The driving distance from our jumping off point at the SM City parking lot in Iloilo to Oton’s Immaculate Conception Church is approximately 11 kilometres. Which translates into a driving time of about 20 to 30 minutes.

This is one of only two ‘modern churches’ in our study.

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UPDATED: 25 June 2012

The Augustinian Friars first arrived in Oton as early as 1572 under Friar Martin Rada from Dumangas where he had established ‘the church’ in southern Panay having been sent there from the town of Pan-ay in Capiz in 1566, because of his success in evangelizing the population and his ability in the languages of the region.  According to history the first Church built by Friar Rada (date unknown) was destroyed in 1614 when Oton was attacked by Dutch Privateers who razed the church in one of their raids. Continue reading →