Y Buen Viaje, the Patron Saint of Good voyage.
People from near and far pray on the church to ensure their or their loved one’s safe voyage.

__________________________________________________________________________________
Significant Tangible Immovable Heritage
Iloilo
Municipality/City of ________________________
Province of _______________________________
Iloilo
VI-Western Visayas
Region ___________________________________
Form 2G series January 2019

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS

SUBCOMMISSION ON CULTURAL HERITAGE
CULTURAL MAPPING PROGRAM

V. CONSERVATION

A. STATUS/CONDITION OF STRUCTURE: (Describe the physical condition of the structure)

[ ] Excellent
[✓] Good
[ ] Fair
[ ] Deteriorated
[ ] Ruins

Remarks:

Structure is well maintained. Wall paint are new and flooring are still intact. Iron grills are freshly painted and
building interior is clean as well. Windows are well maintained and are clean regularly. Main entrance wooden
door carving is still visible. Building exterior are also well maintained and are regularly checked.

B. INTEGRITY OF THE STRUCTURE:

1. [✓] altered 2. [ ] moved

[ ] unaltered [ ] original site

Remarks:

Originally, the Lapaz church was made mostly of wood, bricks and tabique pampango. But due to natural causes,
the original Lapaz churched was renovated many times for it was built mainly using light materials. The major
renovation happened in 1995 under the supervision of Msgr. Melencio V. Fegarido. To the present, the Lapaz
church maintain its original exterior which is built with brick while the inside was altered.

C. CONSTRAINTS/THREATS/ISSUE: Natural causes such as storm and earthquakes.

D. CONSERVATION MEASURES: (Describe the conservation measures taken at the level of the community, provincial
and/or national)

The lapaz church is regularly cleaned and maintained by the church parish ministry. Professionals are hired for
additional works in maintaining the church. Walls are painted whenever the old paint came off. Iron grills are also
well maintained, cleaned and painted regularly to prevent it from rusting. Windows are intact and are cleaned.
Main entrance wooden door is still intact and are properly maintained.

__________________________________________________________________________________
Significant Tangible Immovable Heritage
Iloilo
Municipality/City of ________________________
Province of _______________________________
Iloilo
VI-Western Visayas
Region ___________________________________
Form 2G series January 2019

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS

SUBCOMMISSION ON CULTURAL HERITAGE
CULTURAL MAPPING PROGRAM

VI. LIST OF SIGNIFICANT TANGIBLE MOVABLE HERITAGE (within the premises of the built heritage,
with the consent of the owner/caretaker):

Name of Object Photo Year produced or estimated age

Image of Nuestra Señora De La Paz Y Buen Early 1600’s
Viaje

VII. REFERENCES

KEY INFORMANT/S:

REFERENCE:

http://www.phtourguide.com/la-paz-church-our-lady-of-peace-and-good-voyage-church/
https://lemiapp.com/lemi/church-city/our-lady-of-peace-and-good-voyage-church-la-paz-church
https://www.localphilippines.com/attractions/la-paz-church

NAME OF MAPPER/S:

Belgira, Fritchie
Buenafe, Chris Jan
Caballero, Edgar, Jr.
Ontanillas, Honorio JR
Panaligan, Kate Janine

DATE PROFILED: July 25, 2022

__________________________________________________________________________________
Significant Tangible Immovable Heritage
Iloilo
Municipality/City of ________________________
Province of _______________________________
Iloilo
VI-Western Visayas
Region ___________________________________