Immaculate Conception Parish Church (Jasaan)

The Immaculate Conception Church (Spanish: Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Inmaculada Concepción de María) is a Baroque church located in Poblacion, Upper Jasaan in Misamis Oriental, Philippines. It was declared by the National Museum as a National Cultural Treasure in Northern Mindanao due to its artistic design and cultural values.

Immaculate Conception Parish Church of Jasaan
Immaculate Conception Parish Church
Iglesia Parroquial de la Inmaculada Concepción de María
Façade of the la Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de la Inmaculada Concepción
Immaculate Conception Parish Church of Jasaan
Republic of the Philippines
8.650833°N 124.754167°E / 8.650833; 124.754167
LocationUpper Jasaan, Misamis Oriental
CountryPhilippines
DenominationRoman Catholic
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designationNational Cultural Treasure
StyleBarn Style Baroque
CompletedLate 19th to Early 20th Century
Specifications
Length150 ft
Width60 ft
MaterialsBricks and Woods
Administration
ArchdioceseRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro
ProvinceEcclesiastical Province of Cagayan de Oro
Clergy
ArchbishopMost Rev. Antonio Ledesma

The church was a provincial attempt to mimic the famous San Ignacio Church of Intramuros in Manila. The Jesuit brothers Francisco Rivera and Juan Cuesta are credited with the construction of the original church.[1] At present, the church is undergoing repair and restoration pursuant to the National Cultural Heritage Act otherwise known as the "Cultural Properties Preservation and Protection Act".

History

The first church of Jasaan was built out of lime from 1723 to 1830 under the supervision of Fr. Ramos Cabas, parish priest in sitio Kabitaugan in barangay Aplaya. The first church is currently a ruins and a "cotta" or fortification is visible on the low hill near the highway. In 1859, Jasaan became the base for evangelical activities among the Manobos in Bukidnon. From Jasaan, missionaries fanned out to areas in Bukidnon now known as Malitbog, Siloo, San Luis, Linabo and Sumilao. In 1887, Father Juan Herras, a Jesuit, began the construction of the present Immaculate Conception Church. Father Gregorio Parache, S.J., was the parish priest of Jasaan at that time.[2] It aims to mimic the famous San Ignacio Church of Intramuros in Manila

Features

The church of Jasaan falls under Barn Style Baroque with originally a tri-partite partition. It spans 150 ft long and 60 ft wide. The brick wall on all sides about 20 ft high and almost 4 ft thick. The portal area leads to two semi-arched openings to the choir loft area. Vertical articulation is rendered through the shallow piers which divide the areas into three. It is further squeezed to the narrow central portion of the facade. The church is flanked by square towers to a level above the apex of the pediment. Significant church portions includes the original brick paving, neo-Gothic retablo, and ceiling woodwork (reminiscent of basket weave).[4]

The original facade of the church has been modified after a series of renovations. The original altar of the church has been moved backward to allow a larger area for the faithful inside the church building. The original sacristy has been moved to the side.

The church has two bell towers containing 4 bells in totality. The oldest of the four bells is dated 1807 while the largest is cast "Nuestra Señora de la Inmaculada Concepcion de Jasaan Año 1854." The old church bells of the Immaculate Conception Church of Jasaan (four of them, excluding the one that was transferred to San Agustin Cathedral at Cagayan de Oro) bore these inscriptions around its outer rim: "Para El Pueblo de Jasaan 1860".

Due to its cultural and historical value, the National Museum declared the Immaculate Conception Parish Church a National Cultural Treasure on July 31, 2001.

  • Immaculate Conception Church of Jasaan
  • Aisle
  • View from the choir loft
  • Altar
  • Side façade
  • Church patio
  • Convent

See also

References
  1. Galende, Pedro. "Philippine Church Facades". Missing or empty |url= (help)
  2. Demetrio, S.J., Fr. Francisco. "432 Local Historical Sources of Northern Mindanao". Missing or empty |url= (help)
  3. Guian, Gagay. "History of Jasaan". Missing or empty |url= (help)
  4. Albaby, Reinerio (September 29, 2013). "The Restoration of 26 Philippine Churches". Archived from the original on May 12, 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
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