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Region 6: Western Visayas ••• Iloilo

Janiuay

San Julian Parish

Called Magtagup the town was founded in 1580 as a visita of Dumangas. It became an independent parish in 1752. Fr. Eugenio Moya was assigned to the parish. He placed the town under the patronage of San Juan, from a settlement called Danao presently Calinog. In 1774, the town of Binocsucan was annexed to Magtagup and was relocated to the present site and called Janiuay. Beside the ancient church of Janiuay now in ruins a new church was built by Fr. Miguel Carod, parish priest from 1839-71. Material from Guimaras Island was brought to build the church and brick ovens built. When Fr. Carod died on 1 November 1871, the church was almost complete. His successors completed the church. Fr. Nicolás Gallo built the convento of stone and brick, following the plans of architect Hervas. The church and convento were burnt during the war, never to be rebuilt.

Heritage features: Even in its ruined state the ancient church of Janiuay overshadows the new church built beside it. What is left indicates that the church was conceived as a Neoclassical structure with engaged columns and pilasters of coral stone alternating with clean brick walls ornamented by arched opening.

Janiuay cemetery

Along the highway connecting Janiuay to the neighboring town of Mina is a cemetery built on a slope. Described at the time it was finished as "the most artistic in the whole country" the builder of this cemetery was Fr. Fernando de Llorente who commenced work in 1874 and completed the whole project after nine years. The archbishop of Manila, Pedro Payo, blessed the cemetery.

Heritage Features: Three stairways lead to the three gates of the cemetery, built on a high ground and shored up by a retaining wall. The wall has niches in which 16 six-foot stone santos were enshrined. The cemetery perimeter is surrounded by a brick and wrought iron fence and near this gate stood a Byzantine stone cross. The cross and some statues are missing. On the same axis as the main gate is an octagonal mortuary chapel, covered by a pointed dome roof. The roof has been replaced by nondescript pyramidal roof. Despite the obvious degradation of the chapel, the Gothic features that remain are still stunning--the windows pierced by delicate stone tracery, the spires rising at the eight points of the octagonal building.

Iloilo City | Iloilo Suburbs