How to get to Barcelona Church and the Old Ruins of Barcelona in Barcelona, Sorsogon

the landmark of Barcelona, Sorsogon

The Old Ruins of the Presidencia Building 

The Barcelona Church

During the Spanish Colonization, the town of Bulusan was strategically one of the fortress of the regime. They built a lot of watchtowers to guard the island from being invaded by the Moros, Pirates and the likes. At that time Barcelona was one of the Villages of Bulusan. That’s why Barcelona has significant to the history. One of the evidences are the Old ruins and the church.

Getting to the place now a days is hard because there is no much public transportation that go there often. There is a schedule of jeep departing from Sorsogon city. Barcelona is a secluded area. You should brace yourself for the longer waiting time if you would take public utility vehicles.

To those who want to explore the place in a convenient way you can hire a van ranging from 2,500 up. It depends upon your haggling skills. By the way the nearest airport is the Legaspi airport from there you can take van for hire or public transportation like van or bus. Usually the van is good  for an 8 hours trip although it depends upon how you can agree on some terms that would be favorable on you.

For those who would be coming from the airport, you can take tricycle and ask the driver to bring you to the bus or van terminal going to Sorsogon City. The tricycle fare is 50.00 pesos one way trip, the capacity of it is 4 persons.

From Sorsogon City look for a jeep going to Bulusan and tell the conductor to drop you off in Barcelona Church across the church is the Old Ruins of  the Presidencia Building and the School Building. Most of the time jeeps going to Bulusan are few so you can take the jeep going to Gubat then from there you can take a jeep again going to Barcelona or Bulusan.

Ask the jeep what would be the last trip in going back to Sorsogon City that is if your hotel is in there. But if you are in the mood to explore the nearby town, Gubat or Bulusan or Irosin will be the best place to find the hotel. Hotels are cheaper in these area. Have a great adventure!

The Old Ruins in Barcelona, Sorsogon - Century old ruins, the silent witness of the past

Across the Barcelona Church is now a park, it was the place of the Presidencia Building and the school for the Spaniards. The old structures are still there. They are more than century old ruins.

The Ruins

Presidencia building was the seat of the Spanish government, governed by the gobernadorcillo. During Spanish regime it was the fortress, because of strategic location facing the Pacific Ocean, pirates, moro and intruders could be easily seen. This building has a tunnel as a retreat passage but the priests closed it to avoid thieves from accessing to the religious relics.

The Lighthouse

The Old Ruins of Presidencia Building 

The park has a light house and wifi internet connection, which makes this park popular to the locals. It's refreshing to sit and rest after touring the place. Since it is facing the ocean, the smell of the breeze is perfect for the tired body.

The Park has a wifi connection

The Park

The ruins of Old School Building

If these structures could only tell the history, they would be the perfect witness to tell us the account of the past.

St. Joseph Parish Church or commonly known as Barcelona Church

St. Joseph Parish Church of Barcelona, Sorsogon was built in the year 1874 by Franciscan friars. It is also known as Barcelona Church. The church is made of coral stones, lime,  beaten egg whites mixed with tuba, a local wine coming from coconut trees.  Barcelona church is one of the oldest churches in the Bicol Region. There are repairs done but most part of it are original. It is also one of the most photographed old churches in the region.

The facade of the Barcelona Church

The church has a tunnel connecting to the Presidencia Building or the old municipal building, which is now a ruin. It is just across the street but the priests closed it in order to avoid thieves from stealing the precious religious relics inside the church. 

the altar of the Barcelona Church

The Aisle of the Church

This town is named after the second largest city in Spain, Barcelona, the conquistador said that the natural arrangement of the place is like of that city.

Statue of the Patron Saint St. Joseph outside the Church

Manila Central Post Office Building-a Neo-Classical Architecture

During our postal heritage walking tour we had the opportunity to explore the Manila Central Post Office Building. It is located along the river banks of Pasig River  near the Lawton Plaza and Manila metropolitan theater. I was amazed with the 14 huge columns and a beautiful facade. Manila central post office building is rectangular shape with two drum like on both side. While we were having a lecture amazingly it has natural ventilation, no fan but cooler inside and enough sunlight coming in, that is why  we didn't have to turn on the lights.

Exhibit of Post Stamps

Auction

Auction

Every third Sunday there is walking heritage tour and this building is part of that tour. At the same time there is an auction being held inside the building for collectors of post stamps, post cards, coins, toys and other collectibles. It becomes the place for different exhibits too.

This building is a perfect example of neo-classical architecture.  Manila central post office is part of the history. It withstood the test of time from World War II to people power 1 until at present time.

