The Church of Miagao was built in 1797 by Spanish monks from the order of the foothills. It used to be a fortress. In 1993, this amazing structure, in which the mixed features of the architecture of the Aztecs and of the Baroque style, was listed as a world Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. The Church, built of yellowish limestone in the city of Iloilo province on Panay island, famous for its intricately decorated with pyramidal facade and bell towers. On the front facade, the sides of which stood two watchtowers, one can see a striking blend of Spanish and Filipino motifs.

The main feature of the bas-relief of the facade is a huge coconut palm, which extends almost to the roof. This tree is an indispensable attribute of typically the Philippine landscape and the subject of numerous legends. According to one old Filipino legend, the coconut palm was the only object, inherited from the mother of her two children, Palma helped them to survive. On the facade of the Church of the coconut tree is depicted as the "tree of life", upon which rests a Saint Christopher carrying on his shoulders the infant Jesus. Flanking the main entrance are carved the bas-reliefs of the Pope and Saint Henry, with their armorial shields. On other facades of the Church depicts the daily life of the indigenous population over the last hundred years. Here you can see images of local flora and fauna, as well as folk costumes.

The Church together with watchtowers served another important function – it served to protect the local inhabitants from the raids of the warlike tribe of "Moro". That is why the Church walls are so thick – about 1, 5 meters, and somewhere under the ground, according to rumors, padded secret passages. One of the guard towers bell towers – a two-storey, the second storey.

The Church of Miagao has experienced many natural disasters that ravaged the buildings around, but are unable to stay away from two bloody wars. She was burned twice – during the revolution against the Spanish colonizers in 1898 and during the occupation of the island of Panay by the Japanese in the years 1942-44. After the liberation of the island in 1945, the inhabitants of Panay collectively undertook the reconstruction of the temple.

Today the Church of Miagao deservedly considered one of the main architectural masterpieces of the Philippines, due to its unique and magnificent design, decorations and bas-reliefs.