St. Peter the Apostle Church is a Roman Catholic church located in Ibajay, Aklan, Philippines. The church also holds devotion to Sto. Niño de Ibajay whose feast is said to be the forerunner of popularly celebrated in Ati-Atihan Festival of Kalibo.
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History
Augustinian friars arrived in Ibajay, which was called Potol in the past, as Spanish colonizers fanned out to the different settlements in Panay island in the 16th century. According to historical records, Pedro Arce was assigned to manage Potol as early as 1583. Colonial leaders transferred the settlement farther inland because of devastating raids perpetrated by Moro pirates.
The Augustinians assigned a friar, Fr. Diego de Alvarez, who served in 1593. He was succeeded by Fr. Gabriel de Pernia in 1596, the year that the church was declared a parish.
According to Msgr. Jose E. Ituralde, former parish priest of Kalibo, the famous cultural-religious celebration Ati-Atihan Festival was inspired by a similar tradition in Ibajay in the 18th century. In 1789, Fr. Fernando de Legaspi, then the parish priest in Malinao, came to Ibajay and witnessed the event in honor of Sto. Niño.
When he return, he started the same celebration in Malinao and, upon his assignment, in Kalibo.
Architecture
The main arch portal of the church is flanked by long, narrow windows containing images of holy figures. Above the entrance is a balustrade, a corbelled ledge, and another arch aperture with glass installation of Sto. Niño. The bell tower, of pierced wall and similar balustrade-ledge, is erected in the epistle side.
Celebration
The feast day of St. Peter is June 29. The feast day of Sto. Niño de Ibajay is observed in the last Sunday of January.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of St. Peter the Apostle Church in Ibajay, Aklan 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 Ibajay.
Monday
- 7:00-8:00 AM
Tuesday
- 7:00-8:00 AM
Wednesday
- 7:00-8:00 AM
- 5:00-6:00 PM
Thursday
- 7:00-8:00 AM
Friday
- 7:00-8:00 AM
Saturday
- 7:00-8:00 AM
- 4:30-5:30 PM (Anticipated Mass)
Sunday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 8:00-9:00 AM
- 9:30-10:30 AM
- 4:00-5:00 PM
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | St. Peter the Apostle Church in Ibajay, Aklan |
| Address | Ibajay, Aklan 5613 |
| Country | Philippines |
| Contact | 0907 555 1399 |
| www.facebook.com | |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Established | 1596 |
| Age | 429 years |
| Status | Parish |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Capiz |
| Diocese | Diocese of Kalibo |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of St. Peter The Apostle |
| Patron | St. Peter |
| Feast day | June 29 |
| Architecture | |
| Tower | 1 |
Nearby Churches
- Nuestra Señora de los Remedios Church in Pakilawa, Nabas, Aklan
- Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Church in Boracay, Malay, Aklan
- Saint John Nepomucene Church in Tangalan, Aklan
- San Antonio de Padua Church in Buruanga, Aklan
- St. Isidore The Farmer Church in Nabas, Aklan
- St. Joseph the Worker Church in Malay, Aklan
- St. Rita of Cascia Church in Naile, Ibajay, Aklan
References
- History of Ibajay. Explore the beauty of Ibajay. December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2023
- Nedy S. Coldovero, Augusto Antonio A. Aguila. Signs and Symbols in the Ati-Atihan Festival of Kalibo, Aklan, Philippines. International Peer Review Journal. Volume 41. July 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2023
- Ibajay, Paradise in Seclusion. Provincial Government of Aklan. Retrieved December 31, 2023
- Paul Dumol, PhD, Grace Concepcion, PhD, and E.J. Ofilada (August 15, 2020). Research Update: Foundation Dates for “The Pueblos of Panay”. Center for Research and Communication. Retrieved December 31, 2023
- Diocese of Kalibo. Retrieved December 31, 2023
- Mangilaya, Shur C. Ibajay Ati-ati Festival. Manila Bulletin. May 19, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2024