Law of the Indies no relation papaya
Architecture
The church's over-all architectural style falls under the Baroque-Romanesque style. Its ochre color is due to the materials used in constructing the church: adobe, egg, coral and limestone., The church's foundation is 6 meters (20 ft) deep and the massive stone walls at 1.5 meters (4 ft 11 in) thick are intensified through the use of 4 meters (13 ft) thick setback buttresses as protection to the Moro invaders as stipulated under Royal Decree 111 of 1573 (Law of the Indies).Façade
The façade of the church consists of an ornately decorated bas-relief in the middle of two huge watchtower belfries on each side. The bas-relief is a mixed influence of Medieval Spanish, Chinese, Muslim and local traditions and elements, a unique characteristic of the church façade. A prominent part of the façade is a coconut tree depicted as the tree of life where St. Christopher holds on. St. Christopher is dressed in local and traditional clothing carrying the Child Jesus on his back. The rest of the façade features the daily life of the people of Miagao during that time including native flora (like papaya, coconut and palm tree) and fauna.,Above the wooden door entrance at the center of the façade just below the image of St. Christopher is a carved image of the town's patron saint, St. Thomas of Villanueva. At each side of the door is the images of St. Henry of Bavaria on the left and Pope Pius VI., Above the images of St. Henry and Pope Pius VI is their respective coat-of-arms.