Heritage Religious Structures throughout the Philippines

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Published on Tuesday, 24 April 2012 22:31

 

Heritage Religious Structures in the Philippines

 

There are hundreds of centuries-old Spanish colonial churches in the Philippines. Four of these churches are inscribed in the World Heritage List and 37 are identified by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) as National Cultural Treasures.  The most notable non-Christian religious structure in the country, the Sheik Karimul Makhdum Mosque, is also declared as a National Cultural Treasure.

 

Notable Religious Structures in the Philippines

Central United Methodist Church

•  Location: T.M. Kalaw, Manila
•  Built in 1899, it is the first protestant church in the Philippines.

Chong Hok Tong Temple

• Location: Binondo, Manila
• Built in the 1850’s, it is the oldest Chinese temple in the Philippines.

 

Sheik Karimul Makhdum Mosque

• Location: Simunul, Tawi-Tawi
• The first and oldest existing mosque in the Philippines was constructed in the 1380. It is designated as a National Cultural Treasure.

 

Baroque Churches of the Philippines

 

The baroque churches of the Philippines in Paoay, Sta. Maria, Intramuros and Miag-ao represent the fusion of Oriental and European church design and construction. These churches, inscribed in the World Heritage List in 1993, are a showcase of Filipino and Chinese craftsmanship. The following are the baroque churches of the Philippines:

 

San Agustin Church

• Location: Paoay, Ilocos Norte
• The church, completed in 1710, is an outstanding example of an “earthquake baroque” structure in the country.

 

Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion(Our Lady of the Assumption)

• Location: Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur
  
• Built of brick, the church is an outstanding example of peripheral baroque architecture. It features an octagonal bell tower that evokes a Chinese pagoda.

 

San Agustin Church

• Location: Intramuros, Manila
  
• The oldest stone church in the Philippines is the only structure that survived the liberation of Manila during the Second World War.

Sto. Tomas de Villanueva

• Location: Miag-ao, Iloilo
• Completed in 1797, the church, built of yellow-orange sandstone, is an outstanding example of local interpretation of the Baroque style.

National Cultural Treasures (Colonial Churches of the Philippines)

The National Commission on Culture and the Arts has designated 37 centuries-old Spanish churches throughout the country as National Cultural Treasures.

 

Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)

Sta. Catalina de Alejandria

• Location: Tayum, Abra
  
• The 19^th century church features “palayok” art motif. The belfry has a picturesque view of the Cordillera mountain ranges, the Abra valley and the Abra river.  

 

Region I (Ilocos Region)

 

St. Andrew the Apostle Church

• Location: Bacarra, Ilocos Norte
• Originally built by the Augustinians at the end of the 16^th century, the present structure is built in the 19^th century.

 

San Agustin Church

• Location: Paoay, Ilocos Norte
• The “earthquake baroque,” a World Heritage Site, is characterized by enormous buttresses on the side.

 

San Guillermo Ermitaño

• Location: Magsingal, Ilocos Sur
• The pulpit and the retablo are of the baroque style.

 

Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion

• Location: Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur
• The church, built on a hill, is inscribed in the World Heritage List as part of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines. It has an octagonal bell tower reminiscent of the Chinese Pagoda

Santa Catalina de Alejandria

• Location: Luna, La Union
• The church, built by the Augustinians in the 18^th century, is a shrine to Our Lady of Namacpacan.

 

San Raymundo de Peñfort

• Location: Calasiao, Pangasinan
• The brick church, built by the Dominicans from the 17^th to 19^th century, features a 5-storey brick belfry.

Region II (Cagayan VAlley)

 

San Carlos Borromeo

• Location: Mahatao, Batanes
• Built in 1789 by the Dominicans, the church retains its espadaña style façade.

 

San Raymundo de Peñafort

• Location: Rizal, Cagayan
• Blue and white porcelain adon the grounds of this 17^th century church built by the Dominicans in 1607.

 

San Matias

• Location: Tumauini, Isabela
• The church, built by the Dominicans in 1780, is the best well-preserved brick structure in the Philippines.o

 

San Vicente Ferrer

• Location: Dupax, Nueva Vizcaya
• The convent of the Dominican church built in the 18^th century has slits on the outer walls used by archers to defend the church against attacks.

Region III (Central Luzon)

 

Santiago Apostol

• Location: Betis, Pampanga
• The ceiling of the 18^th century church features paintings from the 20^th century.

 San Andres

• Location: Masinloc, Zambales
• Built by the Augustinian Recollects in the 18^th century, it features a polychrome portal leading to the choir loft.

 

National Capital Region (NCR)

Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados

• Location: Sta. Ana, Manila
• Constructed in 1720, the church features painted ceilings, capiz windows and tile floor. It is one of the few remaining heritage structures in Manila with its Camarin de la Virgen (dressing room o the Virgin) declared as a National Treasure by the National Museum.

San Agustin Church

• Location: Intramuros, Manila
• The World Heritage Site is the only church in Intramuros to survive the Liberation of Manila. It houses the remains of Manila’s founder, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi.

