By
Odette Leon
The Sept 14-16, 2012 Ilocandia Pilgrimage organized by the
Volunteer Catechists Commission was indeed an experience of a lifetime for me and
for many other pilgrims I can assume. Though, I have already been on tour to the Ilocos Region twice and have seen almost the same places, this third trip gave me a deeper sense of appreciation
of the value and significance of the places we visited.
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| St. Augustine Church, Paoay |
In particular are the four-century old churches and bell
towers which have withstood the test of time and natural calamities. These
churches are now priceless treasures and
pride of the Region and of the Philippines as a whole. In fact, Paoay Church in Laoag and Sta Maria Church in
Vigan are UNESCO World Heritage Sites as
well as the Calle Crisologo in Vigan now more popularly known as the Heritage Village.
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| St. William Cathedral, Laoag |
These places have remained the repository of the 400 year old history of Christianity in the
Philippines which we owe to the Spanish Friars notably from the Order St
Augustine (OSA). We thank the OSA’s for their remarkable contributions to
Christianity in the Region which will
continue to linger in the hearts of the people who go to these churches they
constructed -- St Augustine Church in
Paoay, St William Cathedral in Laoag, Immaculate Conception Church in Batac, St
John the Baptist Church in Badoc, Metropolitan Cathedral of St Paul in
Vigan, St Augustine Church in Bantay,
and La Asuncion de Nstra Senora Church in Sta Maria, Ilocos Sur.
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| Immaculate Conception Church, Batac |
The opportunity of having marveled at these awesome sights even for only a few
minutes is indeed a memorable blessing. I thank and commend the people behind the maintenance
and conservation of these places for more generations to see. I wish them more power and inspiration to
continue their good work -- all for the greater glory of God.
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| St. John the Baptist Church, Badoc |
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| Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Paul, Vigan |
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| St. Augustine Church, Bantay |
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| La Asuncion de Nuestra Senora, Santa Maria |
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