The Philippines apart from East Timor, is predominantly a catholic country in Asia. Colonized by Spain for more than 300 years, the Philippines' early citizens were converted to Christianity by the Spanish missionaries either voluntarily or forcefully. They removed all marks of other religions that the Filipinos formerly patronized before their arrival. They burned down churches and idols so that the only religion that the Philippines will recognize is Catholicism.

Since then, churches became the focal point of communities all over the country. They can often be enormous, ornate buildings which so domineering over their surrounding landscapes.

Perched on the center in the humble town of Lucban in Quezon Province, surrounded by gardens, grottos and stone walls called quince-quince, the Church of Saint Louis, Bishop of Toulouse was initially created in 1595 but destroyed in 1629.

According to the facts on the tablet hanged on the wall the second church was constructed between 1630 and 1640, gutted by fire in 1733 and reconstructed in 1738. The adjacent convent was added and completed in 1743. The church was partly destroyed during the World War II in 1945 and renovated by the Philippine Historical Commission in 1966.

The church’s ancient bell tower stands to the right, rising three tapering levels, topped with a weathervane. Old and dingy, the grayish and dusty color shows that it has existed for a very long time. The facade and the bellower are finished with lime and cement.

It was a real good experience visiting old churches. Rome had a moment of silence for his prayers. For him, visiting this religious attraction was mentally stimulating somehow uplifting.