San Guillermo de Aquitania Church is a historic Baroque Roman Catholic church, a National Historical Landmark, a National Cultural Treasure and one of the remaining examples of Spanish colonial era “church-fortress complex” located in the town of Dalaguete in the province of Cebu, Philippines. It is also known as Dalaguete Church.
Table of Contents
History
Dalaguete Church was was one of the member-churches of the parish of Carcar in 1690. In 1711, it was established as a parish and it was also the same year the town was officially organized.
It was constructed beginning in 1802 and completed in 1825. One of its important features is its painted vaulted ceiling done by artists Canuto and his sons in 1935. The National Historical Institute declared the church as a National Historical Landmark in 2004.
San Guillermo de Aquitania Church sustained considerable damages in the aftermath of an earthquake on October 15, 2013. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) undertook the funding and the restoration project. It was reported that the United States government would help in the funding for the said project.
Heritage
The National Historical Institute (NHI) installed a historical marker on October 3, 2004 declaring the church as a National Historical Landmark.
The National Museum of the Philippines declared Dalaguete Church as a National Cultural Treasure according to a news report in 2023.
Architecture
The church’s facade is sparsely and tastefully ornamented with decorative motifs. Four pilasters segment the facade into three vertical panels and two stone cornice moldings divide it into three horizontal levels. Pilasters are highly embellished, erupting into rows of foliated high reliefs. In the ground level, plinths contain rectangular frames with low reliefs of rhomboids while above them is a flora and vase. The capitals of two innermost pilasters that are flanking the entrance door have high relief of a winged bust of angels.
The flock can access the interiors through its main arched doorway. Its keystone bears a high relief and above it is the coat of arms of the Spanish monarchy. The panels flanking it bear ornate niches of holy figures. NHI’s historical marker can be found in an eye-level position in the gospel side. Its upper register has the elaborate niche of the patron flanked by arch windows.
The pediment is for the most part an undecorated surface, except for the aforementioned pilasters, a rose window, and an imposing, elaborate cartouche. Finials can be found in either flanks on the gable and at the center is an acroterium with stepped spire, wind vane, and a cross.
Its bell tower is connected to the church through the room for bell tollers in the gospel side. It is octagonal in shape, its base can be seen to have a door facing the pavement. It has a narrow balcony on top with balustrade. Its second level has pilasters and blind and open arched windows paired with balustrade on alternating sides. Its third level is pierced with arch windows decorated with balustrades and has a clock that no longer works. The bell tower is capped with a red dome with balustrade and a cupola.
Celebration
The feast of Saint William of Aquitaine is held every February 10 that the town celebrates in Utanon Festival.
Services
Baptism is held after 9:00 morning mass every Sunday.
The parish office is open from 8:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the afternoon every day except on Mondays.
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of San Guillermo de Aquitania Church in Dalaguete, Cebu from May 12, 2025 to May 18, 2025. Please reach out to the church for an updated schedule. Additionally, you may also want to view mass schedules of churches in Dalaguete.
Monday
- 5:30-6:30 AM
- 4:00-5:00 PM (Cemetery)
Tuesday
- 5:30-6:30 AM
Wednesday
- 5:30-6:30 AM
- 5:30-6:30 PM (Excluding Novenary Mass)
Thursday
- 5:30-6:30 AM
Friday
- 5:30-6:30 AM
- 5:30-6:30 PM (Excluding Novenary Mass)
Saturday
- 5:30-6:30 AM
- 5:00-6:00 PM (Anticipated Mass)
Sunday
- 6:00-7:00 AM
- 9:00-10:00 AM
- 1:00-2:00 PM
- 2:30-3:30 PM
- 4:30-5:30 PM
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | San Guillermo de Aquitania Church in Dalaguete, Cebu |
| Other Names | Dalaguete Church |
| Address | Poblacion, Dalaguete, Cebu 6022 |
| Country | Philippines |
| Contact | 0966 520 4990 |
| sanguillermodeaquitania1711@gmail.com | |
| web.facebook.com | |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Established | 1711 |
| Age | 314 years |
| Status | Parish |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu |
| District | District III – Southeast Cebu |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of San Guillermo de Aquitania |
| Patron | Saint William of Aquitaine |
| Feast day | February 10 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage | National Historical Landmark, National Cultural Treasures |
| Completed | 1825 |
| Age since completed | 200 years |
| Style | Baroque |
Nearby Churches
- Our Lady of the Consolation Parish Church in Manlapay, Dalaguete, Cebu
- San Isidro Labrador Church, Nug-as, Alcoy, Cebu
- San Isidro Labrador Parish Church in Mantalongon, Dalaguete, Cebu
- Santa Rosa de Lima Church in Alcoy, Cebu
- Sta. Monica Church in Cawayan, Dalaguete, Cebu
References
- Dalaguete Church. Filipinas Heritage Library. Retrieved June 30, 2022
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu. Retrieved June 30, 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.
- Elizaga, Troy. The Formation of Towns and Parishes in Cebu, Philippines. Retrieved via Academia on June 30, 2022
- US to help restore Dalaguete church. Philippine Daily Inquirer. May 16, 2014. Retrieved June 30, 2022
- Savillo, Dianne Zarina G. (April 10, 2020). Of Semana Santa and churches in southern Cebu. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 30, 2022
- Simbahan ng San Guillermo de Aquitania (Dalaguete Church). National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Retrieved June 30, 2022
- Ben Cyrus G. Ellorin, Joy Cherry Quito, Victor Anthony V. Silva (October 24, 2013). 3 churches damaged, pattern of Bohol aftershocks point south. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 30, 2022
- Vegetable basket holds fest. Sunstar. February 14, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2022
- Paul Gerschwiler and Florencio Moreño II (October 27, 2013) Team checks quake damage to churches. The Freeman. Retrieved June 30, 2022
- Rehab on Cebu pre-colonial church near completion. Sunstar. March 14, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2022
- Caescent No-ot Magsumbol. Cultural treasure markers for three churches pending. The Philippine Star. December 3, 2023. Retrieved December 23, 2023