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The
Church of Sto.Tomas in Pardo
Pardo, Cebu City
Foundation
of the Church
April 10, 1866 - became an
independent parish by diocesan decree. It used to be a visita of San
Nicolas with Sto. Tomas de Villanueva as its patron.
Construction
of the Church
A temporary church made of
light materials was built in 1866 by Fr. Domingo Sanchez, parish priest of
San Nicolas. Destroyed by the typhoon of November 25, 1877, Fr. Manuel Ibeas
started the construction of a new one using strong materials from 1880 to
1893. It was completed by the succeeding parish priests. Made of masonry,
the church has two towers with a porch in front and is spacious, surrounded
by massive buttresses.
Style of
the Church
The main façade has two
cylindrical structures on its sides and the massive bell tower is integrated
as part of it. Its rectangular form is contrasted by slashed, blunted
angles. The structure is different from the classical style of the façade.
The main semi-circular arch has pilaster strips on the sides that end up in
the pediment. The second level is decorated by a rose window while the third
level is decorated by a semi-circular arch and blind windows flanked by
columns with circular capitals. The topmost railing is crowned by a pointed
apex.
Excerpts from: Angels in
Stone
By: Pedro G. Galende O.S.A.
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