People love Bantayan island for many things including: the beach, the vibe and the mangroves. The island boasts of pristine and clear blue waters. The vibe will surely delight the introvert as it is laid-back and quiet - the perfect place for rest and relaxation. The mangroves, aside from being nature's powerhouse, have gained popularity ever since it was featured in a local movie. I'll leave these three guys to tell you more about these in their posts, they did a good job at showcasing what the island has to offer:
What drew me to the island, however, was not any of those three. It was skydiving. Ever since an interesting acquaintance told me about skydiving in Bantayan, I've set my sights on the place. When 
The reason why I will forever treasure the memory of the island is not among those three either. What made me fall in love with it was the beautiful discovery we found in Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church.
First agenda: relax. Skydive? Maybe next time.
Before I tell you about the church, let me tell you why decided to take me there in the first place. We decided to go to Bantayan because we made it our thing to travel and just relax once per quarter, like a mini-vacation of sorts. We made it a thing because we rarely see each other on the weekdays. We were both full-time engineers and entrepreneurs on the side. Our goal for this trip was rest and relaxation.
The intent to skydive was there, but the money for it wasn't available yet (a nice way of saying I couldn't afford it 🤣). At least I get to take a peek at the skydiving course so that by the next time I go there, the area would somehow be familiar to me. Luckily on our first day, we were able to pass the skydiving course. I took a good mental snapshot of the place. Skydiving - wait for me!
On our first day, we were able to go to Obo-ob Mangrove forest, Sandira Beach and the Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church. Upon our arrival at the church, I had low expectations of how the place was going to be. But as I looked above the ceiling, I was spellbound.
The church is located in the heart of Bantayan and it stood there right across the town plaza. As we went in, there were candle vendors urging us to light a candle to pray. We obliged, of course. We also took the chance to pose at the church entrance.
Likened to the Sistine Chapel
When we went in, the church was seemingly ordinary. It was built from the island's coral stones. The church was old and it had a grand altar in front. It was adorned with stained glass and relic art. But when I looked up, my eyes were glued to the sight of colorful depictions of the Christian doctrine. It was impossible to not look at the ceiling in awe. I think I strained my neck with all the looking up that went on. It was a great sight to behold.
Some local columnists liken the artwork to Michelangelo's in the Sistine Chapel. I think both works are masterpieces in their own right. The latter, of course, is grander in scale and history but it can't be denied that what was in front of me was deserving of appreciation as well. I was super in awe with the ceiling paintings in Bantayan, how much more if I were to see the Sistine Chapel's paintings in real life? That's deserves a blogpost for sure.
A Labor of Love
The team behind this work, called Dibuho Kisame Crew, was commissioned by the parish council to make a visual liturgy. Their vision was to teach the word of the Lord by way of beautiful paintings. The team was headed by Aris Avilino, Alvin Pastor, Shielo May Duterte, Ivan Zaldarriaga, Cheno Encarnacion and local Aldwin Canoy - a team of 5 veterans and a protege. They knew that the task ahead of them was taxing, not only artistically but physically and mentally as well. They got their strength from their spiritual calling. They felt that they were called to finish the task as a mission.
Imagine painting a project so grand in scale and doing it in an unusual position. If my neck strained from looking at their artwork, I bet their necks suffered more. They shared that they considered painting as a form of prayer and atonement for the wrongs that they've made. The heat from the ceiling surely did not make things easier for them. Such dedication and effort could only come from a strong sense of purpose.
photo from Dibuho Kisame Crew posted with permission
The team said they would rest after a day's work in the beaches of Bantayan over some beer. They get inspiration in painting skies by looking at the island's marvelous landscapes.
Closer Look at the Work
Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church is the oldest parish in Visayas and Mindanao. It was built on June 11, 1580 by Augustinian missionaries. The Philippines then was a colony of Spain and the Spaniards made it their mission to spread Christianity in the country. The Bantayanons were one of the first people who were exposed to the Christian doctrine. The island was invaded by Moros looking to make slaves out of the locals. In fact, the original church got destroyed by the Moros 48 years after it was built. Some 83 years after that, Moro Pirates attacked the island again, leaving the church to ashes. It was then again rebuilt to what it is now. Until now, the faith of the locals is stronger than ever as they celebrate Good Friday every year.
True to their vision, the artists wanted the churchgoers to experience God's word through their work. This beautiful painting depicts the creation of man and the woman, the tree of knowledge of good and evil and the tempting snake. The artists also encapsulated the 7 sacraments in their work.
This was the most eye-catching painting for me. It's rich colors of black and yellow beautifully depicts the parable of the good Samaritan.
The visual representation of the gospel continues to delight your sights. The Saints were also depicted by the artists in great detail. The high quality of the artwork couldn't be denied.
History
The 438-year old church of San Pedro and San Pablo (Saints Peter and Paul) is not only filled with so much art and faith, but also with so much history. Bantayan got its name from "Bantayan sa Hari" which is Bisaya for "Watchtowers for the King." The island was invaded by Moros looking to make slaves out of the locals. It was the perfect place to invade as it was made of flat lands and was densely populated.
Much of the history that filled the church was due to the invasion that it had experienced. The church that we see today is the product of the local fishermen and the leadership of Fr. Doroteo Andrada del Rosario. I've always been fascinated with the fact that on Good Fridays, all of the Christian community in the Philippines except Bantayan have to abstain from eating meat. As I was reading more into the history of the church, I have finally stumbled upon the reason why they were an exception. The men who helped in the rebuilding of the church were fishermen. That time, there was a shortage on fishes for the community. So, the town was granted a "papal indult" that allowed the residents to be exempted from "no meat" practice.
Perhaps getting into the church with the least expectations played a part in the awe that I felt when I saw the masterpiece of the artists. Maybe it was also the unassuming exterior of the church that made the colorful art all the more memorable for me or the dedication that the artists' have poured on to their work. Whatever was the force behind the experience that I had, the memory of that church will stay in my head and heart for a long time.
This post is pinned in pinmapple: [//]:# (!pinmapple 11.166997 lat 123.719435 long d3scr)
References:
Bales, B. (2013). St Peter and Paul Church, Bantayan Island Philippines. Retrieved September 7, 2020, from https://thetravellingfool.com/st-peter-and-paul-church-bantayan-island-philippines/
Digital Tourism Team. (2019). Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church. Retrieved September 7, 2020, from https://myguide.ph/bantayan-church/
Just Gola. (2015). St. Peter and Paul Church. Retrieved September 7, 2020, from https://www.justgola.com/a/st-peter-and-paul-church-1520151
Saceda, C. (2019). Good Friday exemption in the Philippines. Retrieved September 9, 2020, from https://www.ucanews.com/news/good-friday-exemption-in-the-philippines/85011#
So, M. (2018) Dibuho Kisame Project: A Visual Catechism.
Top on My List. (2018). 7 FACTS ABOUT SAINTS PETER AND PAUL PARISH CHURCH | Bantayan Cebu. Retrieved September 7, 2020, from https://www.toponmylist.com/7-facts-about-sts-peter-and-paul-parish-church-in-bantayan-island-cebu/
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