Bolinao a Paradise Place

Church of St. James Fortress | Bolinao, Pangasinan

A very memorable place for me in Bolinao, this church is extra old.. really, you can imagine the Maria Clara’s during the Spanish Era, praying inside the church, walking along the patio and wearing belos. Somewhat creepy but very nostalgic. I went there for the first time during the marketing period at AIE, I was with our Student Assitant Jocelyn, I asked her if we could go inside the church before we go, ‘coz I enjoy visiting old churches and I love studying those baroque structure, those little unexpected details in the architecture.

While inside the church, I remembered that it was my first time, and whether it’s just a pamahiin or not, I remembered to utter my wish (in the Philippines, it’s a belief that you could make a wish at your first visit at a particular church). So i made mine and up to know I believe it was granted… (my hunny… )

Church Of St. James Fortress

Bolinao Church was built by the Augustinians in 1609. It houses wooden statues nowadays a rarity. The antique altar is flanked by two grinning tongue-protruding Aztec visages presumably of Mexican influence and brought over by the Galleon Trade. Bolinao is 81.8 kilometers away from Lingayen and 275 kilometers away from Manila.

Little known Facts:

Do you know why most Catholic Churches have these extra pathways in front before entering the church front door?

It’s not because purely for parking purposes only (hehehe). It’s because according to a priest, the purpose is to give church goers extra time to reflect and prepare their selves, emotionally, spiritually and physically before meeting our Creator