Alburquerque Church (Santa Monica Parish Church of Alburquerque)

The church was declared as an Important Cultural Property by the National Museum of the Philippines in 2013. It was also declared
National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Institute in 2014. In October 15, 2013 it was partially damage when a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck Bohol and other parts of Central Visayas.

I just saw this church when we're on our way to Baclayon Church from Carmen. I asked the driver to stopped for a minute so I can snap a few pictures and take a look inside the church. Since it's a weekday, the church looks abandoned. The church was already renovated and fixed when I visited last October 2016.

The church was originally created as a visit of the Baclayon Church, for those   who cannot reach the parish church conveniently. It's in the shape of a cruciform. Has a portico on the front which is actually the choirloft on the second floor. The original retablo is gone, although there are two smaller neo-gothic style ones at both ends of the transept. 

The ceiling of the church was painted by Church Artist Ray Francia in 1932. His signature is on the side of the choirloft. He and Canuto Avila were the artists who painted most of the old churches in Cebu & Bohol. One of the most beautiful work they did was at the Tubigon Church. Pillars made of large tree trunks masked by metal sheets march down the aisle of the church. It is being argued that these pillars date back to the original 1880 structure.

A wide field in front of the church enables the structure to dominate over its surroundings. To the left of the church are the original twin buildings for the "escuela de ninos" built in the 1880s. When I was there, I only saw a couple of people taking pictures. It's not as popular as the Baclayon or the Loboc Church, but it's still a beautiful old church.