Long before the island exploded across social media for its mystical “Fairy Walk” and death-defying cliff dives, Siquijor was where travelers from neighboring provinces went for some serious downtime. Roughly the size of Samal, the island has always kept its coves and lagoons just a scenic motorcycle ride away.
But among its many coastal treasures, one inland destination demands a quiet pause: the San Isidro Labrador Parish Church and Convent in Lazi. Stepping onto its grounds always brings a profound sense of peace—like walking directly into the layered, sometimes heavy remnants of our colonial past.
Established as an independent parish on August 8, 1857, under the Augustinian Recollect missionaries, Lazi’s spiritual foundations run deeper than its stone walls. Our guide, Denis, shared an intriguing piece of institutional memory: the parish was actually administered by secular, diocesan priests before the Recollects took over. However, it was under the direction of a Recollect friar, Fr. Toribio Sánchez, that the grand structures we see today began to take shape.
What stands now is a monument to the sweat and skill of late 19th-century Filipino artisans. Completed in 1884, with its companion bell tower rising a year later, the church is a breathtaking example of neoclassical architecture. It feels deeply rooted in the island because it is literally made of it—built from massive coral stones hauled and quarried from Siquijor’s surrounding reefs, and reinforced with the enduring strength of native molave hardwood that once abounded in the area.
Inside the church, the preservation of its original elements is remarkable. The original wood flooring still creaks softly underfoot, leading the eyes toward the twin pulpits and the weathered dignity of the original retablo (altar centerpiece). Across the street sits its sprawling convent—one of the largest in Asia—which remains functional to this day, its second floor still safekeeping centuries-old Church artifacts.
History has rightfully taken notice of this heritage. The complex was declared a National Historical Landmark in 1984, followed by its designation as a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines in 2001. Since 2006, it has rested on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List as part of the “Baroque Churches of the Philippines (Extension)” collective, alongside the equally storied parishes of Boljoon, Guiuan, Loboc, and Tumauini.
Standing in the nave, watching the afternoon light filter through the old windows, you realize that Lazi is not only an architectural marvel but, like most old structures, bridges the past to help us better understand our identity. That matters.
