San Lorenzo Church a.k.a. St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish

Photo from: http://www.pinasmuna.com/2015/02/visita-iglesia-in-albay.html

One of the interesting Roman Catholic churches to visit in Tiwi, Albay is the church of St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish located at Sitio Basag, Barangay Tigbi. It was formerly known as the century-old Tigbi Parish Church.

St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish Church, also called as San Lorenzo Church, faces the municipal hall of Tiwi, Albay. As what its name suggested, the church was established in honor of the patron of the poor and one of the most widely valued saints of the Catholic Church, the Spanish martyr St. Lawrence.

The feast day of St. Lawrence the Martyr is celebrated every 10^th of August wherein rites in honor of the patron are held by the locals of Tigbi, as well as by the town of Tiwi. The same patron is also honoured on the same feast day by the people in Balangiga, Samar and Bangui, Ilocos Norte. Read More:http://leeaboutourdoors.blogspot.com/2013/06/st-lawrence-martyr-parish-church-tiwi.html

It's More Fun in the Philippines, No.1 for Fun!

Photo from: http://pinoychurches.blogspot.com/2011/12/san-lorenzo-parish-church-tiwi-albay.html

Many Catholics in Metro Manila usually visit the provinces of Batangas, Laguna, Quezon and Rizal for their annual Visita Iglesia tradition. Some would even go on a Visita Iglesia in Ilocos to visit old churches in Vigan and Laoag, as well as the UNESCO inscribed Baroque churches in Paoay and Santa Maria. This year, make your Visita Iglesia 2015 a bit different by visiting old churches in Bicol in the southern part of Luzon. The province of Albay offers a great Visita Iglesia experience because the churches are centuries-old, adjacent to one another and welcome the faithful any time of the day!

Start the church pilgrimage at the northern tip of the province of Albay. The present-day church of the municipality of Tiwi is an old structure built in 1829, rebuilt and fortified in the succeeding years by the parish priests and townsfolks. Christianity was established in the town in 1658 and was formally under the Diocese of Nueva Caceres in 1696. It is dedicated to St. Lawrence and is the center of religious and cultural functions of the town. Getting to Tiwi takes about an hour and a half van ride from Legazpi City Central Terminal. Alternatively, a great way of completing the seven churches is hiring a vehicle to ferry you from one site to another. That saves you time and allows you to focus on the Visita Iglesia. Read More: https://www.pinasmuna.com/2015/02/visita-iglesia-in-albay.html

SAN LORENZO CHURCH

Photo from: https://www.turkeytotravel.com/visita-iglesia-in-albay-philippines-7-church-in-7-days-itinerary/

The exterior of the Tiwi Church was very-well preserved until recently. The present municipal building built in 1919 had already been renovated by Mayor Naomi Corral in 1990. And now the church.

It was currently undergoing “uglification” when the HCS visited in June. The adobe facade was being plastered with a layer of cement (see the belfry at the top of the facade) with accompanying fake lines. An oversized portico in front of the church was also being constructed, one which would completely ruin the facade. This despite the fact that the Bicol Heritage Program at Aquinas University had already talked to the bishop who agreed that no more old churches would be defaced. Construction was already halted a month before but the parish priest was just too stubborn. Read more: https://heritagesentinel.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/church-of-san-lorenzo-tiwi-albay/

Photo from: http://mapio.net/pic/p-107395539/