Immaculate Conception Parish Church is a colonial-era, Marian church located in the town of Hilongos, Leyte, Philippines. It is also referred to as Hilongos Church.
Table of Contents
History
The Jesuits first arrived in Hilongos in 1603 and began their mission in spreading Christianity to its native inhabitants. It took over a century before it was declared a parish either prior to or in 1737. One of its visita was St. Francis Xavier Church in the town of Palompon.
The Jesuit friars built a church in mid-18th century that was made of stone, and it became a mission station of the Order. However, it was abandoned when the Jesuits was expelled in 1768, and the Augustinians took over their mission. The Augustinians also founded schools in Hilongos and neighboring settlements, one of which was on the same site where the municipal hall is located.
A reconstruction was undertaken in the 18th century, and within that period the bell tower was erected by the initiative of Fr. Leonardo Celiz-Diaz, a secular priest who hailed from Cebu.
The church was razed at the height of the Philippine-American War. Francisco Flordelis, the local leader of the armed resistance unit of the Filipino revolutionaries, resisted the advance of American colonizers with the use of guerilla warfare in 1900. He had escaped several times from being captured. The town was put to the torch and the church was not spared. Flordelis was killed somewhere along the Salog River.
It was reconstructed by the parishioners in 1968. The footprint of the Spanish-era structure was accommodated into the newer, bigger church. Ancient coral stone walls have remained standing.
Heritage
A Level II historical marker was installed by the National Historical Institute that declared the church as a Heritage Church on December 22, 1994.
Architecture
Entrance to the church is through a rectilinear door. A space before it is covered by a unsupported, multi-gabled roof that serves as its portico. Above this rises a foregrounded panel that reaches the edge of the roof.
It contains a recessed arch section within which enshrined the huge image of the Blessed Mother stamping a serpent with Her feet and floating in clouds.
Atop the image is Her symbol: a letter A embedded within the letter M that represents “Ave Maria”, the first two words spoken by Archangel Gabriel during Annunciation.
Flanking the patroness are symbols of Greek letters Alpha and Omega. below are four columns, a pair on each side. Each bears two arch windows of holy figures which are separated vertically by a high relief of vased flora.
The stout bell tower is built separate from the church in the gospel side. It has an octagonal floor and is made of three levels, each one smaller than the one before it. It is crowned with a dome, cupola, and cross.
Celebration
The feast of Immaculate Conception falls on every December 28 in a celebration called Alikaraw Festival. It also celebrates its founding anniversary and parish day every September 8.
Services
Baptism is at 11:00 AM every Saturday.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of Immaculate Conception Parish Church in Hilongos, Leyte from June 9, 2025 to June 15, 2025. Please reach out to the church for an updated schedule. Additionally, you may also want to view mass schedules of churches in Hilongos.
Monday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Cebuano)
- 5:00-6:00 PM (Cebuano
Tuesday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Cebuano)
- 5:00-6:00 PM (Cebuano
Wednesday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Cebuano)
- 5:00-6:00 PM (Cebuano
Thursday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Cebuano)
- 5:00-6:00 PM (Cebuano
Friday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Cebuano)
- 5:00-6:00 PM (Cebuano
Saturday
- 6:00-7:00 AM (Cebuano)
- 5:00-6:00 PM (Cebuano
Sunday
- 5:30-6:30 AM (Cebuano)
- 8:00-9:00 AM (Cebuano)
- 10:00-11:00 AM (Cebuano)
- 4:00-5:00 PM (Cebuano)
- 5:30-6:30 PM (English)
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | Immaculate Conception Parish Church in Hilongos, Leyte |
| Other Names | Hilongos Church |
| Address | R.V. Villaflores Street, Hilongos, Leyte 6505 |
| Country | Philippines |
| Contact | 0926-367-4115 |
| web.facebook.com | |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Founder | Society of Jesus |
| Established | 1603 |
| Age | 422 years |
| Status | Parish |
| Declared as parish | 1737 |
| Age as parish | 288 years |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu |
| Diocese | Diocese of Maasin |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of the Immaculate Conception (Hilongos Vicariate) |
| Patron | Our Lady of Immaculate Conception |
| Feast day | December 28 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage | Heritage Church |
| Builder | Society of Jesus, Order of St. Augustine, Fr. Leonardo Celiz-Diaz |
| Belfry | 1 |
| Tower | 1 |
Nearby Churches
- Holy Child Church in Bato, Leyte
- Medalla Milagrosa Church in Talisay, Hilongos, Leyte
- Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion Church in Concepcion, Hilongos, Leyte
- Saint James the Apostle Church in Cahagnaan, Matalom, Leyte
- San Isidro Labrador Church in Anahawan, Bato, Leyte
- St. John Paul II Church in San Juan, Hilongos, Leyte
- St. Joseph Church in Matalom, Leyte
- St. Michael the Archangel Church in Hindang, Leyte
References
- Simbahan ng Hilongos. National Historical Commission of the Philippines. July 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2022
- The History of Towns in Region VIII, Philippines. Mission.Net. Retrieved December 25, 2022
- Diocese of Maasin. Claretian Publications. Retrieved December 25, 2022