7 Beautiful Churches to Visit in Bataan, Philippines

Exploring a place through a spiritual pilgrimage offers a deeper connection to its history and culture, and Bataan is a perfect example with its remarkable collection of centuries-old churches scattered across its towns. These churches are not only places of worship but also living testaments to Spanish influence, each with its own story etched in stone and tradition. More than a decade ago, my mom and I set out on a journey to visit seven of them, and the experience left an impression that still feels relevant today. Let me take you back to that pilgrimage and share the beauty and meaning we discovered in these seven churches of Bataan.

Pilgrimage as a way to hit two birds with one stone: travel and spiritual rest

What's good about going into a pilgrimage, albeit a short one, is that it doubles as a spiritual journey and a vacation. The only downside of it is that it can be tiring as you move from one place to the next, but at least you get to see more things in a relatively shorter span of time.

Why Bataan?

When we speak of pilgrimage and churches here in the Philippines, what often comes into the mind is Bataan. This is usually because of the following:

• Rich history of the province - every church in Bataan carries with it a rich and interesting history of the church, which also reveals some interesting stories about the origin of the province and/or the town where the church is. 
• Beautiful and magnificent churches - the churches in Bataan are very special because of how the history molded and influenced the churches themselves. Some of the churches weathered natural disasters, while a few others crumbled apart and needed to be rebuilt which added more depth to its significance. All of these churches have their own charm; each will have a different characteristic than the other.
• Nature seeing and nature immersion - Bataan has a very serene environment with friendly locals! You'll be able to enjoy the freshness of the air and the grandeur of nature.

The 7 Churches to Visit in Bataan

Let me go ahead and share with you the seven (7) churches we visited as part of the organized pilgrimage we engaged in.

1. St. Peter of Verona in Hermosa

The first stop for our Bataan Pilgrimage was St. Peter of Verona Church, and I must admit that this is one of the three churches I really adored so much, especially with its magnificent architecture and structure. What makes it even more remarkable is that this Baroque-style church, completed in 1717, has been recognized as a National Historical Landmark since 1939.

2. Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church (Orani)

Just like the first church, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary also has an amazing structure that deserves to be awed upon. Another great thing about this place is the presence of an in-house museum where you'll find numerous dresses of the Virgin Mary image statue. In fact, this church was declared a Minor Basilica and Pilgrim Shrine in 2004, and its Museo ni Maria is the only Marian museum in Bataan, making it a special treasure for devotees and visitors alike.

3. St. Joseph Cathedral in Balanga

St. Joseph Church was constructed somewhere in the 1700s, and hence it stood as witness to all the historic events that occurred in the province.

Aside from this, the church is coincidentally located in the heart of Balanga where the landscape and building designs were patterned in Europe. What struck me most is how this cathedral became the seat of the Diocese of Balanga in 1975, and during World War II, it was even used by Japanese forces as an artillery emplacement.

4. Our Lady of Pillar Church (Pilar)

Our Lady of Pillar Church somehow resembles both the structure and interior of the Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz or more commonly known as the Binondo Church. Built in 1834 with adobe stone walls and pilasters, it carries a strong Hispanic devotion, as the town itself was named after Nuestra Señora del Pilar, the patroness of Spain.

5. St. Michael the Archangel Church (Orion)

With its pinkish tones, the St. Michael the Archangel Church surely looks adorable! Interestingly, one of the reasons why I was drawn to the structure was how it resembles that of the same church (of the same name) in Marilao, Bulacan.

However, there's something more interesting to look for here in this church, and that would be the interior (more particularly the painting on the ceiling). Founded in 1667, it is one of the oldest churches in Bataan, and those ceiling paintings depicting biblical scenes make the experience of visiting it even more captivating.

6. St. Dominic Parish in Abucay

The Church of Abucay was established somewhere near the 1600s, and similar to St. Joseph Church, St. Dominic weathered several figurative and literal storms already. You will be amazed how they were able to preserve the beauty of the church. What makes it doubly interesting is that allegedly this was the site of the 1647 battle between Dutch invaders and Pampango defenders. It's also claimed to host one of the earliest printing presses in the Philippines.

7. St. Catherine of Sienna Church (Samal)

This last stop is a humble church that has no outward physical elegance to show but has beauty deep within, and it goes by the name St. Catherine of Sienna Church. Two things I loved here are "simplicity" and "serenity" — indeed a great place to reflect in! Built in 1596, it is the second-oldest church in Bataan, and it houses two ancient images of St. Catherine of Siena, one believed to be over 400 years old, quietly preserved and still drawing pilgrims to this day.

In a nutshell

Looking back, our pilgrimage through Bataan's seven historic churches was more than just a journey across town. It allowed me to appreciate how deeply-rooted history is with our architectural landmarks such as these churches. I feel very grateful for having the opportunity to embark on this pilgrimage.