Our Lady of Light Church is a National Cultural Treasure, National Historical Landmark, and colonial-era church located in the village of Moto in the town of Loon, Bohol, Philippines. It is also referred as Nuestra Señora de la Luz de Loon or Loon Church after the name of the town.
It is considered to be the biggest of its kind and the summit of Spanish architecture in the island of Bohol, and one of the “grandest churches” in the Visayas region.
In the local language, its titular is called Birhen sa Kasilak. Its second patron is St. Joseph.
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History
The Jesuits founded the church on July 22, 1753.
However during the suppression of their religious order decades later, they were replaced by the Augustinian Recollects October 21, 1768 who remained its administrators until the Philippine Revolution in 1898.
In 1901, American invaders occupied the church and made it into their garrison as they established their presence to subdue the Filipino resistance unit in the island.
It is believed that the first church established by the Jesuits was erected in Napo, a coastal area that was vulnerable to seaborne attacks. Thus a stone church was built in the place called Moto which was a fortified location and equipped with canons in 1770 as defense against attacks carried out by Moro raiders. It was burned twice in 1850 and 1853 save for its facade.
Fr. Jose Garcia led its reconstruction that began between 1855 and 1864 from the design by Domingo de Escandrillas, the head of Cebu public works, and it was completed in 1890. The paintings seen in its interiors were made by artist Raymundo Francia in 1938.
Heritage
Loon Church became a National Cultural Treasure as declared by the National Museum of the Philippines on December 6, 2010.
The National Historical Commission of the Philippines declared Loon Church as a National Historical Landmark by virtue of Resolution No. 4 approved by then NHCP Director Dr. Ambeth R. Ocampo on July 21, 2010. A heritage marker was installed in the church in the same year.
Earthquake
The church was totally destroyed after the powerful, 7.2 earthquake on October 15, 2013. It was reconstructed by the National Museum of the Philippines and reopened on September 7, 2021.
Architecture
This Baroque-Neoclassical church may be typical at first glance in the way the facade is bounded by two bell towers. But its distinction lies in the richly embellished friezes, columns, pilasters, and plinths.
For instance, it has no portico and an arch portal leads straightaway to its interiors. There are four pairs of Corinthian columns in each of the two levels of the facade demarcated horizontally by cornices, scroll works, and dentilation. These are flanked by fluted pilasters. And all of their plinths are decorated with cartouches.
The upper level centrally features the niche of the patroness. She stands on a pedestal that contains three cherubs, holding the Child Jesus in one hand and a scepter in another. Behind the image is an arch window flanked by fluted pilasters and in either sides are arch openings, potted plants in high relief, blind rose windows with six-pointed stars, and alcoves.
The pediment is a broken gable with cartouches, blank stone bands, cornice, finials, and a round aperture.
Meanwhile, the bases of the bell towers have rectangular windows except their uppermost stories are pierced with arch openings. The epistle side bears a clock. They are crowned with pyramidal roofs.
Celebration
The feast of Our Lady of Light is every September 8 while St. Joseph’s fiesta is in March 19.
Services
The parish office is closed on Tuesdays and on Sunday, it is open only in the morning. For the rest of the week, it is open from 9:00 in the morning to 12:00 noon and from 2:00 to 5:00 in the afternoon.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of Our Lady of Light Church in Loon, 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 Loon.
Monday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
Tuesday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
Wednesday
- 5:15-6:15 PM
Thursday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
Friday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
Saturday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 5:00-6:00 PM
Sunday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 7:30-8:30 AM (Facebook Live)
- 9:00-10:00 AM
- 3:00-4:00 PM
- 5:00-6:00 PM
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | Our Lady of Light Church in Loon, Bohol |
| Other Names | Simbahan sa Birhen sa Kasilak, Loon Church, Nuestra Señora de la Luz Parish Church |
| Address | Tagbilaran North Road, Moto, Loon, Bohol 6327 |
| Country | Philippines |
| Contact | 0948 705 4177 |
| www.facebook.com | |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Founder | Society of Jesus |
| Established | July 22, 1753 |
| Age | 272 years |
| Status | Parish |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu |
| Diocese | Diocese of Tagbilaran |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of Our Lady of Light |
| Patron | Our Lady of Light, St. Joseph |
| Feast day | September 8 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage | National Historical Landmark (July 21, 2010), National Cultural Treasure (December 6, 2010) |
| Completed | 1890 |
| Age since completed | 135 years |
| Architect | Domingo de Escandrillas |
| Builder | Fr. Jose Garcia |
| Style | Baroque, Neoclassical |
| Belfry | 2 |
| Tower | 2 |
Nearby Churches
- Holy Cross Church in Cabilao Island, Loon, Bohol
- Holy Cross Parish Church in Maribojoc, Bohol
- Mary Help of Christians Church in Sandingan Island, Loon, Bohol
- Nuestra Señora de La Paz Y Buen Viaje Church in Cuasi, Loon, Bohol
- Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church in Antequera, Bohol
- San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila Parish in Catagbacan, Loon, Bohol
- St. Isidore the Farmer Quasi-Parish in Busao, Maribojoc, Bohol
References
- Simbahan ng Loon. National Historical Commission of the Philippines. October 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2023
- Our Lady of Light Parish in Loon reopens 8 years after toppled by quake. Bohol Chronicle. September 8, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2023
- Simbahan ng Loon. National Historical Commission of the Philippines. October 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2023
- Noel Pabalete. The story of how Loon Church in Bohol was restored. Manila Bulletin. September 21, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2023
- Diocese of Tagbilaran. Claretian Publicaitions. Retrieved January 5, 2023