About San Isidro Labrador Church
San Isidro Labrador Church, commonly known as Lazi Church, is a 19th-century Roman Catholic parish church in Lazi, Siquijor, Philippines. Completed in 1884-1891 by Augustinian Recollects using coral stone and hardwood, it is noted for its neoclassical facade, wooden interior, and adjacent convent, one of the largest in the Philippines. Declared a National Cultural Treasure and Important Cultural Property, it remains an active parish and major heritage attraction on Siquijor Island.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a large coral-stone neoclassical church with a simple facade, twin bell towers, wooden floors and altar, and religious statuary. The church stands across from the Lazi Convent, a massive two-storey coral-stone and hardwood structure with wide balconies. The complex is set in the town center of Lazi, surrounded by a plaza and school buildings. Visitors can explore the church interior outside Mass hours, view the convent exterior and museum area, and take photographs of the historic architecture.
Key highlights
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National Cultural Treasure and Important Cultural Property designation
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Built 1884-1891 by Augustinian Recollects using coral stone blocks and native hardwood
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Neoclassical facade with twin bell towers and wooden interior
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Adjacent Lazi Convent, one of the largest and oldest convents in the Philippines
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Active parish church dedicated to Saint Isidore the Laborer (San Isidro Labrador)
History of San Isidro Labrador Church
Constructed between 1884 and 1891 under Augustinian Recollect priest Father Toribio Sanchez, with assistance from Filipino craftsmen, using coral stones, hardwood and lime mortar. The adjacent convent was completed in 1891. The church and convent were declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines and recognized as an Important Cultural Property by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, representing Spanish colonial ecclesiastical architecture in the Visayas.
Culture & Context
Serves as the parish church of Lazi dedicated to San Isidro Labrador, patron saint of farmers, and remains the center of Catholic religious life in the municipality. It is a prominent example of Spanish-era religious heritage in Siquijor and a key stop on the island's heritage and faith tourism circuit, valued for its preserved architecture and continuing community use.