Region 6: Western Visayas ••• Iloilo

Molo

Sta. Ana Parish

Molo was a Chinese enclave at the turn of the century. Its Neogothic church is one of the few in Iloilo not built by the Augustinians. The church is attributed to a Chinese mestizo secular, Fr. Locsin. The original church of Molo was built of tabique with a tile roof. Fr. Jose Ma. Sichon replaced it with a temporary church in 1863, probably because the earlier church was damaged. In 1866 plans were presented for approval. Bp. Mariano Cuartero approved construction in 1869.

Heritage Features: The church is an amalgam of Gothic and Renaissance. The plan is fundamentally Renaissance, evident in the arcade of Corinthian columns in the interior, the use of semi-circular arches, and the disposition of space. The church's height, however, and its narrow width points to affinity with the Gothic. This is further emphasized by the decorative elements, spires, lancets, tracery. The wooden varnished altar, said to have been built around 1930, carry the Gothic theme. On 16 columns supporting the roof are images of female saints, hence the church's sobriquet as church of women.

In front of the church is plaza with a band stand, a typical plan of Western Visayas towns.

Location: Bounded by Jocson and San Marcos Sts.

Extras: On the road to Arévalo is Panaderia de Molo, a bakery that makes traditional biscuits and cakes. Considered as a distinctly Ilongo product, the bakery's recipes are closely guarded family secrets. The traditional biscuits are: sugar-coated bañada; galletas, a thin bland wafer; kinamonsil, hard biscuit resembling the fruit of the kamonsil or camachile tree; biscocho principe, butter toast; kinihad, thinly sliced toast; rosquettes, crumbly cookie; and hojaldres, layers of finely rolled sweet pastry.

Asilo de Molo is an orphanage run by the Daughters of Charity one of the many congregation of nuns in Iloilo. To run the orphanage, boarders and students are taught the traditional art of embroidery. Barong Tagalog, dresses, church vestments, etc. are finely embroidered by hand. The delicate embroidery of the Asilo looks like painting on silk. The products are pricey.