Panglao Church and Watchtower

Panglao Church and Watchtower is a historic Spanish-era complex in Poblacion, Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines. Centered on the St. Augustine Parish Church, originally established by Jesuits and completed by Augustinian Recollects in the 19th century, it features coral stone walls, trompe-l'oeil ceiling murals, and a separate five-storey hexagonal watchtower built in 1851 for coastal defense. The complex is a declared Important Cultural Property and remains an active parish and heritage landmark.

Visitors can expect a coral-stone church with a simple neoclassical facade, twin bell towers, and an interior with painted ceiling murals and wooden altar. The church plaza is open and paved, with the freestanding hexagonal watchtower located a short walk behind the church near the sea. The site is an active parish, so visitors can view the nave, courtyard, and exterior of the watchtower, take photos, and observe religious and heritage elements in a quiet town setting.

The parish was established by Jesuits in 1782 and later administered by Augustinian Recollects. The present coral-stone church was constructed in the late 19th century, with completion around 1894. The freestanding hexagonal watchtower was built in 1851 as part of the Spanish coastal defense system against pirate raids. The complex survived World War II and the 2013 Bohol earthquake, after which it was restored.

The church remains the center of Roman Catholic religious life in Panglao and is an important example of Spanish colonial ecclesiastical architecture in Bohol using coral stone. Its ceiling murals and watchtower illustrate the fusion of religious and defensive functions during the Spanish period. It is recognized as an Important Cultural Property and is a key heritage stop on Panglao Island cultural tours.