Bato : Town of an Old Church, a Shrine, and a Long Bridge

(This is part of my Visit Catanduanes 2015 series. For other Catanduanes posts, click the links after this article.)

The 2nd town of Catanduanes I was able to visit (actually the main target of this trip) is BATO, the home of a very beautiful century-old church. This town lies just 8 kilometers east of Virac, and can be reached by passenger jeeps or chartered tricycle.

San Juan Bautista Church. Bato Church. Bato, Catanduanes.

The church is the main tourist attraction of Bato because of its old-world charm beautifully preserved by the people of the town. Building of the church was started in the early 1800's and was finished at the middle of the same century - spanning over 50 decades. It is situated by the river and the first one to welcome visitors upon arriving at the town from Virac. 

Bato Church Facade

The church exudes an elegance comparable to an old but experienced and regale lady capable of making you gasp just by looking at her. This may be because the townspeople was successful in preserving the church's look, altering nothing in its exterior appearance, letting it age gracefully. The growth of small plants on the walls and bell tower made with mortar, coral stones, and lime stones added to the over all aged look of the structure.

Bato Church Outer Wall

On both sides of the church can be seen large buttresses protecting the structure from damages caused by earthquake, if ever there will be. For those parts without buttress, the thick wall of the church does the work.

Bato Church Altar

While the exterior of the church is perfectly preserved, the interior is another case. Renovation is evident with the modern appearance of the altar and the ceiling, new floor tiles and newer interior pieces of furniture. The growth of mosses on the interior walls of the church gives its age away though.  

Bato Church Inner Walls

Near the church is Bato Municipal Hall, also situated along the right side of the Bato River (if you are coming from Virac). The municipal hall is a full contrast of the church though because of its modern architecture.

Bato Municipal Hall

Just before reaching the other side of Bato River where Bato Church is located, one has to cross Bato Bridge first from the road on the other side of the river. This bridge is the longest one in Catanduanes, built over Bato River which effectively divides Bato town into east and west district. When the bridge was not yet there, people used to ride bancas to cross the river and reach the other part of the town.

Bato Bridge

Another historical and religious site one can visit in Bato is the Diocesan Shrine of the Holy Cross of Batalay, located 3.8 kms. southeast of the town proper and can be found near the beach.

Batalay Shrine

The shrine is of modern and simple architecture but what is being visited here by the devotees is the location itself where the first cross in the whole of Catanduanes was planted by the Spaniards. 

Fr. Diego de Herrera's supposed grave

In the yard of the shrine can be found the supposed grave of Fray Diego de Herrera who died in Batalay after arriving there on board the galleon Espiritu Santo. He was martyred on site when he tried to introduce Christianity to the natives. Other stories that abound in the internet, about the place and what really happened there in succeeding years need more verification so I chose not to relate them here.

Batalay Shrine Facade

Owing to its historicity based on verifiable facts (as against legends), the Rev. Bishop of Legazpi Msgr. Teotimo Pacis signed a decree declaring the Holy Cross of Batalay as diocesan shrine on April 21, 1973, almost 400 years after Fr. Diego de Herrera's death. Likewise, the National Historical Commission installed a historical marker in the site the same year.

Batalay Shrine Historical Marker

The wordings of the marker is in Filipino. In English, it reads:

"BATALAY SHRINE

As an appreciation of the Katandungan people's native custom
 transmitted across generations, and to commemorate the 
Augustinian priest, Fray Diego de Herrera, the 
first Christian Missionary of the Legaspi-Urdaneta Expedition 
buried in this place on 1576. Visited by pilgrims from the 
whole province of Catanduanes.

The Bishop of Legazpi declared this site the 
Diocesan Shrine of the Holy Cross 

on April 1, 1973."

After my visit to Batalay Shrine, I continued on with my wandering around, now going back to the capital to see more of its attractions.

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Read more about Catanduanes:

Catanduanes : Roaming Around Luzon's Easternmost Province
Virac : The Island of the Howling Wind's Capital
San Andres : The Town Once Known as Calolbon