Bohol Philippines: Church of San Pedro Apostol de Loboc
The Church of San Pedro Apostol de Loboc dates back to 1734, although records refer to an older structure which may have been incorporated into the church’s convent. The present church was first erected by the Jesuit Missionaries and was then later taken over by the Augustinian Recollects. The church complex is composed of the church structure, a three storey convent, a bell tower and a mortuary chapel. The Jesuits and the Augustinians shared in the construction of the church.
The Jesuits designed the church with an intricately- designed facade and a cherub under the opening of every window. The Augustinian Recollects added a portico facade, buttresses, the bell tower and the mortuary chapel. The interior of the church has 18th and 19th century retablos, ceiling that is painted by artisans in the 1920′s and a 19th century pipe organ which was restored in 2001. The roof of the church is made of clay tiles and the walls are of coral stones. At the rear of the church is the convent with three floors and L-shaped with the third floor connected to the church.
The interior of the church is a blast from the past with its mix of Jesuit and Recollect influences. A wooden pulpit that is located on the church’s right lateral wall still hangs though only its tornavoz remains intact. The church also boasts of a pipe organ that can be attributed to Fray Diego Cera, OAR who is the builder of the famous Las Piñas Bamboo Organ. Various biblical scenes are painted on the church’s ceiling which is a testament to the high level of craftsmanship of the local artisans in 1926 and 1927.
The church’s belfry is at the right side of the church structure, straddling the Loboc River. Built in 1768, the four-level octagonal bell tower acts not only as a reminder of the people’s religious obligations but also as a landmark for anyone sailing to town because during the colonial times, Loboc River was navigable, allowing streamers to harbor and giving the town its significant importance. Seven bells hang from the fourth level. Five, including the central and largest one, are still held up by the original vines. The oldest is dated 1863; two, dated 1914 and 1937 (the largest) bear the name of Padre Cayetano Bastes, the Filipino priest who was made to offer his ‘hospitality’ to the American soldiers in 1901. There is also a large wooden matraca cranked during Holy Week when the bells are silent – dated 1899. A clock from the Altonaga Company in Manila, acquired by public subscription, was installed here in 1893.
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