Laoag Cathedral
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The seat of the Diocese of Laoag, built in 1612 by Augustinian friars in place of a wooden chapel. The design is Italian Renaissance and the front is unusual: two storeys, with two pairs of columns on each side of the arched entrance. A recessed niche at the top holds the image of the city's patron saint, William of Maleval. The windows are capiz with wrought iron screens, and inside there is a large main retablo with a smaller one on each side.
The bell tower is the better known part. It sinks into the ground year by year, and it has come through several small earthquakes, so scholars call it an Earthquake Baroque structure. It rests on a foundation of 90 metres and is built of local bricks joined with molasses and the juice of sablot leaves, mixed with lime and sand. A winding stairway leads up to the belfry.
- Town
- Laoag City
Written by an editor · 22 Sep 2026 · source: Wikipedia, Laoag Cathedral