A pilgrimage to Liliw’s red brick church

Sitting on top of a hill, the St. John the Baptist Parish Church has a facade made with red bricks that exudes an air of antiquity and character.

It is one of the rarest and well-preserved red brick churches in the Philippines.

According to the historical plate at the entrance of the church, the original structure was built in 1606. Back then, the ecclesiastical administration of the town was still called Lilio and was part of nearby Nagcarlan, another town in Laguna.

The original church and convent was seriously damaged by an earthquake in 1880. The reconstructed red brick church and convent were also partly burned in 1898.

The church is surrounded by life-sized images of saints. Since the church is on top of a hill, there are no electric wires or structures that block your view of the facade.

To add variety in taking photos of the Liliw church, make sure to use your zoom lens to capture the growing lichens on the church's belfry or the character of aged red bricks that gives the church its distinct orange to rosy color. The presence of lichens on the walls of the church means the air in Liliw is free from pollution.

As soon as you enter the church, you'll notice the raised pulpit, where Spanish friars used to say, nay, shout, their sermons to Filipino churchgoers, as described in Jose Rizal's "Noli Me Tangere." This is also believed to be the inspiration for today's raised altar platforms where the bishops, priests and knights of the altar stay during mass.

Another reminder of the church's age is the set of old framed paintings of the Stations of the Cross which local parishioners have preserved until today. The faded paintings complement the red-brick walls of the church and gives it added character.

Perhaps the only recent fixture inside the church is the main altar that houses 12 images of saints and Jesus Christ in the middle; on each side are mini-altars that have four more images of saints including San Lorenzo Ruiz. All in all, there's a total of 21 altar images.

Old provincial churches are known to have small altars situated outside the church. At Liliw's own parish, one could see the authentic relic of St. Bonaventure as certified by the Franciscan Province of San Pedro Buenavista.

If only the red brick walls could speak, they would serve as the best witness to the simple life of the Liliw natives. How, despite the modern times, they remain steadfast in their religious devotion and never fail to offer a prayer of thanks for good health and a bountiful harvest.

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