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GAPAN CHURCH

Photo from: https://nationaltravelers17.wordpress.com/2017/10/22/three-kings-parish-national-shrinegapan-citynueva-ecija/

The biggest and oldest church in Nueva Ecija is that of the Parish of the Three Kings in Gapan City.

Built in the 1800’s by Augustinian friars with Gapanense forced labor, the brick church has withstood natural and man-made calamities including the 1896 Philippine Revolution, World War II and the Great 1990 Earthquake.

The Gapan church is a pilgrimage site for two miraculous patron saints — the Three Kings whose feast day continues to be celebrated ever January 6, and the Divina Pastora every May 1.The Gapan church has been declared the National Shrine of the Divina Pastora. Read More: http://monvalmonte.com/nuevaecijajournal/gapanchurch/index.html

Photo from: https://www.lakadpilipinas.com/2015/07/gapan-ancestral-houses-church.html

The Parish of Three Kings was built in the 1800s by the Augustinian Friars under forced labor, said to have withstood major natural and man-made calamities including the 1896 Philippine revolution, World War II and the 1990 earthquake. For a few minutes, we were at the church marveling at its façade and interiors. A mass was about to start during that time.
The church’ façade include a belfry with four huge bells casted as early as the 1800s summoning its patrons from a distance. The church was indeed familiar as I recall a Filipino top-grossing horror film engaging the church and belfry in an important scene. The movie centers on a Filipino superstitious belief regarding marriage. The Taong-Putik Festival, an important festival in Nueva Ecija was likewise featured in that film. We came a week earlier for the festival. We have always planned to attend the same but to no avail due to work commitments. Read More: https://www.lakwatserongtsinelas.com/2015/07/ancestral-houses-of-gapan-city.html

Photo from: http://thecoolimages.net/divina+pastora+church+gapan

The church of Gapan is made of bricks, adobe and lime. The architecture is Byzantine and was constructed under the successive direction and supervision of Father Loredo, Conejo and Llaneza for a period of about sixteen years that is 1856-1872. Like most of gigantic building done during the Spanish regime, the church was built trough through forced labor. The materials used were taken from Laryuhan in Barrio San Vicente and from Barrio San Lorenzo near Pambuan to bring the material to the site of the church, laborers had to line themselves straight between the source of materials and site of construction and had to pass the bricks from one hand to another. Records show that since 1740, Gapan has “Cura Parrocos” beginning with father Francisco Medalla. Hence it is also right to assess that the Catholic Church of Gapan is now over two centuries old. Read More: http://wikimapia.org/5875506/National-Shrine-of-Virgen-La-Divina-Pastora-Three-Kings-Parish-Church

Photo from: http://monvalmonte.com/nuevaecijajournal/04302014.html