Archdiocesan Shrine of San Miguel Arcangel Church in Argao, Cebu

San Miguel Arcangel Church or St. Michael the Archangel Church is a 19th-century National Cultural Treasure and Roman Catholic church located in Argao, a southeastern municipality of the island-province of Cebu, Philippines. It is also called Argao Church.

Table of Contents

History

Argao’s mother parish was Carcar in Spanish colonial era. The church became a parish on October 16, 1733. Fr. Ignacio de Olave was the first parish priest. A church was built in 1788, while the present-day church was constructed within the term of Fr. Mateo Perez beginning in 1803 until 1836.

Constructions and reconstructions occurred in succeeding years: the bell tower was designed by Bishop Santos Gomez Marañon in 1830, repairs of the damages after a typhoon were carried out in 1876, and expansion of the church in 1904.

In September of 2007, the church was elevated into an archdiocesan shrine in a Eucharistic celebration held by Cardinal Ricardo Vidal.

On October 15, 2013, the church was damaged by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines provided the funds for restoration works, which were completed on June 17, 2016.

Heritage

Argao Church is a heritage site due to its immeasurable value by both religious and public sectors. In the 200th-year anniversary, a marker was installed. By virtue of Resolution No. 4, S. 2004, the NHCP recognized Argao Church as a National Historical Landmark. A marker dated July 11, 2016 was installed.

The National Museum of the Philippines declared Argao Church as a National Cultural Treasure according to a news report in 2023.

Architecture

Its facade is made of two registers with an imposing pediment. Four sets of twin pilasters are found in the first two levels and single columns in the pediment. Likewise, horizontal decor in the cornices. The shaft and capital of pilasters are embellished with reliefs of fauna and flora. Above the capital of the pilasters on the frieze level is a bust of a putto. The pediment, topped with an acroterium, is richly decorated with various motifs and foliage.

The panels in the gospel and epistle sides have a relief of a bust of an angel blowing a trumpet. The central panel, an angel unfurling a scroll with the words, “Sanctus Deus, Sanctus Fortis, Sanctus Immortalis, Miserere Nobis,” which translates, “Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us.” It also contains the niche of the patron, which is ornately embellished and has its own pediment that contains a clam shell emblem. St. Michael wields a shield and sword, he is flanked by putti, and in the bottom is the inscription, “San Miguel Arcangel Ruego p. Nosotros,” which translates, “Saint Michael Archangel, pray for us.”

In the upper register, the outermost panels contain an arch window with balustrades. The central panel on the other hand contains a small niche of a winged angel playing a bow on a string instrument, a balustraded square window that is flanked by a pair of reliefs of plants in vase, and a coat of arms in the bottom that extends into the frieze. In the ground level, the arch puerta mayor is flanked by twin Corinthian pilasters on plinths. Flanking it are panels containing a niche of a winged figure; the gospel side contains the bicentenary marker and the epistle side has the heritage marker installed by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).

The church in the gospel side is connected to the massive bell tower via the baptistry or, in other accounts, the quarters of the bell-ringers (camarin de campaneros). The bell tower is topped with red dome with a finial. Its base is quadrilateral, the other two levels octagonal in shape. The main bell is in the second level, while eight smaller bells are in the third level with a clock that has since stopped tracking the correct time of the day. In the epistle side is the rectory, which also is where the Museo dela Parroquia de San Miguel is located. Like the Sibonga Church, its ceiling erupts into paintings that depict biblical stories and Catholic catechism. The work is attributed to Raymundo Francia and Canuto Avila.

Celebration

September 29th is the feast day of St. Michael the Archangel in celebrations called La Torta Festival.

Mass schedule

Below is the weekly mass schedule of Archdiocesan Shrine of San Miguel Arcangel Church in Argao, Cebu from September 30, 2024 to October 6, 2024. Please reach out to the church for an updated schedule. Additionally, you may also want to view mass schedules of churches in Argao.

