Architecture

Church Interior

    Originally, the layout of the interior of the Santa Maria church is a Latin cross plan. The nave and the transept intersect with the aisles that form the arms of the cross. But due to the development through time, the interior was expanded by the addition of the left and right wings to accommodate the large number of people.

    Upon entry, the images of Lorenzo Ruiz and Pedro Calungsod, both Filipino saints, flanked the sides of the main portal. Right above the entry is the choir loft, the area designated for the choir. On the left side of the main door, facing the altar is the Baptistery and on the other side is the Confessional.

    The church interior is airy and well illuminated both by natural and artificial lighting. The high ceiling in barrel vault style adds to the magnificence of the interior, with chandeliers hanging down the nave lighting the congregation. Bordering the ceiling is an architrave in blue color, with the inscription of the prayer "Hail Mary" in Latin. Six Ionic columns, three on each side, flanked the nave of the church. The left and right wings, which are extensions of the original structure, have stained glass murals in the ceiling. Stained glass windows that depict religious images provide natural lighting on the left side of the church.