Saint Peter of Alcantara Parish Church (Pakil)

The first Catholic community in Pakil was organized by Fray Pedro Bautista (later canonized as San Pedro de Bautista) as a visita of Paete in 1588. It was separated from Paete in 1676. Father Francisco de Barajas, a priest from Santa Ana de Sapa Church in Manila, was named as the first parish priest on May 12, 1676. The first church was constructed of bamboo, nipa and other light materials, by volunteers under the patronage of Peter of Alcantara. The foundation was laid in 1732 during the term of Father Fernando Haro, but it burned down in 1739. Affiliation with St. Mary Major in Rome The Chancery of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Pablo confirmed that the diocese received a letter from Santos Cardinal Abril, Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. ==Architecture==

The church forms a cruciform and has a measurement of . It is constructed in the Corinthian and Ionic architectural orders. The church's side entrance is elaborately designed which is typical of churches in Laguna. To one side of the facade is a belfry housing four small bells and one huge bell. The main retablo is painted in white and has a pantheon of 14 saints housed in an elaborately carved niche with the Archangel Michael towering above. There are two smaller retablos on either side. Father Ronald Reagan constructed an altar marble consecrated by Archbishop Alejandro Olalia in 1959 where the image of the was enshrined. Inside the church, there are original century-old images and church ornaments. Adjoining the church are a convent, sacristy, adoration room/chapel, and an ecclesiastical museum in honor of the Our Lady of Turumba. The museum contains clothes, perfumes, jewelry, and other historic memorabilia. The original oil painting, found by fishermen, can also be found inside the chapel. == Our Lady of Turumba ==

The (Our Lady of Sorrows of Turumba) is a oil on canvas painting of the Virgin Mary. It is a replica of , which was found by fishermen on September 15, 1788, after a storm. It was found floating in Laguna de Bay on the bank of the Matamig River and its presence began the devotion of Our Lady by the church. The Turumba Festival in honor of the Our Lady of Sorrows is the "largest and longest religious celebration in the country". It consists of seven Turumba novenas, or lupi, for seven months commemorating the seven sorrows of the Virgin Mary. ==In popular culture==

Pakil church served as filming location for the Regal Entertainment film series Shake, Rattle & Roll 11 starring Maja Salvador in the episode 'Diablo' in 2009 film and ABS-CBN television series Juan dela Cruz starring Coco Martin and the show's follow-up series My Little Juan. In 1983, the celebration of Turumba was featured in the film Turumba by Kidlat Tahimik. ==Notes==