Lazi Church
Roman Catholic church in Siquijor, Philippines
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
San Isidro Labrador Parish Church, commonly known as Lazi Church, is a Roman Catholic church in the municipality of Lazi, Siquijor, Philippines within the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Dumaguete. It became an independent parish in 1857 under the advocacy of Saint Isidore the Laborer.
| Lazi Church | |
|---|---|
| San Isidro Labrador Parish Church | |
Lazi Church in August 2025 | |
.svg)  Lazi Church Location in the Visayas .svg) Lazi Church Location in the Philippines | |
| 9°07′40″N 123°38′02″E | |
| Location | Lazi, Siquijor |
| Country | Philippines |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | August 8, 1857 |
| Dedication | Isidore the Laborer |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | National Cultural Treasure |
| Architectural type | Church building |
| Style | Neoclassical |
| Completed | 1884 |
| Specifications | |
| Number of towers | 1 |
| Materials | Stone, coral |
| Administration | |
| Metropolis | Cebu |
| Diocese | Dumaguete |
| Deanery | Vicariate of St. Paul |
The church, also known for its huge convent, was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines. It is also nominated for the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List since 2006 under the collective group of Baroque Churches of the Philippines (Extension) together with the churches of Boljoon, Guiuan, Loboc and Tumauini. In 2014, the government announced its plan to nominate Lazi Church in the World Heritage List. It conducted a dossier training for Lazi representatives; once the dossiers are completed, the long process of nomination will commence in Paris.
History
Lazi (formerly Tigbawan) became an independent parish from Siquijor on August 8, 1857. The present stone church was built in 1884 by Filipino artisans followed by the bell tower in the following year.[1] The construction of the convent was made with coral stones and hardwood, commenced in 1887 and completed in 1891. Both the church and the convent were done under the direction of Recollect priest Father Toribio Sánchez.[2]
Architecture
The church is built of sea stones and wood.[1] It belongs to the neoclassical style. It has two pulpits and has retained its original retablo and wood floorings.[3]
Church nave in 2025
Convent
The U-shaped Bahay na bato convent is one of the largest convents built during the Spanish colonial era.[1][2] On its first floor are stonewalls while wood panels can be found on the second floor.[3] Its dimension is 42 metres (138 ft) by 38 metres (125 ft).[1] It is funded by donations from parishes and missions of the Recollects.[2] Partitions of the convent were removed but the original structure was maintained. It now houses the Siquijor Heritage Museum which has collections of important church relics and paraphernalia.[4]
- Lazi Convent
Convent exterior
Convent exterior, after repair September 2019
Convent interior
Historical and cultural declarations
Lazi Church was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines in 2001.[5] It was also declared a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines in 1984.[6] It is also nominated to be part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Philippines under the Baroque Churches of the Philippines (Extension) with the churches of Patrocinio de María in Boljoon, Cebu; La Inmaculada Concepción in Guiuan, Eastern Samar; San Pedro Ápostol in Loboc, Bohol and San Mattias in Tumauini, Isabela.[3]
