Alegria Church

Alegria Church, formally the Saint Francis Xavier Parish, anchors the town center with a plain, traditional design built from local materials rather than any imported showpiece. Francis Xavier is the patron saint of Catholic missions and missionaries, a fitting namesake for a parish serving a town that, like much of this coast, has shifted in recent decades from farming and fishing toward the canyoneering and waterfall tourism now passing through it. For travelers working the southern circuit, it’s a quiet stop before or after the nearby canyons.

• The church’s construction reflects the traditional craftsmanship typical of the region’s smaller parish buildings.
• The church square draws the local community, and it’s worth a few minutes to take in the everyday life around it.
• Early morning mass is the best window to see the parish in its ordinary, working rhythm rather than as a photo stop.

Explore More in Samboan to Badian

• Colase Marine Sanctuary
• St. Pedro Calungsod Shrine
• Kanlaob River