Baclayon Church | Tagbilaran

Information

Landmark: Baclayon Church
City: Tagbilaran
Country: Philippines
Continent: Asia

Baclayon Church, Tagbilaran, Philippines, Asia

Baclayon Church, formally the La Purisima Concepcion de la Virgen Maria Parish Church, is a Roman Catholic church in Baclayon, Bohol. Completed in 1737, it is one of the oldest coral stone churches in the Philippines and a National Cultural Treasure.

Visual Characteristics

The church is a massive structure made of coral stones. Its facade is Neoclassical, while its overall layout is a cruciform (cross-shaped) Spanish colonial design. The interior features silver-encrusted altars, detailed ceiling murals, and antique pipe organs. The adjacent convento (rectory) is built of stone and wood and serves as the parish museum.

Location & Access Logistics

Address: Baclayon, Bohol, Philippines.

Access: Located along the main coastal road, approximately 7 kilometers east of Tagbilaran City.

Transport: Reachable via "Baclayon" or "Loay" bound jeepneys from the Dao Terminal. Taxis and tricycles from Tagbilaran City are the most common transport.

Operating Hours: Museum: 08:30–11:30 and 13:30–16:30. Closed on Tuesdays and Sundays.

Fees: Entrance to the church is free; the museum requires a fee of approximately PHP 50.

Historical & Ecological Origin

Founded by Jesuit priests in 1596, it became a parish in 1717. The current structure was built using coral blocks harvested from the sea and bound together with a mortar made of lime and egg whites. It suffered severe damage during the 2.013 Bohol earthquake but underwent a comprehensive restoration completed in 2.017.

Key Highlights & Activities

Baclayon Parish Museum: Houses a significant collection of 16th-century religious artifacts, including ivory statues, gold-embroidered vestments, and libretos (hand-written choir books in Latin).

Belfry: A 21-meter high stone tower located beside the church, which served as a lookout for invaders.

Stone Carvings: Intricate carvings on the exterior walls and the facade depicting religious symbols and flora.

The "Image of Padre Pio": A naturally occurring watermark on one of the exterior pillars that locals believe resembles the face of St. Padre Pio.

Infrastructure & Amenities

Facilities: Includes a parish office, a museum gift shop, and public restrooms nearby.

Connectivity: 4G/5G signals are very strong.

Dress Code: As a functioning religious site, conservative attire (covered shoulders and knees) is strictly enforced for entry.

Best Time to Visit

Morning (08:30–10:30) is ideal for visiting the museum and avoiding the heat. The lighting in the morning also highlights the texture of the coral stone facade for photography.

Facts & Legends

A logistical fact is that the church was constructed using forced labor under the Spanish polo y servicio system. Legend states that millions of egg whites were used in the construction, and the yolks were supposedly used to make leche frita and other local delicacies to avoid waste.