Monday

6:00-7:00 AM
12:15-1:15 PM
5:15-6:15 PM

Tuesday

6:00-7:00 AM
12:15-1:15 PM
5:15-6:15 PM

Wednesday

6:00-7:00 AM
12:15-1:15 PM
5:15-6:15 PM

Thursday

6:00-7:00 AM
12:15-1:15 PM
5:15-6:15 PM

Friday

6:00-7:00 AM
12:15-1:15 PM
5:15-6:15 PM

Saturday

6:00-7:00 AM
6:00-7:00 PM

Sunday

4:30-5:30 AM
6:00-7:00 AM
8:00-9:00 AM
9:30-10:30 AM
11:00-12:00 PM
3:00-4:00 PM
5:00-6:00 PM
6:30-7:30 PM

Church information

Details
Name	Archdiocesan Shrine of San Miguel Arcangel Church in Argao, Cebu
Address	Poblacion, Argao, Cebu 6021
Country	Philippines
Contact	(032) 346 6720
Email	sanmiguelargao@gmail.com
Facebook	web.facebook.com
Website	www.archdiocesanshrineofsanmiguel-arcangel-argao.net
Religion
Established	1733
Age	291 years
Status	Parish
Archdiocese	Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu
District	District III – Southeast Cebu
Vicariate	Vicariate of San Antonio de Padua
Patron	St. Michael the Archangel
Feast day	September 29
Architecture
Heritage	National Historical Landmark, National Cultural Treasures
Completed	1836
Age since completed	188 years
Style	Baroque-Rococo

Nearby Churches

References

Amper, Zona Hildegarde Saniel (2015). Flowers for ‘Mama Mary’: Cultural Hegemony and Change in Argao’s Traditional Flores de Mayo. International Journal of Intangible Heritage, 10:31-43. Retrieved from ResearchGate on June 18, 2022
Balaanong Bahandi: Sacred Treasures of the Archdiocese of Cebu. Cathedral Museum of Cebu, Inc. and University of San Carlos Press. 2010. ISBN 978-9715390187.
Redondo, Felipe S. (1886). Breve reseña de lo que fue y de lo que es la Diócesis de Cebú en las Islas Filipinas. Establecimiento Tipográfico del Colegio de Sto. Tomás
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu. Retrieved June 17, 2022
Elizaga, Troy. The Formation of Cities and Municipalities of the Province of Cebu, Philippines. Retrieved via Authorea on June 17, 2022
Elizaga, Troy. The Formation of Towns and Parishes in Cebu, Philippines. Retrieved via Academia on July 19, 2022
Simbahan ng Argao. National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Retrieved June 18, 2022
Gerschwiler, Paul (2015). Argao: In Search of a Usable Past. Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Incorporated. ISBN 9719599626, 9789719599623
Mayol, Ador Vincent S. (December 9, 2017). After 40 years, Argao folk hear shrine’s pipe organ play again. Cebu Daily News. Retrieved June 17, 2022
Experts finish Argao church’s facelift. SunStar. Retrieved June 17, 2022
Balaanong Bahandi: Sacred Treasures of the Archdiocese of Cebu. Cathedral Museum of Cebu, Inc. and University of San Carlos Press. 2010. ISBN 978-9715390187.
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu. Retrieved June 17, 2022
Elizaga, Troy. The Formation of Cities and Municipalities of the Province of Cebu, Philippines. Retrieved June 17, 2022
Simbahan ng Argao. National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Retrieved June 18, 2022
Gerschwiler, Paul (2015). Argao: In Search of a Usable Past. Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Incorporated. ISBN 9719599626, 9789719599623
Mayol, Ador Vincent S. (December 9, 2017). After 40 years, Argao folk hear shrine’s pipe organ play again. Cebu Daily News. Retrieved June 18, 2022
Experts finish Argao church’s facelift. SunStar. September 5, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2022
Caescent No-ot Magsumbol. Cultural treasure markers for three churches pending. The Philippine Star. December 3, 2023. Retrieved December 23, 2023