Region
6: Western Visayas ••• Iloilo
Guimbal
San
Nicolas Tolentino Parish
Guimbal
was annexed as a visita of Oton in 1575. In 1590 it became an
independent doctrina (mission) but in 1618 was handed over
to the secular clergy for lack of Augustinian friars. In 1626,
Guimbal returned to the administration of the Augustinians who
appointed Fr. Pedro Ramirez as vicar-prior. In 1656, Guimbal was
placed under Tigbauan. Guimbal was affected by the jurisdictional
conflict between the Jesuits and the Augustinians. The former
was working to convert the Mundos who lived in the upland but
within the boundaries of Guimbal. Miagao was annexed to Guimbal
in 1703. The conflict between the Jesuits and the Augustinians
was resolved in 1751. Fr. Juan Aguado who worked in Guimbal in
1742, 44 and 53 began building the present church and Fr. Juan
Campos finished it between 1769-74. Fr. José Oranguren
enlarged the church in 1893, but two years later the church was
burnt. Fr. Agustín Llorente restored the church and built
the tower. The church is presently under going renovation, the
cement and stucco finish of the church is being removed revealing
stonework made of yellow sandstone similar to the type used in
Tigbauan and Miagao.
Heritage
Features: Guimbal
is a rather squat structure, made even more so by raising the
level of the street. The façade with the wide base of the
bell tower makes the whole structure appear wide rather than it
is tall. The bell tower is made of three unadorned quadrilateral
structures of diminishing sizes with arched windows piercing the
walls. The façade is divided horizontally into two stories
by a frieze decorated by rosettes and vertically by engaged columns.
Twin columns resting on plinths flank the central section. Composite
capitals crown the columns. A narrow pediment terminating in a
cross caps the central section from which a shallow curve links
the pediment with the lower story. Vases and pyramid finals decorate
the façade.
Remains
of watchtowers are found along the highway.