The Century Old Church in Hinigaran Negros
Last month I went on a tour of South Negros with my cousin and nieces to discover the hidden gem of the south. Our first stop was Kabankalan City for their 2009 Sinulog Festival. Then our next stop was the municipality of Hinigaran, Negros.
Hinigaran is a 1st class municipality who is known for their oyster for they have the best oyster in the province of Negros. But the main reason why we went there is to visit one of the Province century old stone church, the St. Mary Magdalene.
The church of St. Mary Magdalene is built in 1858 and the church bell was made of silver and gold that weigh 480 kg. Well, it’s hard to miss this century old church for it is just along the Highway, just across the towns Plaza.
Sta. Maria Magdalena Parish
(Parish Church of Hinigaran)The coming of the Augustinian-Recolletos and The Construction of the present Church (1848-1881)
On November 4,1848, the first Augustinian-recollect parish priest arrived in Hinigaran. His name was Fr. Juan Pavon who served until October 1849. Fr Pavon was responsible for the building of the temporary church which was made of light materials. Ten years later, in 1858 the construction of the present Church at its present site started. It was initiated by the joint efforts of then Parish Priest, Fr. Francisco Ayarra and the residents of Hinigaran. Forced labor was used requiring the faithful to render 15 days of work in the construction. They were also required to bring 25ps. of chicken eggs which were mixed with lime, corrals and bricks. Those materials together with the hardwood used as Church pillars were said to have been carried from Guimaras, Palawan and the upper section of Hinigaran known as “Patigui” and transported to the place known today as “Kinsehan” or “Quincihan”, derived from the wages of the workers which were 15 centavos per 15 days.
The construction of the church resulted to the rapid conversion of the natives to Catholicism. While the church reminded the people of the blood and sweat of their fore bearers who went along the construction, the natives readily accepted the Catholic faith. The strong religious fervor spurred them especially the wealthy ones, who donated their landholdings for the support of the Church, thus, making the parish of Hinigaran as one of the richest parish in the province because of its vast Church properties.
The Church, belfry and the convent were completed in 1881.
The feast day of Sta. Maria Magdalena falls every 2nd day of July.
St. Mary Magdalene Church
Hinigaran, Negros Occidental
Sta. Maria Magdalena Bell Tower
1dodong flores
wrote on 18 February 2009 at 0:31
Interesting find. I’d been to Hinigaran but didn’t know that there’s a century-old church there. But then, I only stayed a few hour in that place.
Thank you for sharing…
2Friendz
wrote on 19 February 2009 at 3:41
nice pic…have a nice day!!
3Mica
wrote on 20 February 2009 at 15:00
Wow!!! this is such a great find. Just wish I could visit this place. This church is not yet in the Heritage watch right?
Thank you very much for sharing this with us. Hope you’l have more interesting finds in the future.
4angela
wrote on 16 March 2009 at 18:44
visit the st. Mary Magdalene church and you’ll see its true beauty, not only the church but the place and the people who leaves there: 0
5elijah
wrote on 3 June 2009 at 23:35
actually. i’m from hinigran and you’ll find the place fascinating. but not to break your expectations,the church there, is an century-old church but it is now being renovated and it’s original stuffs and things are lost or stolen. so it is very dissappointing that what will you see inside is like a typical rural church. but our faith is not being measured through the church or what are things inside it but through the hearts, the mind and your actions
6Cealwyn Tagle
wrote on 8 June 2009 at 10:38
I am presently researching the historic pipe organs in the country. A builder from Zaragoza, Spain has constructed a couple of organs in the country between 1870-1900. Among the list is a pipe organ for Ginigaran Church in Negros. Has anybody seen the pipe organ if it is still existing? Other organs from the same builder are still existing and are being restored at the moment like the pipe organ of Bacong, Negros Oriental and Jimenez, Misamis Occidental.
7jeff
wrote on 29 July 2009 at 0:37
To Cealwyn Tagle
Yes indeed there is (or was) a pipe organ in Hinigaran church. As a kid I can remember that organ in the choir loft. I am not sure if it is still there. I have not been to the choir loft for 35 years or more
8jeff
wrote on 29 July 2009 at 0:48
I doubt very much that the Hinigaran church was built only in 1898. I believe it was built much earlier. As a kid, we used to climb the belfry and and I can remember the dates embossed on the bells, some of which are definitely before 1898. The biggest bell was the one in the middle, but I guess it is now the one mounted in front of the convento.
Old folks say that the biggest bell in the bellfry is made of manganese; not gold and what other metal as written in other websites. By late 60s that bell was already sort of broken and the sound as quite different. You should have seen the main altar before it was “renovated”; actually removed. All silver, very intricate works. I can remember this was in the late 60s during the term of Rev Fr Marcos Pilar. I suppose some photographs of this altar exists in the albums of some Hinigaranons.
9Ranzel Ganzon
wrote on 7 August 2009 at 15:33
I am now a Mormon, but I still love and cherish my boyhood memories in this church. I was baptized when I was a baby here by Padre Ading. I still have my baptismal photo with my parents, grandparents, maninoys, and maninays. I grew up studying in Madeline Academy (name later changed to La Consolacion School when I was Grade 5 or 6), received my first communion here, and has been a sacristan during holy week processions. I could still remember bats flying during the mass and novenas. My mom and dad had their final blessings in this church during their burial. Yes, I am still thankful for the things I learned from my younger years in this church. Hope that the town will always keep this church in its original facade.
10harvey
wrote on 3 June 2010 at 0:55
It would be good if someone can actually go there and investigate if the pipe organ is still there. I am a senior and with all the work at the “shop” (at Diego Cera Organbuilders which I am a part of) it is hard to get to these places just to “explore”.
Harvey Smoller
11alma alojado obenieta
wrote on 2 September 2010 at 18:09
ive been in that and i grow up there, and ilove that place so much…
12AudreyRose
wrote on 3 September 2010 at 11:41
Alma: thanks for visiting my site
and yes! Hinigaran is really a peaceful and relaxing place
13gabriel bayas
wrote on 20 July 2011 at 10:11
visit st.mary magdalene hinigaran neg.occ.1993 2 or 3 times the place is super ganda people are mabait forgot the names ng choir group but one of the member a girl name jo or joanna boy name rey legaspi ang na tandaan ko the rest limot ko n kinakamusta ko kyong lahat jan your friend gabby frm las pinas
14Resnie Bonsol
wrote on 30 August 2011 at 11:44
We students from LCC (La Consolacion College Bacolod)actually visited the church just last week. I have obseved the curch got bats. So, I hope that the bats will be shooed away so that it wouldn’t distract the time of worship. God bless!(^_^)