Sts. Philip and James the Apostles Church in Lagonoy, Camarines Sur

Sts. Philip and James the Apostles Church is a 19th-century Roman Catholic church located in Lagonoy, Camarines Sur, Philippines.

Table of Contents

History

Franciscan missionaries arrived in Lagonoy Gulf in the 17th century. Its settlement was named either after a plant called hagonoy (used as herbal medicine) or lango (drunken).

The missionaries founded the church on August 1, 1734 and became a parish in 1764. Located in the eastern seaboard facing the Pacific Ocean, it was called Partido de Lagonoy for its vast territory was broken up to give birth to the following towns: Tigaon (1764), Goa (1771), San Jose (1816), and Presentacion (1961).

An early stone church was completed in 1768. However, it was destroyed by river flood and only the ruins of the bell tower remains today. Another church was erected in San Isidro Sur in 1885, and it was abandoned yet again. The present-day stone church was built in Santa Maria in 1874.

During the Philippine Revolution, Lagonoy came under the influence of Iglesia Filipina Indepiendente, otherwise known as Aglipayan. Its parish priest, Fr. Vicente Ramirez, was one of the supporters of Fr. Gregorio Aglipay’s effort to establish an Filipino church separate from the Roman Catholicism. Fr. Ramirez would later be ordained the first IFI bishop.

Their adherents took over the Lagonoy Church, and the Roman Catholic prelate headed by Bishop Jorge I. Barlin sued them in court. Bishop Barlin won the case and the church property was returned to Roman Catholic authorities. To this day, the town has many people who are members of IFI.

Its roof was destroyed in the aftermath of Typhoon Harriet in 1960 and it was repaired during the time of Fr. Pedro Relloso as parish priest.

Architecture

The church has retained characteristics of colonial-era masonry. Its facade is bounded by walls that slant to the back and pillars culminating in stone spires. Its pediment is decorated with balustrade and tapers towards a central belfry that has an onion-dome roof and is topped with a cross. An outline of secondary gable is found in the pediment containing an oculus and a bas relief of an emblem.

Its arch main door is flanked by paired pilasters decorated with moldings and foliage, and niches. Above it is another emblem, name of the parish, and a high relief of a heart.

Celebration

The feast of Sts. Philip and James is May 1 and the town celebrates the Samhod Festival.

Services

The parish office is open 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM Monday to Saturday.

Rosary is heard at 3:30 PM followed by Via Crucis around the patio grounds at 4:00 PM every Sunday.

Mass schedule

Below is the weekly mass schedule of Sts. Philip and James the Apostles Church in Lagonoy, Camarines Sur 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 Lagonoy.

Monday

6:10-7:10 AM (English)

Tuesday

6:10-7:10 AM (Bikol)

Wednesday

6:10-7:10 AM (English)

Thursday

6:10-7:10 AM (Bikol)

Friday

6:10-7:10 AM (English)

Saturday

6:10-7:10 AM (Bikol)

Sunday

6:00-7:00 AM (Bikol)
8:30-9:30 AM (English)
5:00-6:00 PM (Bikol)

Church information

Details
Name	Sts. Philip and James the Apostles Church in Lagonoy, Camarines Sur
Address	Lagonoy, Camarines Sur 4425
Country	Philippines
Facebook	web.facebook.com
Religion
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Established	August 1, 1734
Age	291 years
Status	Parish
Declared as parish	1764
Age as parish	261 years
Archdiocese	Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Caceres
Vicariate	Vicariate of St. John the Baptist
Patron	St. Philip, St. James
Feast day	May 1
Architecture
Completed	1874
Age since completed	151 years
Belfry	1

Nearby Churches

References

Parishes. Archdiocese of Caceres. Retrieved June 23, 2024
Location and historical background. Lagonoy Camarines Sur. Retrieved June 23, 2024
Tito Genova Valiente. Epiphany in Lagonoy: The Nationalist Church of Sts. Philip and James. Bicol Mail. Field Notes. Retrieved June 23, 2024