Exploring the Tagudin Church and Sundials, Ilocos Sur

Tagudin, Ilocos Sur

26 October 2013

Tagudin Church Facade

On a hot windy Saturday, I wandered at a very peaceful and orderly town called Tagudin, in southern Ilocos.

Coming from Manila, Tagudin is the first town of Ilocos Sur.

After seeing an old painting collection at the monastery of San Agustin in Intramuros showing the church of Tagudin, also dedicated to San Agustin, I started to day-dream of exploring the church someday.

But aside from the old church, I had another mission of seeing the first sundials built in the Philippines circa 1800s.

From the City of Vigan, I took a van bound south. It took me two hours and 18 minutes travel on a passenger van from Bantay drive-in to the town of Tagudin. I alighted at the town proper and then I followed the direction on the signage from the main highway towards the old church and the sundials.

Church Interior

The old church, old convent and the sundials are located about a hundred meters away from the highway. Since I wanted to explore and took photos of whatever that interests me, I walked from the highway towards the town plaza.

Main Altar

The church is sandwiched between two school campuses. On the right side is the old San Agustin convent now converted into San Agustin School (SAS). Though converted into a school, the infrastructure still the old convent. The windows are still made of thinly polished capiz shells.

fronting the church is a wide plaza with century-old trees and on the left side few meters away from the church is the old belfry.

Massive Walls and Buttresses

The church architecture as elaborated at the Tagudin official website (http://www.tagudin.gov.ph/tourismchurch.html): "A very clear Baroque style pervades the facade of the church. The main entrance is elliptically arched with a recessed entrance door fully decorated with Augustinians symbols and crowned by a triangular pediment of Baroque influence. The main entrance is flanked on both sides by large and sensuously rounded, paired columns with double capitals; one is decorated with eggs dart carving which are Greek origin; and the other one is Doric-like stylized Augustinians emblem which is followed on the next on the higher level by a circular opening with a simply decorated on the outer edge and topped by the statued niche of the impediments panel. Two large, segmented blind windows on the side a panel of the first level arranges in such a way that balance are achieved with the rest of the openings. The impediment has broken lines, very common features of the Baroque. Paired finials grace the slopping curvilinear from of the facade. A simple contrast between mass and open voids creates a peaceful scene enlivened by the decoration of the capitals and panels."

Unlike other old churches, I find the interior of the Tagudin church simple. The old pulpit is at the left side facing the altar. The windows are made of stained colored glass.

The town's tourism website (http://www.tagudin.gov.ph/tourismchurch.html) stated on the construction of the present church:

Old Pulpit

"According to an official report prepared by the 24 cabezas de barangay of Tagudin and to the Governor of Ilocos Sur in 1829, documents suggests that Farther Gutierez built the church while while he was parish priest in Bangar and assistant parish priest of the mission of Tagudin. It also states the “he was prior of Tagudin” the wall were finish in about two years. Father Francisco Hernandez continued the work in 1816, and when he died in 1821, the church was almost finished. Jorde however, states, I believe erroneously that he constructed the church, a fundamentals. According to previous cited document, the interior, the vault and the presbytery had not yet been completed as of 1829. made of stone and bricks, the church measures 40 brazas(66.80 meter) long and 8 ½ brazas(14.19 meters) wide.

Fr. Juan Sorolla, prior of Tagudin in 1832, completed the construction of the church. He also built convent now use as a school building of Saint Augustine’s School run by the Immaculate Heart of Mary sisters. Fr. Juan Sorolla installed two sundials one at the back of the church in 1841, the other in front of the town hall in 1845, the marker however, says “1848” which is mistake because Fr. Sorolla left Tagudin in 1845.

Fr. Mariano Ortiz had some restoration work made in 1880. Fr. Geronimo Rubio built the slender belfry located apart from the church in 1881. the church has been restored several times since, but its old style has always been maintained. Sevilla had always been attached to Tagudin as a visita."

Belfry

The church belfry, just like other old churches of Ilocos was constructed few meters away from the main church at the left side facing the church facade.

I was told by the locals that the belfry was repaired by the town's miners in 1938.

Sundial at the back of the church

The very first sundials that was built in the Philippines can be found in this town. Two sundials constructed by Father Juan Sorrolla in 1841, according to Tagundin website. Both can be found at the back of the church and in front of the town hall, few meters away from the church.

Another sundial in front of the town hall

It was a dream fulfilled for me to see the Tagudin church finally and the sundials. It was a very nice and relaxing experience to sit under a huge tree on a sunny and windy day, facing the church facade and marveling at its grandeur. I have to mention as well that the place is so peaceful and orderly.

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