Saint Anthony of Padua Parish Church, originally known as Camaligan Church, is a Roman Catholicchurch in Camaligan, Camarines Sur, Philippines. It is the one of the two parish churches of the Archdiocese of Caceres located in the town of Camaligan.[3] The parish was established in 1795.[1] The first church structure of Camaligan that was made of stones and woods was burnt in the year 1856.[2] The current church architecture was only completed in 1857,[4] a year after the original structure was burnt. The church is considered one of the oldest churches in Camarines Sur that is rich in religious and cultural history,[5] and a popular spot for Visita Iglesia.[4]
Camaligan was under the ecclesiastical and civil jurisdiction of Nueva Caceres (now Naga City) for almost two centuries, from year 1578 to 1775.[1]
In the year 1775, the town became an independent political unit under the administration of Bishop Domingo Ollantes of Nueva Caceres.[8] However, it was only in 1795 when Fray Rafael Benevente, was appointed parish priest by the Franciscan mission.[9]
A church made of stones and wooden structures was built, but was burnt in the year 1856.[2]
A year after the burning of the original church, in 1857, during the term of Fray Juan Ontiveros as parish priest,[2] the present church structure was completed.[1] It is said that when this church was built, the real intention of the friars was to wipe out pre-colonial lifestyle and practices of the newly-colonized town from looking back to their pre-colonial lifestyle and practices. In fact, the land where the church stands is a former burial ground during pre-colonial times.[5]
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