Bacolor Church – Pampanga’s Half Buried Sanctuary
Bacolor Church in Pampanga, is a sanctuary at the heart of a sleepy town buried in lahar. Known as San Guillermo Parish, this is one of the most familiar churches in popular culture.
Photo from wikipedia.org
This half buried church served as the backdrop for the hit 2009 series “May Bukas Pa”. How can anyone forget Santino? He was the miracle boy, who once walked with Bro in the fictional town of Bagong Pag-asa.
Join me in this bike adventure as I visit one of the most iconic churches not just in Pampanga but in the whole country. Let’s go!
Three decades since the deadly eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, the town of Bacolor was wiped out under several meters of lahar flow. Albeit the cataclysmic event, the 445 year old church is one of the only surviving structures in the area.
Rex Regum Et Dominus Dominantium
With an original height of 39 feet, the devastation brought about by Mt. Pinatubo reduced the church’s facade in half. The original door is now buried and what is now used as entrance to the sanctum is the former church window.
Rex Regum Et Dominus Dominantium, a latin inscription that translates to “Jesus Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords” is written in the tympanum. Moreover, this is written above a shining cross with a circular glass window in the middle.
Together, we rise
Painstakingly excavated by the town’s people under the lahar, the original retablo and religious symbols were restored. In fact, the retablo is now relocated under the once soaring dome of the church. In addition, I noticed that the old convent is now used as a museum.
Bacolor Church in Pampanga is named after the town’s patron, San Guillermo Ermitaño. In addition it was built in Baroque architecture with brick and stone works, although most of the finishing on the interior is mostly modern.
Being able to visit churches around the country and having seen what’s there to marvel at, this one is definitely a stand-out. There’s the Cagsawa Church in Albay, or the ruins of Guiob Church in Camiguin – but Bacolor Church, in its half buried state, continues to function as a sanctuary for worship up until this day.
How To Get There
- Bacolor Church or more known as San Guillermo Parish is located in Brgy. Cabambangan, Bacolor, Pampanga
- From San Fernando, Pampanga, the Church is 7.6kms passing through Jose Abad Santos Avenue until one reaches the Cabambangan intersection in Bacolor
Bisikleta Iglesia Pampanga Series
This adventure is a part of my bike ride last July 26, 2020 under the new normal. This covers my 58 kilometer trip to the heritage churches of Pampanga.
Updated January 10, 2021
