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St. James the Greater Parish (Ibaan, Batangas)

The Saint James the Greater Parish Church, is a Roman Catholic Church in the municipality of Ibaan, Batangas in the Philippines. The church known for its Easter tradition of Bati and Dagit. The church is currently under Oblates of Saint Joseph.

Ibaan was founded in 1832 by Fr. Manuel Grijalbo and was placed under the patronage of Saint James the Apostle. The construction of the church was started by Fr. Manuel Gonzalez, O.S.A. in 1854 and was completed by Fr. Bruno Laredo in 1869. The church was damaged by the earthquake of May 29, 1880, and Fr. Francisco Alvarez repaired the damage from 1891 to 1896.

The parish church that was started by Fr. Manuel Diez Gonzales in 1853 was completed by Fr. Bruno Laredo, OSA. In 1865, the two towers were constructed. The completion and painting inside the church happened when Fr. Vicente Maril, (OSA) was the parish priest. The town owes Father Vicente Maril a debt of gratitude for his introduction of classic Tuscanic architecture in the design of the church columns, and but also for his strong encouragement for the planting of coffee trees in the town. Ibaan had 8,000 inhabitants at that time. The convent of artistic and solid construction was constructed by Rev. Fr. Pedro Cuesta. The four bridges of adobe stones were constructed through the initiative of the Augustinian fathers.

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