Malitbog Church

After being amazed at the sight of many old wooden houses, I was equally awed seeing this church, obviously something that lasted for many years and still proudly standing - the Holy Child Parish Church of Malitbog a.k.a. the Sto. Niño De Malitbog Parish Church.

Rain stopped. Whew! So we parked the car for a closer look at this vintage church.

Ngitngit! It is dark inside, especially that it was a gloomy day...

Well, having been built in the 1850s, there ought to be not many windows, as churches in those days also doubled as refuge of the communities from frequent pirate attacks. But like other old edifices with thick walls, there is that nice cool feel inside this church.

This is the altar. I noticed something unique in this setup...

Look at the two big entrances on both sides of this altar. They do not lead to the sacristy. Those are still sitting areas that can in themselves serve as separate chapels (I think).

If you look closely to the right, where Mama Mary's statue is facing, there was an activity in progress when I took this photo. Can you see the two women as if raising their hands? There were many of them in there. Their group was like singing with action at that time!

Ah the two doors (a bit dark) on either side of the retablo? In there is the sacristy.

I noted, the altar table's base also has a last supper mural. Is this a "trend" or "standard"? I ask because many churches I have seen, even just on this trip, do/have that. Hmm, is this some kind of a canonical decree or just an 'interpretative rendition' by the priests?

It would be nice to know so we, the churchgoers, can relate to the meaning, purpose or significance of that 'placement'. Why is the last supper portrayed at an altar table's foot?

My driver has a guess... "yung pari nag-je-Jesus-jesusan". Hmm, kaya?!

This is at the left semi-transept..,

As usual among catholic churches, there is another altar. This one has a number of images of saints in it, such as the Holy Family, San Pedro Calungsod (I think) and others. I don't want to guess any further as I am not good at identifying too many of them hehe!

What caught my curiosity on this side of the church is that wall. Well, yes yes, that is a framed picture with descriptions of Jose Maria Escriva, and to the left is, I think, part of the 'stations of the cross'.., but I can somehow discern that the middle portion seems to have previously been a window or even a door. Isn't it? If so, I wonder why it was closed.

Now, since I went to see the left side transept, I also went to see the right, and this is it...

Da! There are even two altars here! And oh, maybe there was no door at the other side after all. Maybe it was just a trace or imprint of a previous retablo just like this one, 'no?

They also still have a "pulpit", and it even looks like just very recently refurbished!

Well, we all know this is now a useless part of any church, retained by many priests just the same, probably for historical, aesthetic, nostalgia purposes or even all of the above!

But do you know why priests don't anymore use pulpits to say their sermon nowadays? I can guess a few reasons, like: 1] there is already audible enough sound system in any church (too loud in fact, even 'ear-piercing' at many churches); 2] priests are either too old, too obese, too lazy or 'all of the above', so they find it hard walking from the altar to the pulpit area, or, climbing the stairs from the ground to the pulpit itself hehe! Pwede!

Anyway, and mind you, this corner of the church easily shows how thick the walls are!

Here are 2 pics I had to position together, since they are too tall (in portrait orientation).
This picture on the left is some kind of a multi-directional map for everyone inside the church during communion! Yes, it really truly is hehe! Probably because the church is already too small for today's population. This pic to the right on the other hand, is back view of the bell tower that has just recently been renovated including replica bells donated by people of Malitbog, not only present residents but even those who are now living at various corners of the globe! Oh ha?! I read that on an epitaph plastered to the tower!

Oh, speaking of back view... this is the outside of the left semi-transept...

If you enter that door, you will see on the wall to your left, the picture frame of Jose Maria Escriva that I mentioned above. That "housing" at the end is part of the sacristy.

And finally, that towery something up the roof looks really interesting, right?

That is the "crossing dome" - where the transept, nave and chancel intersect! Oh ha? Kung anu-ano na ang inaaral ko, just to understand the things I see during my travels!

From inside the church, the "crossing dome" is that round thing up the ceiling, in front of the front pews, before the altar, where beautiful multi-colored lights shine from, because of those multi-colored glass plates (usually square), sometimes stained glass murals!

Alright, so much for this beautiful and historic Sto Nino De Malitbog Parish Church.

Let's go to the town's municipal hall. That's next!

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