Cathedral of Notre Dame du Bougies

Jaro, the city whithin a city is presently a suburban district in Iloilo City. It was formerly called Salog since it was irragated by Salog River. The Name Salog was changed to Xaro then Jaro. His Holiness Pope Pius IX created the bishopric of Jaro.The Metropolitan Cathedral of Jaro is the seat of Roman Catholicism in Western Visayas. Presently, the architectural identity of the Cathdedral is a rivalry between Baroque, Gothic and Neoclassic. The spires are later installations which run in the gothic lines of architecture and act as distortions to the entire motiff of the church. It is a three nave church which is interiorly divided by bold neoclassic pilars each housing a male saint. The retablos located in the transepts are of Baroque architecture. The curvilinear movement brought by the bright colors and the wavy outlines of some religious ornaments suggest a baroque feel.The original belfry of the church is a grand example of Neoclassic architecture. This is one of the few belfries in the Philippines which are separated from their root churches. The belfry was formerly ruined, consequently, it was restored to its former grandeur except for the statuaries which once crown the first level of the tower.

Trivia: Notre Dame du Bougies is french for Our Lady of Candles.

Photos by: Explore Iloilo