Churches in the country are most of the time included in the itineraries. It is because rich history can be found on most communities that started around these churches. These communities are still evident and present.

And for two years, I’ve visited some of them for the first time. And everyone knows the drill when someone steps in a chapel or church the initial time around – one wish. Similarly, visiting 14 churches during the Holy Week, (this week as of writing) called Visita Iglesia, grants a prayer.

More than being wish factories, our churches are grandeur displays of architecture marvels too. The exteriors and the interiors give unique identities. The following are the ones that I consider as the most beautiful churches in the Philippines:

1. Basilica Minore Nuestra Señora de Piat

Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Piat in Piat, Cagayan – Tagged as the Pilgrimage Center of the North where devotees flock to see the 400-year-old Black Virgin Mary.

2. Betis Church

Santiago Apostol Parish in Guagua, Pampanga – Declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum and the National Commission for Culture and Arts.

3. Barasoain Church

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Malolos City, Bulacan – The cradle site of the First Philippine Republic.

4. Baclayon Church

Immaculate Conception Parish in Baclayon, Bohol – Seen here is used to be standing church before it sustained major damage during the earthquake in 2013.

5. Calaruega Church

Transfiguration Chapel in Batulao, Batangas – One of the most sought after wedding churches in the country.

6. Callao Cave Chapel

Peñablanca, Cagayan – One of the seven chambers of the cave was turned into a chapel.

7. The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary the Virgin

Sagada, Mountain Province – The only Anglican church in this list.

8. Lipa Cathedral

San Sebastian Cathedral in Lipa, Batangas – The seat of the Archdiocese of Lipa which includes the provinces of Southern Tagalog and part of the Camarines provinces in Bicol.

9. Manila Cathedral

Manila Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica in Intramuros, Manila – Underwent rigorous repairs for earthquake retrofitting and subsidence preventions.

10. Miag-ao Church

The Church of Saint Thomas of Villanova in Miag-ao, Iloilo – The yellowish color of the facade is attributed to the construction materials used such as adobe, egg, coral and limestone.

11. Paoay Church

Church of St. Augustine in Paoay, Ilocos Norte – The monstrous size buttresses around the building makes it an example of an earthquake baroque architecture

12. San Agustin Church

Intramuros, Manila – One of the four Baroque Churches of the Philippines.

13. San Jose de Ivana Church

Ivana, Batanes – The only church in the province with a separate campanile.

14. San Pedro Cathedral

Davao City – The oldest church of the city with a unique concrete design

15. Sarrat Church

Sta. Monica Parish in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte – The Philippine church with the longest aisle.

16. St. James the Greater Parish

Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte – Its plaza houses the Relief Map of Mindanao.

17. Tukon Chapel

Basco, Batanes – The Chapel on the Hill inspired by the Ivatan stone houses

18. St. Andrew Kim Parish

Lolomboy, Bocaue, Bulacan – A parish church for the first Korean priest

19. Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod

Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City – Located at the Skypark of SM Aura Premiere in honor a Filipino saint

20. Liliw Church

St. John the Baptist Parish Church in Liliw, Laguna – Notable for the striking red bricks and adobe of its facade.

21. Daraga Church

Nuestra Señora de la Porteria Parish in Daraga, Albay – Currently covered with white coat of lime for protection

22. Bacolor Sunken Church

San Guillermo Parish Church in Bacolor, Pampanga – Sunk by the lahar of Mt. Pinatubo eruption and was the shooting location of the popular TV series, “May Bukas Pa”.

23. Bantay Church

St. Augustine Parish / Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de La Caridad in Bantay, Ilocos Sur – History says that its belfry acts a watchtower for the pirates while at present times, it has been synonymous with popular icon, Panday.

24. Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral

National Shrine of Our Lady of the Candles in Jaro, Iloilo – Known for the images of patron saints, all-male, placed on the columns and the separate belfry located across a street

Prayer Houses

After I’ve visited a number of the churches, cathedrals and chapels in the Philippines, I realized just like traveling around the world, visiting prayer houses give us the feeling that something is larger than ourselves.