As a former colony of Spain, and – as such – a country where Roman Catholicism was forced on its people, it’s not surprising that too many of the must-visit places particularly in the provinces are historic places of worship. Among these is the San Ildefonso de Toledo Parish Church that we visited while looking for anything – aside from restaurants – that the Municipality of Tanay has to offer.
@outragemag #LGBT believer? We checked #TanayChurch in #tanayrizal as venue of faith, and #history and #architecture ♬ original sound – Outrage Magazine
Located in the Province of Rizal, this church – which is also commonly known as Tanay Church – is historic, not just for the province but for the entire country (and, arguably, for the Roman Catholic Church). Its first version was built from 1678-1680, though that was eventually destroyed. The present church, almost Baroque, was constructed in 1773, and completed in 1783.
Falling under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Antipolo, it was declared as a National Cultural Treasure Church by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in 2001.
Even if you’re not a believer, there are must-check items in the church:
- There are six retablos (or decorative altarpieces containing religious images) honoring the Our Lady of Anguish (Nuestra Señora de las Angustias), the Immaculate Conception (La Purísima Concepción), Saint Joseph, Saint Peter of Alcantara, the Baptism of Jesus Christ, and Saint Ildefonsus of Toledo that were installed in 1786.
- 14 handcrafted Stations of the Cross images inside the church. Created by Tanay artists, there are localized elements – e.g. use of bolo instead of Roman sword.
- A relic of a piece of bone of San Ildefonso, which is housed in a monstrance. This was given by Felipe Pedraja in October 2006 from Zamora, Spain, where the body of the patron saint lies.
That this remains a functional church after all these years is great… and this is even with unnecessary additions (such as that weird-looking statue in front of the church) that ruin the place’s overall aesthetic. A testament to faith, yes, though also a symbol of Spain’s conquest of our people. And a tourist spot, of course, in a province that – even now – has yet to truly find its tourism footing.
But off we go for more LGBTQIA+ rampa…
San Ildefonso de Toledo Parish Church is located at M.H. Del Pilar St., Plaza Aldea, Tanay, Province of Rizal.
