A church of great importance in our search for freedom, the Sta. Barbara Church in Iloilo testifies to Ilonggos’ contribution in our attainment of independence. In her beauty and uniqueness, this church also serves as a reminder of Ilonggo’s ingenuity and admirable masonry and craftsmanship skills, at par with their colonizers in their time.

I arrived at the church of Sta. Barbara at around 7 in the morning, with the early mass recently finished. Joggers, church-goers, and other early risers fill the streets surrounding the church. Grabbing my camera, I jumped out of the car to explore this wondrous place of worship.

The Church of Sta Barbara, completed in 1878 after almost 30 years of construction, is made of adobe, corals and red bricks. The architecture is chiefly Romanesque with its prominence of arcading or use of arches supported by pillars, arched windows, and its Latin cross floor plan. Recent additions of stained glass windows also add Romanesque characteristics in the church. At the same time, the church also is an excellent example of Filipino baroque colonial style. In contrast to other Iloilo churches, the Church of Sta Barbara has no belfry flanking any of its side; rather a belfry can be seen towering at the back of the right facade of the church. The belfry was only added in 1960s.

It was said that the church was constructed through mandatory or forced labor, also called polo y servicios which was levied upon the local population. Huge stones from the mountains at Leon, Alimodian, and Tubungan were used as its foundation, posts, and floors. These towns are found tens of kilometers from the town of Sta. Barbara and were transported from their quarries using carabao-driven carriages.

(360 degree view of the church interior, best viewed in a new tab or page)

Inside the church, an aisle leading to main altar is flanked by columns of wooden pews. A pulpit made of steel is found at the left side of the aisle facing the altar.

The main altar is constructed using marble and is decorated by gold painted ornaments such as flowers, roses, olive leaves, columns and Augustinian order emblems. On top is the Eye of Providence with golden rays made probably of brass or other metal. Images of Saint Barbara, Saint Monica and Saint Augustine are present at the altar as well. The Blessed Sacrament is at the center of the altar and is also decorated with Augustinian emblems such as the sun.

The Church of Sta Barbara served an important role in the 1898 Philippine Revolution. It was the headquarters and military hospital of the revolutionary troops of General Martin Delgado (who also hailed from Sta Barbara). It was also in this church where Gen. Delgado with other Ilonggo patriots convened the Revolutionary Government of Visayas on November 1898, months earlier than the Malolos Congress. The church and the convent were declared a National Landmark by the National Historical Institute in 1991.

With its grace and grandeur, the Church of Sta Barbara is one of the better restored and preserved churches in the province. It survived wars, earthquakes and other calamities. These are testaments to the structure’s refined and advanced stage of building techniques at its time.

Sta. Barbara Convent

An L-shaped convent attached at the left side of the church, is also a unique feature. It is of Spanish Moorish design, with orange-colored bricks with checkered pattern adorning the walls of the second floor.

Low but wide arches of bricks support the structure. Outside, the convent looks like a simple Spanish time bahay-na-bato structure.

Iloilo I LOVE! traces the sights, scenes, and sounds of Metro Iloilo Guimaras (MIG). This zone is composed of Iloilo and its environs (Oton, Leganes, Pavia, San Miguel and Sta. Barbara), together with the island of Guimaras. Come and experience Metro Iloilo Guimaras here at Iloilo I LOVE!

Tags: Church, Metro Iloilo - Guimaras, Sta. Barbara, Visita Iglesia