We arrived at Pagbilao town by noon time and, as it was now lunch time, I parked the Toyota Revo at the compound of the town’s Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria.  A number of eateries were located around the compound.

Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria

The church interior

The church was first built in bamboo and nipa in 1688 by Fr. Cristobal Mortanchez, In 1730, the church was transferred to its present site by Fr. Francisco Xavier de Toledo.  In 1845, it was rebuilt in stone by Fr. Victorino Peralija and was completed, together with the belltower and convent, by Fr. Eugenio Gomez.

Plaque detailing the history of the church

The 3-storey bell tower

However, the church and convent were heavily damaged by American bombing during the liberation in 1945, leaving only the 3-storey, hexagonal bell tower intact.  It was rebuilt in 1954 by Fr. Vicente Urlanda.  Beside the church is the 2-storey Casa del Niño Jesus de Pagbilao, a private Catholic school.

Jandy, the author and Maricar at the bell tower

View of town from the top of the bell tower

Jandy, Maricar, Violet and I were in luck as we were able to go up the bell tower, the only part of the church that wasn’t damaged by American bombing.  At the left side of the church, we went up the stairs up the choir loft.  From there, we crossed over to the right of the loft then went up the tower via a very narrow and steep wooden stairs .  The tower had three bells, one them dated 1890.  Here, we had a good panoramic view of the town.