Exploring the Architectural Design of Hilongos’ Immaculate Conception Parish Church

Happy Thrsday Hivers!

I spent my formative years in Leyte. Growing up, I often visited the church because of the influence of my best friend. Those visits made me curious about the similarities I noticed in church structures, especially the arch-style designs.

As children, we couldn’t fully grasp the stories told by our grandparents about how the Philippines was colonized by foreigners. We also didn’t completely understand why we had certain practices and beliefs—or even why church and building designs looked the way they did.

This isn’t the first time I’ve shared posts in communities like this. I’ve posted several times before, mostly about church designs in Negros Oriental, Bohol, and Cebu. But this time, I want to focus on one of the churches in Leyte.

The Immaculate Conception Parish Church in Hilongos, Leyte was established in 1581 by the Augustinians and officially recognized as a parish in 1705. Interestingly, it was originally dedicated to Our Lady of the Snows rather than the Immaculate Conception. The church was built through manual labor, using stones from a nearby mountain and bound together with egg yolks.

This was actually the same technique used in other old churches, including some in Cebu, where egg yolks were essential in construction. That’s also why, back then, people often offered eggs to the church, not just as a form of devotion, but also to help with the building process.

From the outside, you can already see that this church is old, the walls alone bear witness to its age. At first glance from the front, you’ll notice some modern touches, but if you look closely, the entire structure itself is truly centuries old. Some portions have deteriorated over time and were repaired with modern materials, but features like the main door remain as proof of its antiquity. The door, in particular, stands as a strong reminder of its original style.

When I walked around to the back of the church, it became even clearer that this architectural style dated back to the time when the Philippines was under Spanish colonization. The Spaniards greatly influenced church designs, and one of the most prominent features they introduced was the use of arches. This arch motif, often repeated along the sides of the church, is something I’ve observed in many other old churches I’ve visited.

On the opposite side of the church, I also came across another old building. This was actually my first time visiting it. As I approached, I read the sign that said Devotional Garden. The moment I entered the door, I was greeted by numerous statues of saints. It became clear that this is the area where devotees often gather to pray and spend time in devotion.

Even their convent clearly shows its age. In the Philippines, old houses were often built in this style, two stories high, made of native and light materials, with windows designed just like the one in the photo. It’s easy for us to recognize an old house because the design and style are almost always the same.

Did you know that as kids, whenever we saw these kinds of houses, especially those that weren’t well taken care of—we often felt scared? We grew up believing that such places were inhabited by spirits or “ungo,” which really left an impression on us as children.

Their church bell is also very old. In fact, most of the bells in Cebu and Bohol share the same style. From this, you can easily tell that the Visayas region shared the same Spanish influence during the colonial period.

That’s all I can share for now about the architectural style of the Immaculate Conception Parish Church in Hilongos, Leyte. It’s always nice to explore places like this because you don’t just see the structures—you also get to learn about the rich history behind them.

Thank you for reading and see you on my next blog. Cheers!

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Watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places.

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