Trip to Ilocos- Sta. Monica Church in Sarrat

Not far from the city of Laoag is an eloquent Sta. Monica Church in Sarrat, the birthplace of the late President Ferdinand Marcos. This church was built in 1779 and said to have the most impressive wood trusses in the Philippines. And it is still 75% original Molave wood since it was built.

facade of St. Monica church (Sarrat, Ilocos Norte)

spanish signage

tablet

The extravagant wedding of Gregorio Araneta and Irene Marcos, the daughter of Pres. Marcos was held in this church last June 1983. It is said that the cost of the wedding was almost 40,000,000php. The side of the roads leading to the church was covered with bricks then for the visitors not to see the houses going to the church. And a lot of Bougainvillea were planted which until now some of them are still there. Even some of the people from Sarrat were sent to Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) to get them dressed for the occasion. The visitors were all VIPs coming from other parts of the world. But then 2 months after, a 7 magnitude earthquake happened and the Marcoses took it as a bad omen for the family.

brick staircase connect church and convent

made with a bricks (tisa)

Located at the side of the church is the Museo Diocesano, Casa Del Palacio Real and the whisper wall which if you whisper from the wall, you can be heard to the other side. There is also a dungeon but then it was not open to public because it signifies bad tourism. 

 bell tower (campanario)

Rich history of this church and happenings are yet to be discovered by and by as you visit it. The bricks were stunning that until now they are still sturdy.