10 Beautiful Churches in the Philippines to Visit This Holy Week
How many have you seen in person?
(SPOT.ph) Considering our country's long history with the Roman Catholic Church during the Spanish period, it shouldn't be a surprise that a number of old churches can be found in many of our provinces. Whether you go for some spiritual reflection or just to admire the gorgeous architecture, these 10 churches are certain to provide plenty of inspiration, especially during the solemn observances of Holy Week. How many have you seen in person?
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Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish
Barasoain Church or Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Malolos City, Bulacan is such a big part of Philippine history that it would be a shame not to visit it at least once in your lifetime. It was also dubbed the "Cradle of Democracy in the East" upon having been chosen as the site of the First Philippine Congress after the Spanish-American War. So important was the church that it was immortalized through Philippine monetary bills: the one-peso note in 1951; the 10-peso bill in 1967, 1973, 1985, 1997; and the 200-peso denomination in 2010.
Barasoain Church is at Paseo del Congreso Street corner Don Antonio Bautista Street, Brgy. San Gabriel, Malolos, Bulacan.
Also read: Exploring the History and Art in Bulacan's Kamestisuhan District
Basilica Minore del Santo Niño
A list of Philippine churches wouldn't be complete without the country's oldest Roman Catholic Church. Located in Cebu City, Basilica Minore del Santo Niño was erected by Augustinian priests in 1565. It was destroyed twice by a fire and was rebuilt in 1629 and 1737. The present building has been designated by the Holy See as the "Mother and Head of all Churches in the Philippines." The basilica's centuries-old bell tower was heavily damaged by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake that hit Cebu and Bohol in 2013 but was restored three years later.
Basilica Minore del Santo Niño is at Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City.
Church of Saint Augustine
Church of Saint Augustine—along with San Agustin Church in Manila, Santa Maria Church in Ilocos Sur, and Miag-ao Church in Iloilo—was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 under the collective title "Baroque Churches of the Philippines." But unlike the European Baroque style, the structure in Paoay, Ilocos Norte was made to withstand seismic conditions in the country, which is why it has large buttresses at its sides and back. It's also been called the "Earthquake Baroque Church of the Philippines." Even the three-story coral bell tower stands at a safe distance from the main church, to avoid any major damage during an earthquake.
Church of Saint Augustine is at Marcos Ave, Paoay, Ilocos Norte.
Church of Santo Tomas de Villanueva
Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Parish Church (a.k.a. Miagao Church), another UNESCO World Heritage Site, has its own interesting history. This Iloilo church once served as a fortress to protect the area against Moro slave traders and pirates during the late 17th to early 19th centuries. The two belfry towers differ in design because they were commissioned by two different parish priests, rendering the whole structure almost asymmetrical. The façade of the church is also something worth noting, having an ornately decorated bas relief featuring St. Christopher dressed in local clothing (i.e. bahag) while holding a huge coconut tree and carrying the Child Jesus on his back.
Church of Santo Tomas de Villanueva is at Zulueta Ave, Miagao, Iloilo.
Nuestra Señora de la Porteria Church
In the 1720s, Cagsawa—then a sitio of Albay—began to progress, but its 4,000 inhabitants still saw its location at the foot of Mayon Volcano as a threat to its livelihood. So they asked that their town and church be transferred to Daraga, a village farther south of Cagsawa. The structure atop a hill and overlooking the majestic Mayon was then consecrated in 1854 as Nuestra Señora de la Porteria Church.
Now, Daraga Church is famous for its mixture of Renaissance Gothic and Mexican Baroque, according to historian Alicia M. L. Coseteng in her book Spanish Churches in the Philippines. It is the only surviving church in the country that has adapted the salomonica columns (the four spiral columns in its façade).
Daraga Church is at Sta. Maria Street, Daraga, Albay.
Mt. Carmel Chapel
Batanes doesn't have a lot of churches, so the influential Abad family spearheaded the construction of a chapel as an alternative to Basco Cathedral (which is about three kilometers away). Mt. Carmel Chapel or Tukon Chapel was completed in 2008 through the help of local masons, carpenters, and craftsmen. The design was inspired by traditional Ivatan stone houses, said to be strong enough to weather strong winds and frequent storms in the northern end of Luzon. The church also made an appearance in the film You're My Boss starring Toni Gonzaga and Coco Martin.
Tukon Chapel is at Basco, Batanes.
Also read: Philippine Airlines Now Has Daily Flights to Batanes and Siargao
Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Manila Cathedral was a simple parish made of nipa and bamboo in 1581. It went through several reconstructions after being destroyed by earthquakes and typhoons through the years, and even the Battle of Manila in 1945. The structure that we see today was the reconstructed church in the 1950s. Its façade features statues of famous saints—St. Rose of Lima, St. Jacob, St. Andrew, St. Anthony the Abbot, St. Francis Xavier, and St. Polycarp—all sculpted in Roman travertine stones. It also has more than a hundred stained glass windows made by Filipino artist Galo Ocampo.
Manila Cathedral is at Cabildo, 132 Beaterio St, Intramuros, Manila.
St. James Parish Church
St. James Parish Church was built in 1871 in honor of St. James the Great, patron saint of Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte. It is said that Jose Rizal frequented this church during his exile from 1892 to 1896. The church houses a German-made pipe organ that bears the marking "1827"—it's believed to have been brought into the church by Augustinian recollect priests. The exterior may not impress visitors, but wait until you enter the church and look up. The ceiling of its arched doorway is almost hypnotic, thanks to the interlocking white-and-pink triangles that seem to swirl around the domes and arches.
St. James Parish Church is at Ipil-Dipolog Hwy, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte.
Church of the Angry Christ
St. Joseph the Worker Church was later known as the Church of the Angry Christ because of its famous (and controversial) mural titled “The Last Judgment” by Filipino-American artist Alfonso Ossorio. There are also mosaics all over the structure, from its façade to the walls by the entrance, made by Belgian artist Ade de Bethune. The church itself was designed by Czech architect Antonín Raymond, who employed a modern design when it was built in 1949. If you're ever in or near Victorias City, Negros Occidental, try to drop by this unique church.
Church of the Angry Christ is at Victorias City, Negros Occidental.
Minor Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours
Construction of Taal Basilica started in 1856, but it was only in 1878 that the structure was finally completed. The main altar measured 79 feet high and followed the Doric style, so the columns are stout with round tops and bottoms. It was declared a Minor Basilica in 1954, making it the third church in the country to be given such an honor. In 1974, it was declared a National Shrine. Taal Basilica was heavily damaged after the earthquake that hit Mabini and Tingloy, Batangas in April 2017. This also pushed the local government to take action and preserve what is considered the largest church in the Philippines and Asia.
Taal Basilica is at Calle San Martin, Taal, Batangas.
Also read:
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