HomeIloiloIloilo ProvinceSouthern IloiloMiagaoMiag-ao ChurchThe Church of Saint Thomas of Villanova, commonly known as the Miagao Church, is the Roman Catholic parish church of the town of Miagao in Iloilo Province. Completed in 1797, the church is famous for the artistic sculptural relief carved on its facade. In 1993, the church was designated as one best examples of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines and included in the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.The Miagao Church stands as a living legacy of the culture and way of life of the people of Miagao centuries ago, anchored in a strong foundation of Christian faith. As most travelers would agree, the Miagao Church is one of the country’s architectural gems because of its unique and imposing designs, ornaments and motifs.How To Get ThereThe Miagao Church is 30 to 45 minutes away from Iloilo City. Commuters can take a “Miagao” or any south-bound jeepney from Mohon Terminal in Molo District or from the Iloilo Terminal Market in Iloilo City Proper. For more information about how to get to Miagao, visit our Iloilo Transportation Guide.More about Molo ChurchThe artistic facade of the Miagao Church is decorated with a relief sculpture of St. Christopher carrying the Christ child amidst coconut, papaya and guava shrubs. Like any other foreign influences, the architecture of many colonial churches has undergone the process of indigenization. This process is carried out by incorporating the prevailing Hispano-American and Medieval Spanish architecture with local as well as Muslim and Chinese touches. Thus, the synthesized topology which is anachronistic with the unmindful sues of decorative elements. It had no distinction in terms of periods or orders. A truly ‘Philippine Church’, it exudes a native touch.A large stone image of St. Thomas of Villanueva, parish patron saint, dominates the center. Carved life-size statues of the Pope and St. Henry with their coat-of-arms above them flank the main entrance. Supporting the facade are the twin belfries, one towering two-storeys and the other three-storeys high. The church’s simple interior is nevertheless highlighted by a striking gold-plated retablo.In Baroque-Romanesque style, the church sinks six (6) meters deep into the ground with walls one-and-a-half (1 1/2) meters thick and buttresses thrice thicker. The creative and aesthetic abilities of Spanish colonizers are reflected in many colonial churches in the Philippines. This is especially true in Miagao Church – a world-renowned religious structure now included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.Contact & Information Address: Zulueta Avenue, Poblacion, Miagao, Iloilo, PhilippinesDon’t leave yet. There’s more!Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment *Name * Email * Website ΔThis site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.Comments Bhabylen saysJuly 14, 2014 at 10:39 ampwede ko po ba malaman contact number ng admin ng church..thank you…Reply Marcos Detourist saysJuly 18, 2014 at 2:18 amYou may try this number: (033) 315-8001Reply JOEY saysJanuary 14, 2012 at 11:13 pmthe venue of my wedding…..may 18, 2009Reply Vic saysAugust 12, 2011 at 9:36 am@nice,this website have section that deals with Iloilo transportation (PUJ), yes , you can visit them all in the morning because they are all conveniently adjacent (towns) with each other, you can also visit Fish Museum in TigbaunReply nice saysAugust 11, 2011 at 5:40 pmhi! thanks for this beautiful post! what is the best means of transportation if I will be visiting this church from Iloilo City? i’m planning to be in Iloilo this Sept on a solo backpacking tour and i will be staying in the city. i’d love to visit this church, together with the San Joaquin, Guimbal, and Tigbauan churches. which means of transportation would you advise? and also, is it possible to visit all of these churches in one whole morning? or will I need more time to cover all four? thanks! will appreciate any help.Reply shallie saysJuly 10, 2011 at 11:13 ammaganda sya kaso wla akong masyadong maintindihan………………….Reply FC Benedicto saysJune 20, 2011 at 3:40 pmHi Marco,I hope you don’t mind if I post your link to our wedding website.Thank you for a very informative website.Maraming salamat.Reply Shane T. Guibilond saysJanuary 8, 2010 at 4:56 pmMaganda naman kaso sana etinatranslate ninyo naman sa Filipino para maka intindi ang ibaReply kim v azonim saysDecember 2, 2010 at 7:34 pmmaganda ang describesion at ang pictures ang galing pero lang may kunting mali kase hindi ka amercano filipino ka kaya sana tinagalog mo nalang pare idol panaman kita tapos hindi ka pala marunong mag sulat ng filipino words pare sorry kase nasabi ko yon at salamat sa pag creat ng miagao church pare salamat and nice job have a nice dayReply rj saysJanuary 21, 2011 at 7:13 pmi think this is not only for filipinos but for other people around the world to understand nathalie saysAugust 15, 2009 at 2:22 pmmaganda ang mga larawan mo pero sana, pinasyal mo pa ang buong church para saamin. sa pamamagitan ng mga larawan .salamat saeffort mo well appreciated.Reply
Bhabylen saysJuly 14, 2014 at 10:39 ampwede ko po ba malaman contact number ng admin ng church..thank you…Reply
Vic saysAugust 12, 2011 at 9:36 am@nice,this website have section that deals with Iloilo transportation (PUJ), yes , you can visit them all in the morning because they are all conveniently adjacent (towns) with each other, you can also visit Fish Museum in TigbaunReply
nice saysAugust 11, 2011 at 5:40 pmhi! thanks for this beautiful post! what is the best means of transportation if I will be visiting this church from Iloilo City? i’m planning to be in Iloilo this Sept on a solo backpacking tour and i will be staying in the city. i’d love to visit this church, together with the San Joaquin, Guimbal, and Tigbauan churches. which means of transportation would you advise? and also, is it possible to visit all of these churches in one whole morning? or will I need more time to cover all four? thanks! will appreciate any help.Reply
FC Benedicto saysJune 20, 2011 at 3:40 pmHi Marco,I hope you don’t mind if I post your link to our wedding website.Thank you for a very informative website.Maraming salamat.Reply
Shane T. Guibilond saysJanuary 8, 2010 at 4:56 pmMaganda naman kaso sana etinatranslate ninyo naman sa Filipino para maka intindi ang ibaReply
kim v azonim saysDecember 2, 2010 at 7:34 pmmaganda ang describesion at ang pictures ang galing pero lang may kunting mali kase hindi ka amercano filipino ka kaya sana tinagalog mo nalang pare idol panaman kita tapos hindi ka pala marunong mag sulat ng filipino words pare sorry kase nasabi ko yon at salamat sa pag creat ng miagao church pare salamat and nice job have a nice dayReply
rj saysJanuary 21, 2011 at 7:13 pmi think this is not only for filipinos but for other people around the world to understand
nathalie saysAugust 15, 2009 at 2:22 pmmaganda ang mga larawan mo pero sana, pinasyal mo pa ang buong church para saamin. sa pamamagitan ng mga larawan .salamat saeffort mo well appreciated.Reply