3. Santo Tomas de Villanueva Parish

Santo Tomas de Villanueva Parish

 Archdiocese of Cebu

Santo Tomas de Villanueva Parish was formerly a visita (a satellite community dependent on the central religious house or parish) of San Nicolás [present-day Barangay San Nicolas Proper]. On April 10, 1866, the place was officially separated and became an independent parish, and appointed Father Meliton Talegon as the first curate. The parish is under the advocacy of Santo Tomás de Villanueva, a Spanish Augustinian monsignor.

The fortress-like façade of Pardo church built was built between 1880-93. The town was created by a government decree of 10 March 1863. It became an independent parish, through a diocesan decree of 10 April 1866, after being a visita of San Nicolas. Fr. Domingo Sanchez built a temporary structure while the church was still under San Nicolas. In 1866, Fr. Meliton Talegon was named parish priest and on 16 September 1877 reports to the provincial that a church of tabique pampango and nipa, built ten years previous is in ruinous condition. A document from that same year presents the project proposal of Domingo de Escondrillas, the district engineer of Cebu. Escondrillas is credited with designing other churches, notably Loon in Bohol. He proposed a church in the Latin-Byzantine Order as there was no such church in that style in the district. Bureaucratic red tape prevented securing permits to build, meanwhile, the ruinous church was destroyed by an earthquake on 25 November 1877. Fr. Manuel Ibeas began construction following Escondrillas’ plans.

Heritage Features: A massive bell tower forms the central part of the façade. Rising to five stories and terminating in a pinnacle, the tower’s quadrilateral plan is modified by a grouping of pilasters from the first to the third story and the truncated corners of the last two floors. Decorating the second story is a rose window with a triangle and Divine eye embellishing it. Arches blind and open decorate the upper registers and on the fourth level occuli flanked by Tuscan columns decorate the arch. The rest of the façade is recessed and flanked by round towers, capped by low domes. Above the façade runs a balcony pierced by arches. (Panublion)

Saint Thomas de Villanueva

The image of Santo Tomas de Villanueva, giving alms to the poor. He was a known ascetic, preacher, and writer of the Augustinian friars.

The Santo Tomas de Villanueva Church in Pardo, Cebu City was formally established as a parish in April 14, 1866. Its design was considered to be different from other old churches in Cebu because of its Byzantine influence.

The present church structure was first constructed with light materials in 1866 under the supervision of Fr. Domingo Sanchez but was later ruined by a typhoon in 1877. A new stone church was later planned by Architect Domingo de Escondrillas. It was constructed using strong materials in 1880 under the supervision of Fr. Manuel Ibeas and was completed 13 years later.