Region 6: Western Visayas ••• Iloilo

Oton

Inmaculada Concepción Parish

Oton, also called Ogtong, meaning "reef" or "tidal flat" was assigned as an ecomienda to Don Miguel de Loarca. The third establishment of the Augustinians, after Cebu and Manila, Oton became a house of the order on 3 May 1572. Fr. Martin de Rada was appointed prior of Oton with jurisdiction over Tigbauan, Vagungun, Guimbal, Jaro and Dumangas. Oton became the first center of Spanish rule in Iloilo, as early as 1581. Arévalo remained under the spiritual administration of Oton until it was separated from the town in 1584. In 1614, the Dutch attacked Oton destroying its industry of breeding horses. The history of church building is sketchy although Fr. Rada is reported as building a church of good quality, which was destroyed during the attack by the Dutch. What buildings were subsequently raised is uncertain. The next we hear about church building comes from the 19^th century when Fr. Demetrio Cobos, parish priest from 1844-54, laid the foundations for a church of enormous proportions. When he died on 4 May 1854, the church walls had been raised. Fr. Diego de Hoz, his successor continued with the project and Fr. Joaquin Fernandez named prior in charge of construction in 1883, finished the grand edifice. Fr. Nicolas Gallo worked on the interior decoration in 1882 and in 1891 the structure was solemnly blessed. Saved from the ravages of World War II, an intense earthquake on 5 January 1948, sent the whole structure plummeting to the ground. Only two bells, one donated by Doña Victoria Blanco, dedicated to the Nuestra Señora del Carmen and installed by Fr. Joaquin Fernandez in 1887, and an older bell dated 1817, plus a bit of wall remain of this once glorious architectural achievement.

Heritage Features: As there is nothing much to see of the old Oton church, what we know of it comes from photographs. It was the only church planned as a Greek cross, that is, all four wings were of equal lengths and came together at the center. The center was marked by a cupola with arched windows as clerestory and a lantern as its finial. The four ends of the cross were decorated by flanking spires, lancet windows, and a pediment shaped as Gothic arch pierced by a rose window. The main entrance had taller spires and three portals all in Gothic style. Likewise, the main entrance had a Gothic shaped pediment pierced by a rose window. Beneath the cupola stood the main retablo designed as a free standing Gothic structure. On four of its sides were altars. This sanctuary area was separated from the naves by a sinuous wrought iron communion rail. The ceiling had a faux vault all painted in trompe l'oiel, the pendentives portrayed the four evangelists as customary. The blending of a Greek or Byzantine plan with Gothic and Classic elements somehow cohered making Oton church one of the architectural achievements of the colonial period. Pity that it has not survived.