The Ermita (Barangay/Sitio/Purok Chapel): A Little House of Faith in the Heart of the Village

The Ermita (Barangay/Sitio/Purok Chapel): A Little House of Faith in the Heart of the Village

In the center of most barangays in Bayambang, Pangasinan, typically stands an ermita—a small chapel whose simplicity mirrors the humble yet steadfast faith of the community it serves.

Essentially a barangay chapel, an ermita is a religious structure that is a spiritual anchor woven into everyday life. Resembling a bungalow in form, the typical ermita rises to modest heights and has equally modest proportions. Though its architecture may appear domestic, its sacred purpose is unmistakably marked by the presence of crosses above the doorway and often depictions of the Way of the Cross along its sides, affirming its role as a dwelling place of prayer.

Since its construction in ___, this ermita in Brgy. Inirangan has stood as an enduring emblem of the community’s unwavering devotion.

The chapel stands on a lot donated by Mr. Simeon Bondoc. The original chapel, which was a lot smaller in size, was built under the leadership of Mrs. Marciana Mabanglo Bondoc. Later, her daughter Loretta Bondoc Santos led the solicitation campaign to fund the purchase of other needs such as chairs and statues.

A large St. Vincent statue was donated by Mrs. Virginia Terrado Quiambao, while the other statues were donated by the Santos family's friends and relatives. The roof was donated by former mayor Cezar T. Quiambao in 2016.

Through decades of social change, it has remained a constant reminder of how deeply the people of Inirangan value their faith, while keeping a devotion to their patron, San Vicente Ferrer, notably the same patron as the town's. Within its walls, generations have gathered to offer prayers, celebrate Mass, and honor their Lord and their patron saint. It is here that personal petitions mingle with collective thanksgiving, binding individual lives into a shared spiritual narrative.

This site of worship also functions as a communal space where faith and fellowship converge. Religious gatherings, though irregular, dependent on the availability of a priest, not only deepen spiritual commitment but also strengthen the bonds among residents. In moments of joy and sorrow alike, the ermita continues to nurture both belief and belonging, affirming its place as a living heritage of devotion and unity in the barangay.

To date, three former ermitas in Bayambang have since become sister parishes of their mother parish, the Santuario de San Vicente Ferrer. These are the erstwhile ermitas of Brgy. Wawa, Brgy. Sapang, and Brgy. Carungay.

Original mappers: BNHS students (original mapping form missing)
Informant/Photos: Jocelyn Santos Espejo