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A visita of Carcar established in 1690, Sibonga was placed under Argao’s jurisdiction where it remained for many years. The town became an independent parish to which was assigned a secular priest, Mariano de la Ascensión. The Augustinian, Fr. Próspero Puerto was appointed assistant parish priest from 1833-41, then parish priest from 1846-68. Fr. Puerto built the convento following plans by Bp. Santos Gómez Marañon. Fr. Juan Alonso was parish priest from 1868 to 81. Built of stone and brick, he saw the church completed up to the first story. In 1877, a typhoon damaged the bell tower. Finally, Fr. Enrique Magz completed the church in 1881. Fr. Emiliano Diez was working on improving the church when the Philippine Revolution began in 1898. Msgr. Jeremias Harty, archbishop of Manila, restored the church in 1907.

Heritage features: The church has touches of Gothic in the use of lancet arches for windows and the lone portal of the church. The arches are repeated in a shallow relief surrounding the arch. These terminate in acanthus leaves arranged in a crown. This motif is repeated on church doors. A small rose window, decorated with an iron grille, decorates the pediment.

How to get to Nuestra Señora del Pilar Church in Sibonga


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A church dedicated to the Blessed Mother of Perpetual Help. It is run by the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer also known as the Redemptorist Missionaries.

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Mabolo Church traces its origins to the town called Talamban, formed by workers from an Augustinian Hacienda at Banilad. The site is about three kilometers northwest of downtown Cebu. The Banilad Estate was given by Legazpi to the Augustinian convent of Santo Niño and used as a stable for horses. In 1600, Talamban became a town. A chapel was built there under the patronage of San José. It became a visita of San Nicolas later on, but was separated from San Nicolas in 1745 and annexed to Opon. Fr. Juan Espinosa was named prior in 1762.

To settle jurisdictional conflict between San Nicolas, Opon and Mabolo, Fr. Julian Bermejo asked the Banilad estate to set aside an area large enough for a church, convento, schools and casa real. In 1847, the town transferred site to the place we now called Mabolo. In 1850, Talamban (Mabolo) became an independent parish. That year a new church of wood on a masonry base was built. Fr. Manuel Ibeas built a convent of wood and stone in 1866 but together with the church was badly damaged by a typhoon in 1877 and an earthquake in 1882.

The present convento traces to the 1866 structure but the church has been rebuilt and the facade altered. The present church combines Neo-gothic and Classical elements.

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How to get to St. Teresa of Avila Church, Talisay City

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