Lead the way

Lead the way, originally uploaded by ♥Lallie♥.

Midway through our spontaneous roadtrip, we found ourselves in the middle of a busy rotunda. It was a hot and humid sunday noon. The policeman escaped into the shade under the town gazebo, in the company of a newspaper vendor and a napping street cleaner. I looked up and saw this peculiar structure, displaying the wrong time, seemingly misplaced. In a quiet town in the middle of Cebu, famous for their tasteful and sinful pork rinds, the two marbled ladies of Carcar certainly feels out of context. But for five wandering travelers looking for the next stopover, it was a promising sight. At that moment, we need someone to point the way.

Argao's Pride

Argao's Pride, originally uploaded by ♥Lallie♥.

Located across the well-preserved town hall, Argao Parish church has endured 241 years of existence. Its formidable exteriors is reminiscent of the old churches built during the time of Spanish rule: stone wall, imposing, baroque rococo inspired. It was constructed in 1734, and it took the Augustinian order 34 years of painstaking labor to finish this impressive structure.

It was a quiet Sunday when we arrived at Argao's town center. The men and women of Argao --- the Argawanons --- gather towards their church for the afternoon service. And as the church bells ring, just like every Sunday, the community in unison will say their thanks to God, promise their devotion to our Lady and ask for continuous guidance for the town's patron saint, St. Michael the Archangel.