The Sunken Church of Pampanga

Old parish churches are among my favorite subjects to photograph, not just for their intricate architecture and artistic details, like statues and murals, but also for the rich history they carry, often stretching back centuries.

These churches in the province of Pampanga in Central Luzon are probably two of the most interesting parishes I've visited in the Philippines.

San Guillermo is one of the oldest parishes established by the Augustinian Friars in 1576. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 1890 and rebuilt six years later. The richness of the design was influenced by the baroque era, which included details such as the pulpit heavily gilded in gold leaf. Most interestingly, the church is half-buried in the ground. When Mt. Pinatubo erupted in October 1991, it buried the 12-meter tall structure by half with lahar (muddy ash). Today, despite its low ceiling, the parish is still a place for worship. I even witnessed preparations for a wedding ceremony.

For some reason, Filipino catholic devotees have a special affinity to statues depicting the un-risen Christ.

It's dark because half the church was buried in Lahar (volcanic ash). The windows are underground.

The "Sunken" Church

The inside of the steeple isn't as high anymore. The room is also blanketed with bats.

Fort-like structure can be seen from behind the main church bldg.

The only church that's eerily dark during the day!

Sacred Heart of Jesus is a popular statue depicting jesus with his heart outside his chest with rays of light and what looks like a barb wire across the center.