Sibonga Church

Not to be confused with Simala Shrine.

Sibonga Church
Our Lady of the Pillar Parish Church
Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza Church Virgin of the Pillar Parish Church
Church facade in 2024
Sibonga Church Location in Cebu Show map of Cebu, Philippines Sibonga Church Location in the Visayas Show map of Visayas Sibonga Church Location in the Philippines Show map of Philippines
10°01′01.7″N 123°37′09.3″E
Location	Sibonga, Cebu
Country	Philippines
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Dedication	Our Lady of the Pillar
Dedicated	1830
Architecture
Architectural type	Church building
Style	Neo-Gothic
Years built	1866–1898
Administration
Archdiocese	Cebu
Deanery	San Antonio de Padua
Parish	Our Lady of the Pillar
Clergy
Priest(s)	Fr. Agustin Abella[1]

Our Lady of the Pillar Parish Church, also known as the Virgin of the Pillar Parish Church^[2] or simply Sibonga Church, is a Roman Catholic church in Sibonga, Cebu, Philippines. It is under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Cebu.

Background

Church interior in 2023

The church was established as a visita of Carcar in 1690 by the Augustinians. The site became a parish dedicated to the Our Lady of the Pillar of Zaragoza in 1830 with the initial church building made in wood. A convent made in stone and coral was built according to the design of Bishop Santos Gómez Marañón of Cebu under the watch of Fr. Prospero Puerto in 1939. The current church building made in stone and coral was built from 1866 to 1898. The building is an example of Neo-Gothic architecture^[3]

The church building was renovated under Fr. Francisco Latorre and was inaugurated on November 17, 1907, by Manila Archbishop Jeremiah Harty.^[3]

The Sibonga Church is also noted for its interior artworks, especially its ceiling mural. Parish priest Julio Fernandez commissioned Cebuano artist Raymundo Francia who accomplished the artworks from 1927 to 1931. Francia's ceiling mural is noted by the historical marker at the church to be an example of trompe-l'œil.^[2]

Church NHC historical marker installed in 2010

A historical marker was unveiled at Sibonga Church on December 2, 2010, by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. It is recognized as a Level II historical site.^[4]

In May 2024, the Cebu Archdiocesan Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church requested the removal of the red-colored light-emitting diode signage installed at the Porta Sancta entrance. The Commission said that the NHCP did not approve the same which is incompatible with the church’s “historic and heritage value.”^[5]

References

1. "Archdiocese of Cebu". Retrieved July 8, 2024.
2. Ponce, Noel H. (August 5, 2018). "Ceiling art astounds churchgoers". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
3. Simbahan ng Sibonga [Church of Sibonga] (Marker) (in Filipino). Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza Church: National Historical Commission of the Philippines. 2010.
4. "Simbahan ng Sibonga". National Registry of Historic Sites & Structures in the Philippines (in English and Filipino). National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
5. Cordova, Calvin (May 27, 2024). "Cebu archdiocese panel airs concern over LED board at church entrance". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved May 27, 2024.

External links

• Media related to Our Lady of the Pillar Parish Church (Sibonga, Cebu) at Wikimedia Commons
• Sibonga Church on Facebook