LUMANG SIMBAHAN: RUINS OF SAN PEDRO CHURCH, ANTIQUE

LUMANG SIMBAHAN: RUINS OF SAN PEDRO CHURCH, ANTIQUE

We were on our to  the home-based factory   of one of the producers of San Jose Antique when we noticed a very beautiful ruins  on the side of San Pedro Parish Church in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique.

The sight really struck me so after our factory visit, I really asked the group to just allow me to take some photos and asked a few information about the ruins.

Of course, my companions cannot also resist by just staying in the van, so they also decided to check the place with me. We were lucky that there were  some women present  in the convent of the new church so we managed to get a few information about the place.

The main entrance of the Lumang Simbahan

The entire ground of the church which covers both the new and the ruins was quiet and peaceful. But the ruins gave me a different impression.  It  somehow evoked so many stories that were never told. If only the walls and gates can talk they would probably tell so many interesting stories about the past. Unfortunately, not much-written history was available in the church except for some basic information about the ruins wherein some of which were only based  in oral history and traditions.

From a piece of literature written by Dr. Aurelio Tating and Mrs. Natividad Tambanillo which we’ve got from the church, they called the ruins as the Lumang Simbahan.

The inside of the Lumang Simbahan

The ruins used to be the original San Pedro Parish Church which was built by the Augustinian Missionaries during the Spanish time. It has the shape of a Latin cross with three doors, 1 on each side and 1 major  entrance. The church measures  77 meters long and 14 meters wide.

According to the oral history  the church was originally roofed with cogon grass and was burned by the pet monkey of the Parish priest. Since then the structure was never repaired. The church was even more neglected when the Japanese during the World War II occupied the Province of Antique .

yours truly withCherry Azurin and Marivic Rio at the main of the “Lumang Simbahan”

In 1939, Fr. Richard Kemperman, MHM, an architect, built a grotto of the Our lady of Lourdes inside the ruins. He beautified and blessed the ruins on February 11, 1940 in time of the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

In 1954, Fr. Cornelius de Wit, MHM became the parish priest of San Pedro. During his term, he put up the belfry at the  main entrance of the ruins.

In 1972, San Pedro became the farmer’s center of the Diocese. Fr. Gerad Pijnappel, MHM  put up buildings on the right and left wing of the ruins in order to house farmer-participants during training and seminars. The  ruins was still neglected and was even used as a temporary stable for the animals.

The new San Pedro Church which is just a few meters away from the Lumang Simbahan

The ruins of the old San Pedro Church was only given attention in 1998 during the time of Fr. Glicerio Geremia  being the parish priest. Through fundraising, the ruins as cleared and was beautified.

For donations and inquiries for the improvement of the place. Please contact:

THE PASH PRIEST

San Pedro Parish

San Jose de Buenavista, Antique ,Philippines

Tel. (036) 320–1735