About San Guillermo Parish Church
San Guillermo Parish Church in Cabambangan, Bacolor, Pampanga is a Roman Catholic heritage church famous for being half-buried by lahar from the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo. Originally founded by Augustinians in 1576 and rebuilt in 1886, the church was buried to half its 12-meter height in 1995. It remains an active parish and a distinctive historical landmark illustrating the lahar disaster's impact on Bacolor, the former provincial capital.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect to see a historic stone and brick church whose lower half remains buried in lahar, with the original facade now appearing sunken and accessed by descending steps. Inside, the nave retains its ornate retablo, religious images, and restored interior below the current ground level. The surroundings include a small museum with photos and artifacts documenting the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption and lahar burial, an open courtyard, and views of the elevated ground level created by the lahar deposits.
Key highlights
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Half-buried facade and interior buried to about 6 meters by lahar from Mount Pinatubo eruption
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Original 1886 Baroque-style architecture with sunken entrance and windows
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Ornate main retablo and religious statuary inside the restored nave
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On-site museum and photo exhibits documenting the 1991 eruption and Bacolor history