 

Region IV-A (CALABARZON)

 

La Asuncion de la Nuestra Señora

• Location: Maragondon, Cavite
• The church made of river stones features intricate galleon and floral motifs on its pulpit.

 

La Inmaculada Concepcion

• Location: Balayan, Batangas
• One of the few churches supervised by Filipinos, its interior remains intact.

 

San Ildefonso

• Location: Tanay, Rizal
• The church features 5 beautiful retablos of the rococo style.

 

San Gregorio Magno

•  Location: Majayjay, Laguna
• The 18^th century church built by the Franciscans features a catwalk leading to the bell tower.

 

Basilica of San Miguel Arcangel

• Location: Tayabas, Quezon
• Declared a National Treasure in 1972, the 18^th century church, is distinctly of neo-classical style. The adjacent convent was used as a garrison by the Japanese during the Second World War.

 

Region IV-B (MIMAROPA)

 

Cathedral of San Jose

• Romblon, Romblon
• The 18^th century church features a baroque style retablo.

 

Region V (Bicol Region)

 

Nuestra Señora de la Porteria

• Location: Daraga, Albay
• Built in 1773 by the Franciscans, is one of the oldest existing structures in Albay. The church sits on top of a hill and has a panoramic view of the cone-shaped, Mt. Mayon.

 

San Juan Bautista

• Location: Tabaco, Albay
• The church is unique in the Philippines because the stones used to build the church bear the marks of the masons.

 

Region VI (Western Visayas)

 

Santa Monica

• Pan-ay, Capiz
• The centuries-old church built by the Augustinians features a well-preserved 18^th century retablo. Its bell is reputedly the biggest in the country.

 

Santo Tomas de Villanueva

• Location: Miag-ao, Iloilo
• Completed in 1797, the church, built of yellow-orange sandstone is an outstanding example of local interpretation of the Baroque style.
  

San Joaquin

• Location: San Joaquin, Iloilo
• The façade of the church built in 1869 is an intricate structural relief depicting the Battle of Tetuan.

 

Region VII (Central Visayas)

 

San Agustin de Hippo

• Location: Bacong, Negros Oriental
• The Augustinian Recollect church features a 19^th century pipe organ.

 

Patrociñio de Sta. Maria

• Location: Boljoon, Cebu
• The 18^th century fortress church retains its clay roof tiles and coral stone wall.

 

San Isidro de Labrador

• Location: Lazi, Siquijor
• The Augustinian Recollect church built in 1857 retains the original retablos.

 

Nuestra Senora de la Luz

• Location: Loon, Bohol
• Built in 1854, the church is one of the finest churches in the Visayas.

 

Parroquia de la Santa Cruz

• Location: Maribojoc, Bohol
• The church, located in a deep gully, features 3 neo-gothic altars.

 

Immaculada Concepcion de la Virgen Maria

• Location: Baclayon, Bohol
• Built in 1727, the church is considered the best-preserved Jesuit church in the country.

 

San Pedro

• Location: Loboc, Bohol
• The 17^th century church has an intricately designed façade.

 

Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)

 

La Inmaculada Concepcion

• Location: Guiuan, Eastern Samar
• The 18^th century fortress church is decorated with seashells.

 

Region X (Northern Mindanao)

 

La Inmaculada Concepcion

• Location: Jasaan, Misamis Oriental
• The 19^th century church was built by the Jesuits.

 

San Juan Bautista

• Location: Jimenez, Misamis Occidental
• The church retains its original clock metalwork and paintings.

 

 Notable Churches in Manila

 

Basilica of San Sebastian

• Location: Quiapo, Manila
• Built in 1891, the only church built of steel in Asia, is a fusion of earthquake baroque and neo-gothic style.

 

Manila Cathedral

• Location: Intramuros, Manila
• The present cathedral, built in 1954, is the Prime Basilica and the highest seat of the Archbishop of the Philippines.

 

Manila Redemptorist Church

• Location: Baclaran, Manila
• The church is of modern Romanesque style. It is reputed to be the most attended church in Asia.

 

Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene

• Location: Quiapo, Manila
• The church is home to the 17^th century Black Nazarene brought by the Augustinians.

 

Minor Basilica of San Lorenzo Ruiz

• Location: Binondo, Manila
• The church, built in 1596, features a 16^th century octagonal bell tower.

 

Nuestra Señora de Guia

• Location: Ermita, Manila
• The church is home to the image of the Nuestra Señora de Guia believed to have been brought by Magellan’s ships in 1571. The image is one of the oldest venerated images in the country.

 

Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados

• Location: Sta. Ana, Manila
• Constructed in 1720, the church features painted ceilings, capiz windows and tile floor. It is one of the few remaining heritage structures in Manila with its  Camarin de la Virgen (dressing room of the Virgin) declared as a National Treasure by the National Museum. 

Nuestra Señora de Remedios

• Location: Ermita, Manila
• Originally built by the Augustinians in the 16^th century, it houses the revered Our Lady of Remedies brought from Spain in 1624.

 

San Agustin Church

• Location: Intramuros, Manila
• The oldest stone church in the Philippines is the only structure that survive the liberation of Manila during the Second World War.
  

 

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