| Santa Barbara Church | |
|---|---|
| Santa Barbara Parish Church | |
Iglesia de Santa Bárbara (Spanish) | |
.jpg) Churchfaçade and convent in 2022 | |
.svg)  Santa Barbara Church Location in the Philippines Show map of Philippines | |
| 10°49′40″N122°31′55″E / 10.827678°N 122.532075°E /10.827678; 122.532075 | |
| Location | Santa Barbara, Iloilo |
| Country | Philippines |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 1760 |
| Founder(s) | Fr. Juan Ferrer |
| Dedication | St. Barbara |
| Events | First Cry of Revolution against Spain outside Luzon |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Under restoration |
| Heritage designation | National Historical Landmark |
| Designated | 1991 |
| Architectural type | Church building |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Bricks |
| Administration | |
| Province | Jaro |
| Archdiocese | Jaro |
| Clergy | |
| Archbishop | Jose Romeo Lazo |
| Priest(s) | Rev. Msgr. Sinforoso S. Padilla, Jr. P.C. |
Santa Barbara Parish Church is aRoman Catholic church located in the municipality ofSanta Barbara, Iloilo, Philippines, under theArchdiocese of Jaro. The church is considered to be the "Cradle of Independence" inPanay and in theVisayas.
In 1760, the settlement near the Tigum and Aganan rivers became a Pueblo, and the church became an independent parish. Saint Barbara was assigned to be the symbol of the parish, which was headed by parish priest Father Juan Ferrer. The construction of theAugustinian church that would last to the present day began when Father Francisco Aguerria arrived in 1845. Construction of the road networks that would connect the parish toCabatuan,Maasin,Janiuay,Leon, andAlimodian also started at the same time.
The funds for the church construction would be sourced out from the taxes of the parishioners that costs between 8 and 12reales (between₱1.00 and ₱1.50). Wealthier people escaped labor by paying larger amounts.
Under the laws ofRepartamiento, men over 16 years of age were required to engage in 40 days of forced labor doing works on Spanish-owned farms and public works. Laborers from distant towns contributed to the construction of the church. Sketches of the plans and design of the church were drawn on the walls and columns of the church which was believed to not possess any formal plans for its buildability.[1]
Workers labored over both thequarried stones and mulawon and mangle wood-types that both came from the municipalities of Leon, Alimodian andTubungan.
In 1991, theNational Historical Commission of the Philippines declared Santa Barbara Church and Convent as a National Landmark. The church was the site where GeneralMartin Delgado of the Visayan Revolutionary Government started thejunta that resulted to the first Cry of Revolution against the Spaniards outsideLuzon.[2][3] It was also used as the general headquarters and military hospital of the revolutionary forces.[3]
TheNational Museum declared Santa Barbara Church as a national cultural treasure in 2013. A historical marker was unveiled in December 2015.[4][5]
The overall style of the church can be viewed asneoclassical with the unembellished frontfacade. Dividing the front facade plane are four sets ofTuscanpilasters. The central division contains the main entrance while the end divisions contain twoniches accommodating theBlessed Virgin andSacred Heart of Jesus icons.
Threestained glass windows puncture the facade of the upper level. This fenestration indicates achoir loft located inside. The side windows are capped with crests of thePope (on the left) and the Augustinians (on the right). On the uppermost part of the front facade is a niche which contains a statue ofSt. Barbara.[1]
The convent resemblesMoorish architecture.[2]
Santa Barbara Church and Convent was restored for the celebration of thePhilippine Independence Day in 2015. PresidentBenigno Aquino III celebrated the national event in Santa Barbara, Iloilo. The National Historic Commission of the Philippines supervised the restoration of the historic church and convent.[2]
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