CENTER OF FAITH The 50.23-meter St. Vincent Ferrer statue in Bayambang and the adjoining shrine, shown in this undated photo, is an important center of faith and devotion in Pangasinan. 鈥擶ILLIE LOMIBAO
CALASIAO, PANGASINAN 鈥� While millions of Catholic devotees flock to the renowned Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag Minor Basilica in Manaoag town, the province of Pangasinan is also home to other destinations that combine spirituality, heritage and natural beauty, making the province a sanctuary for devotion, especially during the Lenten season.
Long regarded as a mecca for Filipino Catholics, Pangasinan is home to two minor basilicas that stand as testaments to enduring faith and heritage.
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The Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag, founded in 1660 and reconstructed in 1912 with Romanesque Revival architecture, remains the most iconic. It was declared the Basilica of Mary Major in 2011 and elevated to Minor Basilica status in 2012.
In San Carlos City, the Minor Basilica of St. Dominic also draws attention. Originally established in 1587, the Baroque church was rebuilt between 1770 and 1773 and was granted Minor Basilica status in January 2023, reflecting its rich religious and historical significance.
Other important pilgrimage sites include the Se帽or Divino Tesoro Shrine in Calasiao, once housed in the municipal hall but now residing in its structure near the town hall; and the St. Vincent Ferrer Parish Church in Bayambang, which, with its striking High Renaissance facade, was recently declared an archdiocesan shrine.
鈥淭he elevation of the [St. Vincent Ferrer Parish] to shrine status recognizes not only its spiritual significance but also its enduring legacy as a center of faith and devotion,鈥� said Archbishop Socrates Villegas of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, during the declaration of the church as an archdiocesan shrine last week.
Natural beauty
In western Pangasinan, Alaminos City offers a different kind of spiritual experience鈥攐ne that merges religious devotion with breathtaking coastal scenery. At the Hundred Islands National Park, two islands鈥擬atha and Ramos鈥攈ave been combined to form the Pilgrimage Islands, now a rising faith tourism destination.
The city government envisions the Pilgrimage Islands as a peaceful retreat for Catholics, especially during Holy Week, said City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Rosalie Salalila-Aruelo.
鈥淭he Pilgrimage Islands are not only meant to strengthen faith but also to boost local tourism by attracting visitors seeking spiritual serenity surrounded by natural beauty,鈥� she said.
Colossal shrine of Jesus
Visitors can traverse a hilly trail representing the Stations of the Cross, each station featuring stone-carved biblical scenes, such as The Last Supper and the Crucifixion of Jesus. The path ends at the 14th station鈥攖he Ascension of Jesus鈥攂eside which stands the Kapilya ni San Jose.
Towering above the island is the Shrine of Jesus Christ the Savior, a 16.7-meter (55-foot) statue accessible by climbing 263 steps, rewarding pilgrims with a stunning 360-degree view of the Hundred Islands.
Newly inaugurated structures on the adjacent island include the Our Lady of Assumption Chapel, shrines of St. Joseph and St. Valentine, and a retreat hall that can host up to 120 guests. A nearby bonsai garden displays nearly a thousand miniature trees, adding to the meditative atmosphere. A retreat house can also accommodate 20 to 25 overnight guests.
With Holy Week attracting up to 30,000 visitors, the city government enforces a 鈥渄rop and pickup鈥� system to manage crowd flow across the park鈥檚 123 islands and islets.
Tourists select three islands to explore, then stay on a fourth until picked up by boat later in the day. This system allows boat operators to make multiple trips and increase their earnings.
To ensure safety, the city has placed disaster response teams, police, coast guards and medical personnel on full alert during the Lenten season.