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Very interesting information! Thanks!

Bye

Thanks po sa info. Nway, contact ko ay michelleeusebio@yahoo.com.

From: Michelle

Erratum: Aside sa mga ruins na nasa Miagao cemetery ay worthwhile din yung mga ruins na nasa gilid ng Tubungan town plaza na “dati” raw nilang munisipyo.

The study of these 8 cemeteries is actually my masteral thesis in Art History at UP Diliman ten years ago. I’m interested to correspond with you Michelle. What you’re doing is great. Since i’m not into archeology, i only deduced from physical evidence that those ruins probably belonged to an earlier capilla. You can find me in UP Visayas. Just ask the Liason office c/o Leah. There is also that Patyo Tiki in Miagao, nichos parvulos actually.

And chy, regarding that concrete roof, yes its confirmed. I was passing by Oton one time (many years back) and was flabbergasted to see the broken tejas just lying outside the walls of Oton cemetery. For us heritage workers, its a painful scene to watch.

I mean “there are existing ruins,” not “there is an existing ruins.” Lately ko na napansin ang errors. Nway, sana ay maverify nga natin ang sinabi ng tour guide na “pre-Hispanic” nga yung mga ruins sa Miag-ao cemetery through research (archival, exploration, and archaeological excavation) kasi extra information nga ito for the history of Maigao and Iloilo. Puwede ko ba malaman kung sino yung tour guide at kung saan siya affiliated na organization/tour agency? Sa mga ginagawa naming archaeological excavations/field schools sa mga church complex ruins na nasa Batangas at Mindoro Oriental ay objective din namin na malaman kung may evidence(s) of pre-Hispanic settlement sa lugar kung saan tinayo ang simbahan, etc. na in ruins na aside sa para malaman kung paano ginawa at nasira ang mga istruktura na dating tinayo doon. Yung mga ginagawa naming fieldworks every year sa UP Archaeological Studies Program ay may collaboration with National Museum of the Philippines na nagpoprovide ng permit, local government (from provincial to barangay level) at concerned organizations (religious, cultural/heritage). Sana ay ganun din po yung mangyari for the case of the site in Miagao cemetery. Pero una sa lahat, dapat muna maireport properly ang site sa National Museum.

Aside sa mga ruins na nasa Miagao cemetery ay worthwhile din yung mga ruins na nasa gilid ng Tubungan town plaza na sati raw nilang munisipyo.

While I was in Miagao visiting the church, the tour guide told us of the cemetery and of a “pre-hispanic” structure located there. Well, I’m not sure about the pre-hispanic part but we saw the ruins too, and we were kind of curious as to what it was. It would be really nice if someone could verify it.

Also, I’ve visited the Jaro Cemtery 2 days ago, it was my first time and I thought the old niches were amazing. I’m a big fan of gothic architecture, and most of the old niches there had big gothic influences.

I’ll be posting about cemeteries for time to time, thank you for listing out those sites. I’ll be visiting them again …

It’s saddens me about Oton, the town probably has the grandest colonial structures in the whole province. Too bad they were already destroyed.

In Miag-ao cemetery, aside from the capilla, there is an existing ruins, which is older than the capilla according to the sepulcher. This is mostly covered in vines and located at the front left of the capilla. This must be cleared and cleaned for the townpeople and visitors to appeciate. It is also worth knowing what’s this structure was and verify what the sepulcher know.

Upon seeing the picture of the capilla in Oton, I wondered where all those bricks went after the dome was destroyed.
Please email me in case you know at michelleeusebio@yahoo.com. I am interested in studying the bricks found from/in towns of Iloilo.

As far as I can recollect since I have not developed the pictures yet, there are remaining Spanish original niches (easily noticed with the limestone/sandstone slabs with bricks and arches designed with bricks) in the cemeteries of Pavia, Molo, Janiuay, Cabatuan and Jaro. An abandoned Javellana family mausoleum at the back of Jaro cemetery with bricks and designs in squares is almost already swallowed by the grasses and I think, this is worth clearing and preserving along with the original Spanish niches. According to the sepulcher at the Jaro cemetery, the Spanish niches will be destroyed to replace with the new ones by the order of the Jaro Parish. Please campaign not to destroy the original Spanish niches at the Jaro cemetery and other Catholic cemeteries in Iloilo and Panay. These are also part of our cultural heritage as Hiligaynons like the churches, old houses, old establishments, cemetery capillas, historical sites, etc. These Spanish niches are really amazing. Aside from the designs, they are only in two – three “floors” high, unlike the modern niches that even reach seven floors. They defined the cemetery’s original boundaries since some cemeteries expand as time goes by.

I’ll visit the churches and cemeteries in Leganes, Passi, Pototan, Duenas and Dingle by my next visit in Iloilo.

By the way, my interests in churches, cemeteries, other Spanish period structures and bricks are due to my experiences in joining archaeological excavations of church ruins and a brick kiln site. I am a student at UP Archaeological Studies Program and from Sta. Barbara, Iloilo. Please forgive me for my faulty grammar, in case. Thank you.

The Dingle Cemetery is located along the main highway. Cabatuan is located along a road, you might have to take a tricycle to get there.

According to the article, the hut-like roof of Oton church has been replaced by a concerete slab. I haven’t been there yet, so I can’t confirm.

The photo of the Cabatuan Cemtery was probably taken in the 1990s, I’ve also been there a few months back. It still looks the same, although now there’s mahogany trees lining the pathway to the capilla.

OO that’s the capilla of the Janiuay Cemetery. Out of the three that you’ve mentioned, the Janiuay Cemtery is my favorite. You should have a look at it yourself ^_^

Is that hut-like structure in Oton still extant?. Is that church in cabatuan cemetery looks the same? If does, then it must be a ‘must see’.
Is that a mausoleum behind the angel in Janiuay? It doesn’t look that artistic compared to San Jaoquin and Cabatuan.