St. Michael the Archangel Church is a Roman Catholic church located in Laoang, Northern Samar, Philippines.
Table of Contents
History
The old name of the town was Makarato. According to oral tradition, it was founded by three natives of Palapag in 1680 and its current name Laoang was taken from Lawang, the name of the island in the past.
Its church was founded by the Jesuits who first established their presence in Tinago (now Dapdap of Tarangnan) in 1596. They eventually spread out and reached Catubig in the same year. Due to lack of manpower, it was closed and revisited by the Jesuits in the next few years beginning in 1601.
Laoang was one of the missions in 1605 along with Rawis, Batag Island and Palapag. In 1616, the mission in Catubig was transferred to Palapag. Its oldest parochial record in Laoang bore the year 1733. A church might have existed around this time, allowing the people to receive the sacraments instead of traveling all the way to Palapag.
The Jesuits departed in 1768 upon the order of the Spanish monarchy, expelling them from the realm. Interestingly, this is also the year it became a parish, annexing the church in Pambujan as a visita. The Jesuits abandoned the churches in the Philippines including those located in Samar. In Laoang, the Franciscans took over the pastoral care with Fr. Antonio Toledo as the first priest from the said religious order.
By 1814, a defensive bastion was built spearheaded by the priest Fr. Jose Mata. The fortress was raised against assaults launched by the Moro pirates coming from the sea.
It is not certain when and who built the Spanish-era church, and what material it was made of. What is known is that it was damaged by earthquake that the Franciscans headed by Fr. Sebastian Almonacid carried out renovations in the years between 1842 and 1852. During the tenure of Fr. Angel Pulido beginning in 1855, a baptistry was added, blue tiles installed, altar refurnished and bell tower constructed.
By 1899, the church needed repairs. The bell tower was also repaired in 1926.
Architecture
The church as it stands today is a result of reconstructions in the intervening decades. Reinforced concrete can be seen along the nave walls, the facade, and belfry (gospel-side). The rectory is built next to the church in the epistle flank.
A portico can be found in the courtyard, and it is flanked by niches of two holy figures and paired pilasters with Ionic capitals. Above the arch entrance is the niche of the patron in between rectilinear apertures.
Meanwhile, the pediment blooms into intricate stone ornamentation (volutes, spires, and bas reliefs), adorning the niche of the Blessed Virgin.
Celebration
The feast day of St. Michael the Archangel is September 29 and the town celebrates the Lawag Festival.
Services
The parish office is open 8:00-11:30 AM and 2:00-4:30 PM Monday to Saturday
Mass schedule
Below is the weekly mass schedule of St. Michael the Archangel Church in Laoang, Northern Samar 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 Laoang.
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
- 5:30-6:30 AM
- 5:00-6:00 PM
Church information
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | St. Michael the Archangel Church in Laoang, Northern Samar |
| Address | Laoang, Northern Samar 6411 |
| Country | Philippines |
| web.facebook.com | |
| Religion | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Established | 1605 |
| Age | 420 years |
| Status | Parish |
| Declared as parish | 1768 |
| Age as parish | 257 years |
| Archdiocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Palo |
| Diocese | Diocese of Catarman |
| Vicariate | Vicariate of St. Michael the Archangel |
| Patron | St. Michael the Archangel |
| Feast day | September 29 |
Nearby Churches
- Holy Family Mission Center in Hibubullao, Catubig, Northern Samar
- Our Lady of the Angels Church in Mapanas, Northern Samar
- Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Palapag, Northern Samar
- Our Lady of the Nativity Church in Las Navas, Northern Samar
- Saint Roque the Healer Church in San Roque, Northern Samar
- St. Bonaventure Church in Lapinig, Northern Samar
- St. Isidore the Farmer Mission Center in Silvino Lobos, Northern Samar
- St. John the Baptist Church in Pambujan, Northern Samar
- St. Joseph Church in Catubig, Northern Samar
- St. Michael the Archangel Church in Gamay, Northern Samar
References
- Northern Samar. Heritage Sites of the Visayan Islands in the Philippines. Panublion. Retrieved June 2, 2024
- A SHORT HISTORY OF LAOANG PARISH By Msgr. Gaspar D. Balerite, H.P., S.Th.D. Laoang Tourism. March 15, 2021. Retrieved June 2, 2024