🕍 Bantay Church Ilocos Sur: History, Mass Schedule & Travel Tips

📍 Bantay, Ilocos Sur, Philippines
✝️ Established: 1590 | Reconstructed: 1950

✨ A Must-See Historic Church Near Vigan

Bantay Church, officially known as St. Augustine Parish Church, is a treasured historical and religious site in Ilocos Sur. Just a stone’s throw away from Vigan City, it’s often the first stop on the popular Calesa Tour — and for good reason.

📸 Photography Tip: Visit in the late afternoon for stunning light on the church’s Neo-Gothic and Romanesque façade. Expect crowds, though! For a quieter experience, try early morning.

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 🕊️ Home of the Miraculous Virgin — Apo Caridad

This church is also called the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity, which houses the miraculous image of Apo Caridad, the oldest Marian image in the Philippines and the patroness of Ilocos Sur.

🌾 Locals believe she protects crops and brings rain during droughts — and she’s even credited for preventing a WWII bomb from exploding inside the church, preserving the convent that houses her image.

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📖 A Church with Revolutionary Roots

Did you know? This church is said to be a key location during the uprisings led by Diego Silang, a Filipino revolutionary. It’s not just a place of faith — it’s a place of history.

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🕒 Mass Schedules (As of Writing)

• Daily Mass: 5:30 AM
• Saturday: 7:00 AM (Pilgrim Mass for Our Lady of Charity)
• Sunday: 4:30 AM, 6:30 AM, 8:30 AM

🔔 Tip: If you want to attend Mass or pray peacefully, visit outside of the Calesa tour. The tour allows only a brief stop, not enough for spiritual reflection.

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✅ Quick Tips for Visitors

• 📷 Best Time for Photos: Late afternoon for perfect lighting
• 🙏 Mass Attendance: Visit on your own to join a full Mass
• 🕍 Don’t Confuse: This is not Paoay Church (though they share the same patron saint)
• 🚶‍♀️ Accessibility: Easily walkable from Vigan or just a short ride away