National Cultural Treasure Series - SAN AGUSTINE OF HIPPO CHURCH, Bacong, Negros Oriental

The Church of St. Agustine of Hippo is located in the coastal town of Bacong, Negros Oriental, the smallest municipality in the province, located south of Dumaguete City. It is the town’s heritage jewel with it's fabled pipe organ. The church’s current structure was completed in 1865. Its sits with its façade and belfry close to and facing the shore as do most churches of the era. 

The church was declared by the National Museum as a National Cultural Treasure in 2002. 

Its bell tower, the tallest in the province, served as look out for monitoring of maurading pirates.  Climbing the top is quite a challenge but the breathtaking view of the Negros seaside and the town plaza surrounded by majestic acacia trees. 

Most of the interior of the church is renovated except for the altar, which is said to be the oldest in the province. It remains one of two original elements. The church’s pipe organ is the other. It was ordered from Zaragoza, Spain and installed in 1894. The pipe organ was restored in 2009.

National Cultural Treasure Series - SAN ISIDRO LABRADOR PARISH CHURCH, Lazi, Siquijor - PH-07-0011-NCT

The San Isidro Labrador Parish Church (Iglesia Parroquial de San Isidro Labrador), commonly known as Lazi Church, is located in the municipality of Lazi, Siquijor.

The church is built of sea stones and wood. It belongs to the neoclassical style. It has two pulpits and has retained its original retablo and wood florings. The present stone church was built in 1884 by Filipino artisans followed by the bell tower in the following year. The construction of the convent was made with coral stones 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 Sánchez.

Lazi Church was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines in 2012. It was also declared a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines in 1984. It is also nominated to be part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Philippines under the Baroque Churches of the Philippines (Extension) with the churches of Patrocinio de María in Boljoon, Cebu; La Inmaculada Concepción in Guiuan, Eastern Samar; San Pedro Ápostol in Loboc, Bohol and San Mattias in Tumauini, Isabela.

Source: Wikipedia

National Cultural Treasure Series - NUESTRA SENORA DE PATROCINIO PARISH CHURCH, Boljoon, Cebu - PH-07-0010-NCT

The Church of Our Lady of Patrocinio, located in Boljoon, Cebu, was built in 1599 under the direction of the Augustinians. The jurisdiction over the church was then transferred to the Jesuits in 1737. Conceived as a fortress-church, which stands on a hill overlooking the sea, with features that provide safety for the parishioners against periodic Moro raids.

The exterior facade of the church, has a watchtower-like bell tower belongs to a chain of southern Cebuano churches and watch towers, particularly in the neighboring towns of Argao and Dalaguete. Constructed from locally quarried coral stone and topped with a roof of terra cotta tiles, the architectural volumes are simple, which contrasts with the more ornamented interior, which follows the trompe l'oeil style of Alberoni and Dibella.

The Boljoon Church is the oldest remaining original stone church in Cebu. In 1999, the National Historical Institute declared it a National Historical Landmark. The following year, the National Museum declared it as a National Cultural Treasure.

Source: WikiPilipinas

National Cultural Treasure Series - SAN JOAQUIN PARISH CHURCH, San Joaquin, Iloilo - PH-06-0001-NCT

The Church of San Joaquin is the Roman Catholic parish church of the town of San Joaquin in Iloilo Province. Built in 1869, the church distinguishes itself from other churches in the Philippines because of its militaristic theme. Carved on a disproportionately large pediment on the facade is an intricate sculptural relief depicting the Spanish victory over Moroccan forces in the Battle of Tetuan.

The San Joaquin Church is made of limestones quarried from the mountains of Igbaras and gleaming white coral stones abundant in the shores of San Joaquin. The facade is decorated with rosettes and divided vertically by engaged columns. A plaque above the arched portal displays the Augustinian seal flanked by cherubs.

The unique features of the San Joaquin Church has received the admiration of its onlookers including the National Historical Institute, which has listed the church as a National Cultural Treasure. The declaration was made in support of the state policy to preserve and protect important cultural properties and safeguard their intrinsic value.

The church magnificently stands on a plain overlooking the sea and is located beside San Joaquin’s town plaza.

Source: exploreiloilo.com

Visita Iglesia 2015 - National Cultural Treasures of the Philippines

The Philippines is home to hundreds of centuries-old Spanish colonial churches which continue to play important spiritual roles in the lives of millions of Filipino Catholics. Built during the height of the Spanish colonization  in the 1500's, these churches have remained largely intact for centuries. However, natural calamities, the ravages of pollution, and urban development has taken its toll on these priceless edifices.

The National Commission for the Culture and Arts (NCCA) identifed these 37 churches as National Cultural Treasures for their cultural significance and distinctive architecture. Most of them I have already visited. The rest, will be part of my next travel agenda.

Visita Iglesia 2015 - Bohol's Heritage Churches

My plan to visit Bohol from October 10-13, 2013 to celebrate my birthday was cancelled due to sickness. My intention was to go around Bohol to visit the heritage churches of the province and take good pictures of them, Only if I knew what's going to happen a few days after!

That tragic morning of October 15, 2013, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake shook the entire province of Bohol and other parts of the Visayas and Mindanao. The devastation of this strong force included some of the oldest churches in the Philippines, our cultural and heritage treasures which endured the test of time for more than 300 years, to turn into rubble. Experts said it would be impossible for these churches to be restored in their original forms. No amount of duplication can be possibly made due to unavailability of the original materials (coral stones) crafted by hand to build these iconic churches.

I had the opportunity to visit Bohol again this year and was able to see the damages. The site of the ruins are really heartbreaking, knowing I won't be able to see these heritage sites standing proud and mighty again.

Church Of San Pedro Apostol

Loboc

Loboc Church before the earthquake

Santissima Trinidad Parish

Loay

Loay Church before the earthquake

Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception

Baclayon

Baclayon Church before the earthquake

Parroquia Del Senor San Isidro Labrador

Bilar

Bilar Church before the earthquake

Similarly, the churches of Loon (Church of Our Lady of Light), Dauis (Church of Our Lady of the Assumption), Dimiao (San Nicholas Church), and Maribojoc (Santa Cruz Parish Church) were not spared from being severely damaged.

On the other hand, old churches which are not made entirely from coral stones suffered only minor damages or no damages. Wood was the primary material used to build these structures.

Santa Monica Parish Church

Alburquerque

The Church of St. James the Apostle

Batuan

Saint Joseph Cathedral

Tagbilaran City