Santa Barbara Church
| Santa Barbara Church | |
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| Santa Barbara Parish Church and Convent Iglesia y Convento de Santa Bárbara |
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 Santa Barbara Church
Republic of the Philippines
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| 10°49′40″N 122°31′55″E / 10.827678°N 122.532075°ECoordinates: 10°49′40″N 122°31′55″E / 10.827678°N 122.532075°E | |
| Location | Santa Barbara, Iloilo |
| Country | Philippines |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Founded | 1760 |
| Founder(s) | Fr. Juan Ferrer |
| Dedication | St. Barbara |
| Events | First Cry of Revolution against Spain outside Luzon |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Functional status | Under restoration |
| Heritage designation | National Historical Landmark |
| Designated | 1991 |
| Architectural type | Church building |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Bricks |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Jaro |
| Province | Jaro |
| Clergy | |
| Archbishop | Angel Lagdameo |
The Santa Barbara Parish Church and Convent (Spanish: Iglesia y Convento de Santa Bárbara), also called as Santa Barbara Church, is located in the municipality of Santa Barbara, Iloilo, Philippines under the Archdiocese of Jaro. The church is considered to be the "Cradle of Independence" in Panay and in the Visayas
In 1760, the settlement near Tigum and Aganan rivers became a pueblo and the church became an independent parish. Saint Barbara was assigned to be the symbol of the parish which was headed by then-parish priest Father Juan Ferrer. The construction of Augustinian church which will last up to the present day began when Father Francisco Aguerria arrived in 1845. Construction of road networks that will connect the parish to Cabatuan, Maasin, Janiuay, Leon, and Alimodian also started at the same time.
The funds for the church construction would be sourced out from the taxes of the parishioners that costs between 8 and 12 reales (between ₱1.00 and ₱1.50). Rich people can have their way out of slavery by paying a bigger amount to the Spanish occupiers.
Under the laws of Repartamiento, males over 16 years of age shall have forced labors for 40 days doing works on Spanish-owned farms and public works. This slavery was seen through most religious construction projects and the Santa Barbara Church was no exception. This workforce came from distant towns to contribute to the project. Sketches of the plans and design of the church were drawn on the walls and columns of the church which was believed to not possess any formal plans for its buildability.
Workers labored over both the quarried stones and mulawon and mangle wood-types that both came from the municipalities of Leon, Alimodian and Tubungan.
In 1991, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines declared Santa Barbara Church and Convent as a National Landmark. The church was the site where General Martin Delgado of the Visayan Revolutionary Government started the junta that resulted to the first Cry of Revolution against the Spaniards outside Luzon. It was also used as the general headquarters and military hospital of the revolutionary forces.
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Wikipedia