History

The Parish of Panay was established by the Spanish missioneries in 1581, which had six(6) visitas. The Christian Faith in the island of Panay, Philippines was the first to evangelize the Sta. Monica Parish Church which now stands as a Historical Landmark. In 1566, Padre Martin de Rada, the augustinian missionery, proclaim the Gospel in the island at the riverbank of Bamban, which now known as the town of Panay, Capiz. The original structure of the church was built during the term of Fr. Manuel Lopez, between 1692 and 1698, and was rebuilt by Fr. Manuel Murguia in 1774. After the destructive typhoon of 1875, the famous Augustinian builder, Fr. Jose Beloso renovated the stone church in 1884. Fr. Lesmes Perez, restored it in its beautiful grandeur in 1895 from the aftermath of the typhoons of 1874 and 1875. Don Juan Reina Cast the Largest bell in Asia and 3rd biggest in the world. The "Dakong Lingganay"(meaning "Big Bell"), it was made from seventy(70) Sack of coins donated by the townpeople and measures seven(7) feet in diameter, five(5) feet in height with a weight of 10.400 kilograms. It carries a meaningful inscription which mean "Soy la vos de Dios que llevarey ensalzare desde el principio hasta fin de este Pueblo de Panay para que los fieles de Jesus vengan a esta casa de Dios a recibir las gracias celestiales" (meaning " I am God's voice which shall echo and praise from one end to the other of the town of Panay, so that the faithful followers of Christ may come to this house of God to receive the heavently graces."). Fr. Francisco alba was the first Filipino priest who served as the Parochial Vicar of the Parish of Sta. Monica. The National Historical Institute in its Resolution No. 3, series of 1997, declared the Sta. Monica Parish Church as a Historical Landmark.