Santa Monica Church, also known as Panay Church, is a National Historical Landmark and 19th-century, Baroque-style Roman Catholic church located in Panay, Capiz, Philippines. It is the first and the oldest church established by Spanish missionaries in the province during the colonial period.
It also houses the largest church bell in Southeast Asia, which is the central feature of the yearly town celebration called Linga-anay Festival.
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History
Augustinian missionary Fr. Martin de Rada arrived and spread the Catholic faith to the natives living along the riverbanks of Bamban, the old name of the town of Panay, in 1566. Spanish colonizer Miguel Lopez de Legazpi transferred to Panay in 1569 after he left from Cebu in search for provision.
By 1572, the Augustinian friars established the church and it became a parish in 1581, becoming an iglesia matriz to the following: Ivisan, Aranguel (President Roxas), Sibala (Pilar), Capiz (Roxas City), Ipiong (Panitan), and Divingding (Dao).
An early church was reported to be in a state of disrepair by 1698, and so a stone church was constructed by Fr. Miguel Murguia in 1774. It sustained major damages when a typhoon swept through the town in 1875. The present-day church was built on the footprint of the old one during the term of Fr. Jose Beloso in 1884.
Dakong Lingganay
Panay Church is also the home of 19th-century church bell called Dakong Lingganay, translated to Big Bell. It was cast by Don Juan Reina upon the instruction of Fr. Beloso and made out of 70 sacks of coins that were donated by the parishioners. It has a diameter of seven feet and a height of five feet, and weighs 10,000 kilograms.
It also bears the following script, “Soy la vos de Dios que llevarey ensalzare desde el principio hasta fin de este Pueblo de Panay para que los fieles de Jesus vengan a esta casa de Dios a recibir las gracias celestiales.” (I am the voice of God that shall ring throughout the entire town of Panay, so that the faithful followers of Christ may come to this house of God to receive heavenly graces.)
Heritage
Church of Panay was declared a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Institute through Resolution No. 3, s. 1997 and a historical marker was installed on December 6, 1997.
It was declared a National Cultural Treasure in 2004.
Architecture
The Baroque church with Neoclassical touches is made out of quarried, cut coral stones and embellished by paired pilasters bearing Corinthian capitals. Above its arch doorway is a bas relief of decorative foliage and the emblem of the Augustinian Order, flanked by the images of St. Augustine and St. Thomas of Villanueva.
On the facade’s second level is a richly decorated niche of St. Monica, a symbol of the Eye of Providence, and an oculus, flanked by arch apertures. The curvilinear pediment contains another niche and is surmounted by spires and a cross.
The five-story bell tower is erected in the epistle side.
Celebration
The feast of St. Monica is every last Sunday of August.
Services
The parish office is open 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily except Tuesday. On Sunday, it is open 9:00 to 11:30 AM.
Museo de Santa Monica is open 9:00 to 11:00 AM and 2:00 to 4:00 PM daily except Tuesday and Sunday.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of Santa Monica Church in Panay, Capiz from November 18, 2024 to November 24, 2024. Please reach out to the church for an updated schedule. Additionally, you may also want to view mass schedules of churches in Panay.
Monday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
Tuesday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
Wednesday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 5:00-6:00 PM (English)
Thursday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
Friday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
Saturday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 5:00-6:00 PM (English - Anticipated Mass)
Sunday
- 5:00-6:00 AM
- 7:00-8:00 AM
- 8:30-9:30 AM
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | Santa Monica Church in Panay, Capiz |
| Address | Calle Revolucion, Panay, Capiz 5801 |
| Country | Philippines |
| Contact | (036) 651 9765 |
| santamonicadepanay@gmail.com | |
| www.facebook.com | |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Founder | Fr. Martin de Rada, OSA |
| Established | 1566 |
| Age | 458 years |
| Status | Parish |
| Declared as parish | 1581 |
| Age as parish | 443 years |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Capiz |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of Sta. Monica |
| Patron | St. Monica |
| Feast day | Last Sunday of August |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage | National Historical Landmark (1997), National Cultural Treasure (2004) |
| Completed | 1884 |
| Age since completed | 140 years |
| Builder | Fr. Jose Beloso |
| Style | Baroque, Neoclassical |
| Tower | 1 |
Nearby Churches
- Holy Child Parish Church in Maayon, Capiz
- Mary Help of Christians Church in Quios, Panitan, Capiz
- Nuestra Señora de Salvacion Church in Anhawon, Panay, Capiz
- Our Lady of Lourdes Mission Station in Capagao Panitan, Capiz
- St. Augustine Mission Station in Cogon, Panay, Capiz
- St. Francis of Assisi Mission Station in Quevedo, Maayon, Capiz
- St. Isidore the Farmer Church in Pontevedra, Capiz
- St. Lawrence the Deacon Church in Panitan, Capiz
- St. Michael the Archangel Church in San Antonio, Cuartero, Capiz
- St. Nicholas of Tolentino Church in Pawa, Panay, Capiz
- St. Vincent Ferrer Church in Bailan, Pontevedra, Capiz
References
- Archdiocese of Capiz. Retrieved January 3, 2024
- Church of Pan-ay. National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Retrieved January 3, 2024
- Paul Dumol, PhD, Grace Concepcion, PhD, and E.J. Ofilada (August 15, 2020). Research Update: Foundation Dates for “The Pueblos of Panay”. Center for Research and Communication. Retrieved January 3, 2024
- ‘Biggest bell’ in Southeast Asia marks 144th year. Panay News. December 30, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2024
- Noel Vincent B. Abalajon. The Considerad in the Religious Tradition of Panay. Philippiniana Sacra. Vol. XLVI. No. 1316, pages 110-156. January – April 2011. Retrieved January 3, 2024