The Manila central Post Office Building became a Japanese soldiers' fortress  but the artillery coming from the American forces bombarded the Post Office until the Japanese soldiers retreated. After the war, the United States of America aided the Philippines to repair all d damages from the said war. That made the Manila central post office building restored to its original beauty.

In year 2012 there was a foreign company wanted to convert this building into a five star hotel. Some concerned groups rallied to preserve this heritage.

A Free Guided Philippine Postal Heritage Walking Tour-Escolta

There are groups of concern citizens who are trying to awaken the patriotism among the Filipinos by giving free tour and lectures on the Philippine Heritage thru post stamps and key historical buildings around Manila. I and my sister joined it twice the first one was the Philippine Postal Heritage walking tour-Intramuros and the last one was the Philippine Postal Heritage walking tour-Escolta.

Every third Sunday of the month this Philippine Postal Heritage walking tour is being held. Those who are interested you can visit their website.

The tour is from 12:00pm till night. No specific time to finish, it depends upon the weather and the participants too. We arrived in Andres Bonifacio Monument in Liwasang Bonifacio at 12:30. It  is the usual meeting place and it’s the place where the tour starts. We were just on time the tour was about to start. The tour guide was Rence Chan.

Manila Central Post Office Building was our next stop. There we were given a free starter kit in collecting stamps and there was a lecture too on understanding the post stamps as part of the Nation’s heritage, history and building the nation.

Inside the building there were group  of collectors having auction, postal exhibit and photo shoot. It was a busy building at that day. Before we left the Manila Central Post Office building we were asked to give small amount to help the Arroceros Forest Park.

After the lecture we proceed to Arroceros Park. I didn’t know that there is a park in the heart of Manila City. Inside the park is where the Department of Education’s Division of City Schools Manila. It was named Arroceros because in this area the rice trade was being held between foreign traders and the locals. Before it was a huge forest park but as time goes on and as the city’s leaders changes the forest park area became lesser, at the moment it has 1.1 hectares left.  Some area are converted into commercial area. There are wild birds, snakes and other animals and insects inside this park. It will be of great help to maintain the cleanliness of the city’s air, to  prevent more smog  and to maintain the ecosystem as well. Hope the local leaders to have that political will to make the people’s welfare on top everything.

Manila Metropolitan theater also known as MET was our next stop. It was one of the theaters during the Spanish colonial period, where local and foreign artists performed. During the world war II it was slightly destroyed but it was restored in year 1978. Sad to say the building is deteriorating. Hope the concerned institutions can find the solution to restore this beautiful historical building.

When we finished exploring the Manila Metropolitan Theater it was already dusk, the weather was cooler and nice to walk seeing the beautiful Manila. At this time we were asked to give small amount for the guards who help us in our tour.

While we were walking on our way to Escolta we passed by Mc Arthur Monument, Fire Trees, beautiful landscape of Manila. Manila is a beautiful City, the problem is there are sore to the eyes too like informal settlers, litters,   smell coming from the banks of Pasig River. Hope the government local or national can study and look for the solutions to these problems. Have political will to preserve our nation and its heritage.

This is my first time to appreciate Escolta, during  week days it’s a busy street. The buildings are beautiful although needs restorations and repairs. One of the buildings that we visited was the United First Building, this was the house of the movie outfits before.  RVQ production’s office is there although at that time it was closed so we didn’t see the museum. It was an “epic fail” but it was fun too, we climbed five floors then when we reached the unit it was closed. We were not allowed to use the elevators because its Sunday plus it was just a free tour.

The next building was the Calvo Building. It was built in 1938. It was the first  house of the GMA 7, a television channel. The Calvo Building was the house for prominent recording studios  and companies.  Today in its mezzanine there is an exhibit it is called Escolta Exhibit Hall, where showcases the collection of old music sheets, print ads of Filipino movies,  bottles, pictures and more. We were asked to pay 100.00 pesos per head for the entrance fee.

Our last stop was the Juan Luna E-Services Building. It is still on its renovation,  according to Rence Chan by August there will be no tour allowed in the building for it will be occupied by Business Process Outsourcing Offices. Juan Luna E-Service Building is registered with the National Historical Institute of the Philippines (NHI).   

There are too many beautiful and historical buildings in the City of Manila but there is no much effort to restore  them. Specially the private owned ones, its owner mostly don’t know the importance of these buildings. Hope we still have ample time to think the welfare of our beloved land.

It was a great free tour. We were just talking and laughing all throughout the tour. Relaxing it’s not a pressured tour. No time bound. Participants  can leave the tour anytime.

Kodus to the group of Rence Chan for lending their precious time to conduct free guided tour.