Spanish Churches
Spanish Churches
Spanish Churches
The Saint Augustine Church (Spanish: Iglesia de San Agustín de Paoay), commonly known as
the Paoay Church, is the Roman Catholic church of the municipality of Paoay, Ilocos
Norte in the Philippines. Completed in 1710, the church is famous for its distinct
architecture highlighted by the enormous buttresses on the sides and back of the building.
It is declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the Philippine government in 1973 and
a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the collective group of Baroque Churches of the
Philippines in 1993. Paoay church is the Philippines' primary example of an Spanish
colonial earthquake baroque architecture dubbed by Alicia Coseteng,[3] an interpretation of
the European Baroque adapted to the seismic condition of the country through the use of
enormousbuttresses on the sides and back of the building.[2] The adaptive reuse of baroque
style against earthquake is developed since many destructive earthquakes destroyed earlier
churches in the country.
The Miagao Church also known as the Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Parish Church is a Roman
catholic church located in Miagao,Iloilo, Philippines. It was also called the Miagao Fortress
Church since it served as defensive tower of the town against Muslim raids. The church was
declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on December 11, 1993 together with San Agustin
Church in Manila;Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion Church in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur; and San
Agustin Church in Paoay, Ilocos Norte under the collective title Baroque Churches of the
Philippines, a collection of four Baroque Spanish-era churches. The church's over-all architectural
style falls under the Baroque Romanesque architectural style.[3] Its ochre color is due to the
materials used in constructing the church, adobe, egg, coral and limestone.[5],[4] The church's
foundation is 6 meters deep[6] and the massive stone walls at 1.5 meters thick are intensified
through the use of 4 meter thick flying buttresses as protection to the Moro invaders as stipulated
under Royal Decree 111 of 1573 (Law of the Indies)
The San Pedro Apostol Parish Church commonly known as Loboc Church, is a Roman
Catholic church in the municipality of Loboc, Bohol, Philippines, within the jurisdiction of
the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tagbilaran. The church is built along the banks of the Loboc
River. The coral stone church follows a cruciform plan, with a sunken pyramidal roof on
its crossing. As a church built by the Jesuits, exterior walls of the church have the Jesuit insignia
and icons of an angel's wing and head. Major renovations were undertaken by Augustinian priest
Father Aquilino Bon, including the addition of a portico to the façade (1863–1866) and re-roofing
with tiles (1873). Father José Sánchez, OAR, added stone buttresses to the walls (1891–1893) and
side porticoes (1895–1896). Because of frequent flooding, its wooden flooring was changed to
cement tiles in 1895 and was elevated in 1969.
The Nuestra Señora del Patrocinio de Maria Parish Church (Our Lady of Patronage of Mary
Parish Church), commonly known as Boljoon Church, is a Roman Catholic Church dedicated to
the Our Lady of Patrocinio in the municipality of Boljoon, Cebu, Philippines, under the Roman
Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu. The church is a fortress church, built of coral stones and located on
a hill near the sea. It originally served as a watchtower for possible Moro raids. The church is
known for its original terra cotta roof tiles and its distinct folk art or Filipino Baroque style,
predominantly on its choir screen and pulpit. Twenty-eight pillars support the 2-metre (6.6 ft)
thick walls made of mortar and lime. Its ceiling paintings are the work of Miguel Villareal, a
native of Boljoon. The three gates and the walls of the church are made of coral stones and were
constructed from 1802 to 1808 under the auspices of Father Bermejo.
The Immaculate Conception Parish Church commonly known as Guiuan Church, is a Roman
Catholic church in the municipality of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, Philippines, within the jurisdiction
of the Diocese of Borongan.
Guiuan Church is nestled inside a fort. It is well known for its extensive shell ornamentation in its
interiors.[5] Studies revealed that at least eight types of seashells were used. Before its destruction,
it still has two elaborately carved doors out of the original three doors. The main door on the
entrance has exquisite carvings of the Twelve Apostles while a side door has carved
representations of angels. A bell tower on top fort was built in 1854. Another convent was built by
Father Arsenio Figueroa in 1872. The church was refurbished in 1935 and the sanctuary was
renovated in 1987. On November 8, 2013, the church along with other buildings and structures in
Guiuan was severely damaged due to Typhoon Haiyan. While the roof was destroyed and the
facade was damaged, the church's stone walls remain unscathed, as do the floors and the crypts.
