Pinaglabanan Church

The Archdiocesan Shrine of Saint John the Baptist — known locally as Pinaglabanan Church — is a nineteenth-century Catholic church that stands a short walk from the Pinaglabanan Shrine. The church was built during the Spanish colonial period and is a fine example of the distinctive Filipino-Spanish ecclesiastical architecture found across Luzon.

The facade is well-preserved and the interior retains its colonial-era character, with thick stone walls, a high nave, and ornate altarpieces. It is an active parish and masses are celebrated daily, which means visitors can observe the church as a living institution rather than just a historical artefact.

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A story
The church was built in the nineteenth century and served the community of San Juan del Monte during the revolution. Rebel fighters from the Katipunan reportedly took refuge in the church after the failed 1896 attack on the water depot — turning a place of colonial religious authority into a shelter for those who had just tried to overthrow the same colonial power.

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