Walking in the Glimpse of the Past: The Untold Stories of the Heritage Churches in Tayabas City

The study explored the untold stories of the heritage churches in Tayabas City built between the 17th to 18th centuries during the colonization of the Spanish administration. These churches are now declared by the National Museum of the Philippines as national cultural treasures. The researcher became interested in studying those churches because of their cultural and historical significance. Hence. the study is focused on the untold story of the heritage churches in Tayabas City. Specifically, this study sought to unearth the written historical profile of the heritage churches and the untold stories of these heritage churches. The study employed historical methods including archival method, oral tradition, and analysis of secondary sources. There are five participants in the study and they were chosen purposively. The participants include the (1) head of the Cultural Heritage Organization, (2) a Local Historian, (3) a Local Government Unit Official, (4) 80 years old resident of Tayabas City and (5) a member of the clergy in the Diocese of Lucena. They are all resident of Tayabas City. The study found out that the three new declared heritage churches were built during the 17th to 18th century during the Spanish colonization of the Philippines. The construction was overseen by the Franciscan Friars. The Hermita Nuestra Señora de Angustias was a traditional funeral place from the Spanish era until today. The Camposanto para los Indios is a burial place of native Filipinos or Indios while the Santuario de las Almas was the burial place of wealthy Filipinos and Spaniards or Peninsulares.In the heritage churches, the Hermita Nuestra Señora de Angustias is a place where the Turumba festival is celebrated this also has an impact on the livelihood of Tayabasin. The disappearance of the image of Our Lady of Sorrows during the Spanish period and the foundation of the chapel was a miraculous and spiritual incident that happened in the chapel. In Santuario de las Almas and Camposanto para los Indios, there are many prominent individuals buried in the cemeteries within the heritage churches, and this is used as the burial sites. This is also used in different events such as festivals, novenas, and masses. Local business and tourism influenced the economy during Undas. Based on the findings and analysis of the study, a heritage book was developed highlighting the untold stories of the heritage churches in Tayabas City.