The San Matias Parish Church (Spanish: Iglesia Parroquial de San Matías), commonly
known as Tumauini Church, is a Roman Catholic church in the municipality
of Tumauini, Isabela, Philippines within the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of
Ilagan. It became a separate parish independent from Cabagan under the advocacy of Saint
Matthias in 1751. Tumauini is an ultra-baroque church known for its extensive use of red
bricks on its exterior and interior ornamentations. Brick was used due to lack of good
quality stones in the area. The church building is made entirely of ornately-designed red
bricks in its façade and its interior walls.A closer look at the brick façade shows numbers
and dates for the correct sequence of the bricks in Forto's design. The façade is flanked by
two pseudo-Corinthian columns and niches, one located above the entrance and the two
remaining larger niches on each side of the columns. The church's circular pediment is
unique relative to all other churches built during the Spanish Era.
The San Isidro Labrador Parish Church (Spanish: Iglesia Parroquial de San Isidro Labrador),
commonly known as Lazi Church, is a Roman Catholic church in the municipality of Lazi,
Siquijor, Philippines within the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Dumaguete. Lazi
(formerly Tigbawan) became an independent parish from Siquijor on August 8, 1857. The
present stone church was built in 1884 by Filipino artisans followed by the bell tower in the
following year.[1] The construction of the convent was made with coralstones and hardwood,
commenced in 1887 and completed in 1891. Both the church and the convent were done under the
direction of Recollect priest Father Toribio SánchezIt became an independent parish in 1857 under
the advocacy of Saint Isidore the Laborer. The church is built of sea stones and wood.[1] It belongs
to the neoclassical style. It has two pulpits and has retained its original retablo and wood florings.
La Purisima Concepcion de la Virgen Maria Parish Church (also The Immaculate Conception
of the Virgin Mary Parish Church), commonly known as Baclayon Church, is a Roman
Catholic Church in the municipality of Baclayon, Bohol, Philippines within the jurisdiction of
the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tagbilaran. Baclayon was founded by the Jesuit priest Juan de
Torres and Gabriel Sánchez in 1596, and became the oldest Christian settlement in Bohol. It was
elevated as a parish in 1717 and the present coral stone church was completed in 1727.
The Augustinian Recollects succeeded the Jesuits in 1768 and heavily renovated the church since
then. The church, built out of coral stones, is a cross shaped (cruciform) church with its juncture
or crossing surmounted by a pyramidal wall. The original tiled roof was replaced by galvanized
iron in 1893.[5] The church complex is strategically located facing the sea. It originally has
defensive stone walls around but was removed in the 1870s.[1] It also has a school building built
our of corastones in the middle of the 19th century and a wood and stone market built in 1881.
The Our Lady of the Assumption Parish Church (Spanish: Iglesia Parroquial de Nuestra
Señora de la Asunción), commonly known as Maragondon Church, is the only heritage structure
in the municipality of Maragondon, Cavite, Philippines declared by theNational Museum as
a National Cultural Treasure. Maragondon is unique among Jesuit churches for its proportion.
The façade is narrow but tall, not squatty as in other churches. To the left of the façade is the taller
bell tower with no clear divisions between the stories. It is a single quadrilateral shaft tapering
upwards ending with finials at the four corners and surmounted by a rounded roof. The façade is
chastely ornamented with the tapering buttresses supporting it. Repairs were made on the convent
between 1666 and 1672. In 1687 another church was begun although the construction was
interrupted; only in 1714 was it completed. The church was repaired a number of times but data
on the renovation are sketchy. After 1860 the Recollect added windows with colored glass panes,
and set these in a wooded frame decorated with a quail on a plate, the attribute of San Nicolas de
Tolentino.
St. Augustine of Hippo Church was built near the sea. It was constructed by the
Augustinian Recollects in 1865. The church's main attraction is the altar and the pipe
organ, created in Spain. It also features religious items which are being displayed. Its bell
tower, the tallest in the province served as look out for the enemies. The Parish of Saint
Augustine of Hippo, situated in the town of Bacong in Negros Oriental, is a glimpse of
how the Filipinos build a sturdy structure in the past. The strong bell tower at the side of
the church is made from blocks of coral stones while the facade is made from concrete and
modern-design stones.
The Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church (Iglesia Parroquial de los Santos Pedro y Pablo),
commonly known as Calasiao Church is a baroque church located in Poblacion
West, Calasiao, Pangasinan, Philippines. It belongs to the Vicariate of Sts. Peter and Paul under
the Ecclesiastical Province of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan. The 57,
840 Catholics is under the pastoral care of Rev. Fidelis B. Layog, assisted by Rev. Isidro Palinar,
Jr. and andRev. Raymund Manaois. The imposing Latin American-style facade of bricks and
cement of Calasiao Church, today, is 88.3 meter long, 25 meters wide and 27.3 meters high.The
sprawling convent is 75 meters long, 25 meters wide and has 2 yards. Its 5-storey octagonal brick
bell tower (replica of the earthquake destroyed original on July 16, 1990) with architectural
designs that slightly resemble those of the Southeast Asian Hindu-Buddhist Pagodas is 30 meters
high. As one of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines, the Parish Church of Saints Peter and
Paul has been at the forefront of Philippine history-Spanish colonial rule. Its unique architectural
design reflects the Spanish and Latin American architecture integration of indigenous Philippines
works of art with Chinese style fusion. Its massive bricks or ladrillo had been designed to
withstand revolts and rebellions, due to its fortresses facade.
16. Parish Church of San Vicente de Ferrer in Dupax del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya
The San Vicente Ferrer Parish Church (Tagalog: Simbahan ng Parokya ni San Vicente
Ferrer; Spanish: Iglesia Parroquial de San Vicente Ferrer), commonly referred to as Dupax
Church or Dupax del Sur Church, is an 18th-century Baroque church located at Brgy.
Dopaj, Dupax del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines. The parish church, under the advocation
of Saint Vincent Ferrer, is under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bayombong.
The church complex has been declared a National Cultural Treasureby the National Museum of
the Philippines in July 2001. The façade is described as a reflection of that of Tuguegarao
Cathedral, only less in ornamentation and lower in height. Unlike the church of Tuguegarao, the
church of Dupax has no spiral columns and pilasters that offer support to the structure. The façade
is divided by cornices into horizontal segments of plastered brick. To the left of the façade is the
four-level, unplastered, rectangular bell tower. The base features saint’s niches similar to that
found on the second level of the façade while the second level features long, narrow windows
framed with bracket columns. The tower is capped with a decorative parapet and a small cupola
surmounted by a cross. The church plaza is enclosed by a low perimeter wall and a replica of an
earlier atrial cross.
18. Parish Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan
The Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church (Iglesia Parroquial de los Santos Pedro y
Pablo), commonly known as Calasiao Churchis a baroque church located in Poblacion
West, Calasiao, Pangasinan, Philippines. It belongs to the Vicariate of Sts. Peter and Paul
under the Ecclesiastical Province of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lingayen-
Dagupan. The 57, 840 Catholics is under the pastoral care of Rev. Fidelis B. Layog,
assisted by Rev. Isidro Palinar, Jr. and andRev. Raymund Manaois. The imposing Latin
American-style facade of bricks and cement of Calasiao Church, today, is 88.3 meter long,
25 meters wide and 27.3 meters high.The sprawling convent is 75 meters long, 25 meters
wide and has 2 yards. Its 5-storey octagonal brick bell tower (replica of the earthquake
destroyed original on July 16, 1990) with architectural designs that slightly resemble those
of the Southeast Asian Hindu-Buddhist Pagodas is 30 meters high.The prized
original retablos (and a classic altar) is ornately decorated with statues of saints. The
Baroque-style carved, the painted ceilings and the magnificent overall exterior are
preserved for centuries. The intricate sculpture has tone of the Renaissance age's undying
European Art as demonstrated by the majesty of its ceiling or dome, walls and the altar
from the aisle near the main door
The San Juan Bautista Parish Church (Spanish: Iglesia Parroquial de San Juan Bautista),
commonly referred to as Jimenez Church, is a late-19th century, Baroque church located at Brgy.
Poblacion, Jimenez, Misamis Occidental, Philippines. The parish church, under the patronage
of Saint John the Baptist, is under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ozamiz.
The church is predominantly Baroque in architecture with features reminiscent of
the Renaissance style. The church façade, contrary to other Roman Catholic churches of the same
era, is devoid of a pediment. It features a portico with three semicircular arched entrances lined on
top with a parapet. The rectangular mass of the portico is crowned by three pedimented
saints’ niches. Behind the façade is the nave wall with its simple, gabled roof and windows. To the
left of the church stands the rectangular, three-tiered bell tower topped with finials, a domed roof
and a lantern. The clock mechanism are still intact. The interiors of the church is reportedly one of
the best preserved interior of a Roman Catholic church in Mindanao. It features a painting done in
1898 and portions made of tabique pampango, a local version of a dry wall using panels of
interwoven slats or branches and covered with lime.