Saturday, April 25, 2009

Pisamban: Church of St. James, Bolinao, Pangasinan

"Pisamban" means "Church" in Kapampangan. Philippine Catholic Churches have always been fascinating not just because of their historical significance, but also because of their grand structures which symbolize the strong foundation of the Catholic faith. Come and join this blogger as he documents the Catholic Churches all over the Philippines.

The Church of St. James was built by the Augustinian Recollects in 1609. Located at the town’s center, it also served as a fortress for protection against pirate attacks.

The church’s façade has positioned columns alternated by windows with arches on the side. You can see wooden statues of saints properly positioned on the façade.

The church features a special antique side altar which contains sculptured faces which are Aztec-like in nature. Its monolithic wooden door was beautifully carved with floral designs.

Bolinao is 348 kilometers north west of Manila.