nothing but a facade
Went to all churches in Isabela on a recent tour. I could say all of the churches were interesting. But one stood out.
San Pablo is a second class municipality 21 kilometers south of Tuguegarao via the Maharlika Highway. Travel time is 26 minutes.
This church is the oldest in Isabela and stands out because the whole facade and the belltower, the tallest in the whole Cgayan Valley, are what really remain of what was probably one of the biggest churches in the region. Behind the facade, and actually way behind is a re-built church that still uses the walls of the old church. To think that between the old facade and the new church is a wide area that looks like a patio. Then one would know that the whole church then included the re-built church and this wide front space !
the rebuilt church behind the facade. Note the huge front yard, part of the original church
inside the rebuilt church. Note that walls are those of the original structure, and these walls flow into the empty space in front
the walls from inside the rebuilt church continue into this, now the facade of the smaller rebuilt church. One concludes this space was part of the original structure
the stairway to the bell tower
HOW MUST IT HAVE LOOKED THEN?
In front of the facade is what one will conclude to be the original church frontyard. It is marvelous and eerie at the same time.
When other photographers finally find this church, they will agree – – it is the most photographable church in Isabela.
the oldest, and most photographable
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LAKWATSA 