Liloan was established as a parish in 1845 after it was separated through a government decree from the St. Joseph Parish in Mandaue. The name is based on the Cebuano word for whirlpool, “lilo.” The name Liloan means “a place where the lilo can be found.”
The San Fernando Rey Parish is one of the oldest structures in the town of Liloan. It was built in 1847 and was named after the saint who recaptured Spain from the Moors. The materials used for the construction came from the Camotes Islands and Leyte. On the other hand, the glass window shutters were sourced from Barcelona, Spain. It is the only church on the island that faces west.
The San Fernando Rey Parish in Liloan is not only a place of worship among Roman Catholics since the church is shrouded in mysterious stories of caves, treasures, and a giant sea creature. According to stories, there is supposedly a cave behind the altar of the church. It remains uncertain if the cave is man-made, but some people think the cave may have been used as an escape route whenever pirates and marauders attacked the town. The cave is supposedly connected to the Suba Channel.
The San Fernando Rey Parish is located right in front of the municipal hall of Liloan. You can get there by getting on a jeepney or bus headed for this northern town. Just tell the driver or conductor to let you off at the municipal hall. The church is situated on the right side of the road.
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