THERE are two churches in Misamis Oriental which are considered to be of historic and tourism value. The first one is the centuries-old church in Jasaan. Jasaan is a sleepy unassuming town of Misamis Oriental (the northern gateway to Mindanao) which was featured in a radio play some two decades back but this sleepy town offers some havens for tourists.

One of them is the centuries-old church. The centuries-old church was built by Spanish friars sometime during the late 19^th century only years before Spain sold the Philippines to the United States. Its architecture is a marvel and even Architecture students from the nearby Cagayan de Oro College admire and study its structure.

You can still touch the old stoneworks which are used as the foundation of the old church but you cannot vandalize it and it is a crime there. You may either go to prison or pay a fine or worse, both. The church is considered a national cultural treasure.

Meanwhile, the church in Balingasag is known for its sturdiness. It has been bombed by both the Japanese and Americans during World War II because combatants from both sides of the war have taken turns hiding there. Yet, the church remained largely intact throughout the bombing. In fact, one can still see the holes caused by the bullets at the church walls.