Santo Niño Church is a Roman Catholic church, an Important Cultural Property, and a National Cultural Treasure located in Cortes, Bohol, Philippines. Its other patron is St. Roch of Montpellier.
Table of Contents
History
In the olden times, the settlement along Abatan River was called Malabago either from the name of its chieftain or after a tree that had yellow blooms. It was destroyed by the Spaniards in retaliation for the support shown by the people for the Tamblot uprising in 1621. When the they relocated, their new site was destroyed by the Spanish colonizers. Thus, they moved to a new settlement by the mouth of the Abatan River.
The church was a visita of Maribojoc in 1769 and it was administered by the Augustinian Recollects. It attained independence as a parish in 1793.
Around that time, the settlement was called Pamingwitan, which referred to as the place where people caught fish using rod. It became a town in 1862 and by 1891, it was renamed Cortes after the colonizer Hernan Cortes.
The present-day church may have been built in the 1880s, replacing an older structure made of tabique and nipa.
The National Museum of the Philippines declared the church an Important Cultural Property in 2012.
The church suffered major damages when an earthquake struck Bohol and nearby islands on October 15, 2013. The event uncovered the facade of an earlier church that was thought to have been built by the Jesuits before the Recollects took over.
A temporary place of worship made of bamboo and nipa was erected in the town plaza where religious services were held. Afterwards, a structure was built that has a capacity of 400 people through a four-million peso donation by the Ong Family.
In 2015, the National Museum elevated the heritage status of the church as a National Cultural Treasure. The government agency undertook the necessary reconstruction for a total cost of 104 million pesos that began in November 2017 and completed in December two years later.
The fully restored church was opened for the first Misa de Gallo on December 16, 2020. It was officially turned over by the government to the Diocese of Tagbilaran during the feast day on January 16, 2019.
The bells cast during colonial times (one of which bore the year 1793 and inscription “Mariboho”) are renowned for their distinct tone. The largest bell that weighs 50 kilograms is considered the second oldest of its kind in the entire island.
Architecture
The interiors boast of murals on the ceiling by Cebuano artist Ray Francia in 1920s. Its facade features an arcade of thick posts and a pediment pierced with rectilinear and round openings. The stout bell tower stands in the gospel side of the church.
Celebration
The feast day of Santo Niño is January 16.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of Santo Niño Church in Cortes, Bohol 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 Cortes.
Monday
- No mass schedule found.
Tuesday
- No mass schedule found.
Wednesday
- No mass schedule found.
Thursday
- No mass schedule found.
Friday
- No mass schedule found.
Saturday
- No mass schedule found.
Sunday
- No mass schedule found.
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | Santo Niño Church in Cortes, Bohol |
| Address | Poblacion, Cortes, Bohol 6341 |
| Country | Philippines |
| Contact | (038) 503-9094 |
| santoninoparishofficialmedia@gmail.com | |
| web.facebook.com | |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Established | 1769 |
| Age | 256 years |
| Status | Parish |
| Declared as parish | 1793 |
| Age as parish | 232 years |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu |
| Diocese | Diocese of Tagbilaran |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of Our Lady of Mount Carmel |
| Patron | Santo Niño, St. Roch |
| Feast day | January 16 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage | Important Cultural Property, National Cultural Treasure |
| Tower | 1 |
Nearby Churches
- Immaculate Conception Church in Catigbian, Bohol
- Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje Church in La Paz, Cortes, Bohol
- Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Balilihan, Bohol
- Santo Niño Church in Baang, Catigbian, Bohol
- Santo Niño Church in Hanopol, Balilihan, Bohol
References
- Vicariates and Parishes. Diocese of Tagbilaran. Retrieved November 22, 2023
- Jose, Regalado Trota (2001). Visita Iglesia Bohol: A Guide to Historic Churches. National Commission on Culture and the Arts. Manila, Philippines. ISBN 9718140166, 978-9718140161. Retrieved November 23, 2023
- Leo Udtohan. Bohol church closed by quake damage for 6 years reopens at start of Misa de Gallo. Philippine Daily Inquirer. December 16, 2019. Retrieved November 23, 2023
- Last year, January 16, 2020, the #NationalMuseumPH turned-over the fully restored #SantoNiño Parish Church in #Cortes… National Museum of the Philippines – Bohol. January 17, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2023
- Nat’l Museum to turn over restored Cortes church to Tagbilaran diocese. The Bohol Chronicle. January 15, 2020. Retrieved November 23, 2023