Church Heirlooms: Artifacts of the Church

This relic (1st Class Relic) is a part of the body of Saint Ildefonso of Toledo—a small bone from his back. In connection with the fourth centennial celebration of the founding of our parish (1606-2006), it was bestowed and obtained by Rev. Fr. Felipe L. Pedrja in October 2006, in Zamora, Spain, where the holy remains of this saint are interred.

The tabernacle or tabernaculo (more popularly known as sagrario) is used to keep the Blessed Sacrament. The oldest relic in Tanay was the original tabernacle made of wood used in the church built around 1640.

The image of Sacred Hear of Jesus is believed to have been erected in 1927 in its previous location in the patio facing the main entrance. For a time, it was installed in the western side of the church, near the present Parish Hall II. The image can now be seen at the first level of the belfry and is surrounded by fence.

This bell-shaped stone structure located at the left side of the main gate, facing directly the main entrance to the church, holds the remnants of the first stone church which was completed in 1680.

The retablo is made of molave and was financed by Don Juan Pedro Garcia. It shows Jesus Christ with Saint John the Baptist.

In the middle of the bautisterio is the baptismal font or pila bautismal. It is made of granite and is divided into two sections – a quarter of the basin used to collect water poured over the head of the person being baptized, and the larger part contains the holy water, or agua bendita.

During Spanish times, priests deliver their sermons in the pulpit, or pulpit. It is an elevated platform attached to the wall. On top of it is a canopy called tornavoz which acts as a sounding board that helps the preacher amplify his voice. Underneath the platform is an intricately designed sculpture.

The church has a total of five retablos installed in different parts. Firstly, the Retablo Mayor or the main altar contains the tabernacle and the image of San Ildefonso de Toledo, along with 12 other images. The Retablo de la Purisima Concepcion on the other hand, which is found on the front left side, contains the image of the La Purisima Concepcion along with five other saints. On the front right side, the Retablo de San Josef contains the image of Saint Joseph along with five other saints.

Beside those three altars, two smaller altars can also be found on the left and right side part which are the Retablo de Nuesta Señora de las Angustias (which contains the Pieta) and the Retablo de San Pedro de Alcantara (contains the image of St. Peter of Alcantara and two others).

The images of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary were previously installed near the altar table. It was believed that after Vatican II, which was “convened in order to adapt the Church to the contemporary requirements of its apostolic task,” several changes were made in the architecture of the church, which included the placement of the two images to its present location near the lecterns.

The dome, or cimborrio, which is found on the ceiling in front of the main altar contains the images of the four evangelists in the corner – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

The four-level octagon-shaped belfry, or campanario, was constructed between 1779 and 1781. The baptistry occupies the first level of the belfry. The cross on top lits up at night. The Franciscan insignia is embossed in the main bell.