National Cultural Treasure Series - PAOAY CHURCH, Ilocos Norte - PH-01-0004-NCT

Paoay, Ilocos Norte's most famous landmark, the Paoay Church,also known as the St. Augustine Church, is #4 in the National Cultural Treasure's list. Paoay Church is also one of the four Baroque churches in the Philippines declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Built of coral blocks and stucco-plastered bricks, the architecture is a unique combination of Gothic, Baroque and Oriental. Construction of the church was started in 1704 and completed in 1894. A few meters away is the coralstone belltower which served as observation post of the Katipuneros during the revolution.

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.

World Heritage Sites In The Philippines - BAROQUE CHURCHES

Out of the hundreds (maybe thousands) of Catholic churches we have in the Philippines, four baroque churches are included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and I’m so grateful I was able to visit all of them.

The churches’ unique architectural style is a reinterpretation of European Baroque by Chinese and Philippine craftsmen. These structures were able to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design, and are outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates significant stages in human history.

These are:
1. San Agustin Church, Walled City of Intramuros, Manila
2. Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion, Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur
3. San Agustin Church, Paoay, Ilocos Norte
4. Sto. Tomas De Villanueva Church, Miag-ao, Iloilo
 

San Agustin Church, Intramuros, Manila

Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion Church, Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur

San Agustin Church, Paoay, Ilocos Norte

 

Sto. Tomas De Villanueva Church, Miag-ao, Iloilo