It is an achievement for me to be able to complete the four (4) UNESCO World Heritage Baroque Churches of the Philippines.
According to my friend Wiki, “A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert,monument, building, complex, or city) that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance.”
Following are the four baroque churches which have great significance not only to the faithful but to the Philippines as a whole:
1. San Agustin Church inside the Intramuros, Manila
I have been to this church during college but I didn’t know that this is a UNESCO WHS until I started blogging and researching about my travels. For those living in Manila and the surrounding province, this is the easiest church to visit. This church is the only remaining structure in Intramuros after the WWII because it is the site of Red Cross. The Americans spared this church because a lot of American soldiers are inside.
Photo by Jun Acullador
If you want to know some amazing facts about Intramuros you can check out 10 New Learnings in Intramuros
2. Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Church found in Miag-ao, Iloilo
I was stunned when I saw this church back in 2009 during my Backpacking Western Visayas Challenge. It was grand- the huge front door, the belfries, the buttresses. This is what they call the “Fortress Baroque” as this used to be a fortress against the invading Muslims during the slave raids in the 19th century.
What I like about this church is the “Pinoy” frontage because you will see a uniquely carved banana and papaya trees on its façade.
If you are interested to know more about the Fortress Churches and the Muslim Raids, I highly recommend reading Langyaw.com’s post: TEA + SULU = MIAG-AO CHURCH
3. San Agustin Church in Paoay, Ilocos Norte
They call this an “Earthquake Baroque.” According to UNESCO, “Fourteen buttresses are ranged along the lines of a giant volute supporting a smaller one and surmounted by pyramidal finials. A pair of buttresses at the midpoint of each nave wall have stairways for access to the roof. The lower part of the apse and most of the walls are constructed of coral stone blocks, the upper levels being finished in brick, but this order is reversed on the facade. The massive coral stone bell tower, which was added half a century after the church was completed, stands at some distance from the church, again as a protection against damage during earthquakes.”
As of this writing the church is being renovated and I’m glad to see it without the scaffolding around it.
4. Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion erected at Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur
Another cultural gem of the Ylocanos is the Santa Maria Church. Perched on top of the hill because of the pirate attacks during the 19th century.
I visited this during my 100 Days challenge to complete my list of 4 UNESCO-stamped churches. I also explored the church and its surrounding area.
I have seen the ruins of Campo Santo on the east. I would imagine that in the Spanish times everyone wants his/her remains to be buried here but now every niche is being opened to be transferred to the new cemetery.
The twin chapel ruins, on the church’s west which is now the Sta. Maria East Elementary School which is the original site of the church. It is a twin chapel but only one chapel can be seen because the other one collapsed because its too old. It is now being used as a classroom.
I met Sir Joy Lord Calpito, the history teacher of the school and I asked him about the ruins of the chapel and the story of why it was transferred to the hill above. According to his story, the Mama Mary’s image inside the chapel was lost and when people looked they saw it on that same hill where the church is now erected. The image was found on the guava tree. This explains embossed artwork you can see on the right wall of the church.
According to Estan, the church was transferred on top of the hill because of the Moro raids during the 19th century.
How about you? How many have you visited among these 4 so far?
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Finishing the list was the Sta. Maria Church in Ilocos Sur. I visited it during Days 8 of ISANG DAAN Journey. Thanks to Sir Joy Lord and Madame Sheree of Sta. Maris East ES for providing important informations regarding the church. Thanks also for the snacks you provided to the weary traveler.
#ISANGDAAN is a personal journey and challenge to backpack around the Philippines the cheapest way possible for 100 days.
If you want real time updates, you can check my facebook page:www.facebook.com/journeyingjames or follow me on twitter: @journeyingjames
If you want to follow my steps, I have an interactive map- ISANGDAAN Journey map.
Nice! very informative… Before kala ko mas old ang Cathedral sa San Agustin hindi pala…. sana makita pa yan ng nga susunod na saling lahi… ☺
that’s my former knowledge too… and manila cathedral is rebuilt 7 times na ha.
Visited 2 of the 4. Unfortunately, was not able to see the one in Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur during my visit there because of time constraints. I hope I will set foot on the remaining two churches real soon. galing mo talaga! :))
so most of travelers saw 2 out of 4.
sana matapos mo na lauvee
Very nice post James and congrats for the achievement.Sayang, I actually visited all the four places but I don’t have pictures of them except maybe San Agustin Church in Intramuros where I attended several weddings.
thanks atty! sayang nga, it would have been a very nice post.. i cant seem to find my photos of san agustin, kaya ginamit ko yung ibang photo
I see why they are Unesco Heritage Churches.
2 out of 4. will go to the last two when we do a trip to the north on easter.
sorry OC lang, mali ung numbering ng last church. 😉
good luck on your next destination. will wait for updates.
thanks for the correction, i edited it already..hehe
I haven’t visited Sta. Maria Church… Hopefully I could visit it soon so I would be able to also visit all four.. 🙂
uy mervs, isa na lang tapos ka narin. next nyan is to visit all the UNESCO WHS sa pinas. medyo mahirap lang talaga yung tubattaha reef, magastos
Ang ganda James, love ko talaga OLD Churches…:-D
talaga? what’s with the old churches that you love?
Wow! I so love old Philippine churches!
Unfortunately, yung Paoay Church pa lang ang napupuntahan ko sa apat na to. Pero memorable talaga kasi nakaakyat kami sa bell tower nila na pinagshootingan ng Panday, at maganda ang view sa taas. 🙂
Pitong taon na ako sa Metro Manila pero di ko pa nabibisita ang Manila Cathedral (at Intramuros), tsk tsk. 🙁
Gusto ko din yung Baclayon church sa Bohol, ang laki kasi at may museum pa! 😀
Good luck sa Isang Daan journeys mo!
at least you were able to go up the belltower.
yes, the baclayon church is also nice, very informative yung museum nila.
thanks!
2/4. I live near Miag-ao church and I was in Intramuros last Sunday 😀
great! when you go to ilocos, tapos mo narin yan…
I need visit Sta. Maria Church – I’ve been to the first three churches mentioned above. I must agree that Miag-ao Church is really stunning!!!! Can’t wait to see the fourth unesco world heritage site (church)….
one last church left!
at least napuntahan ko ang isa sa apat na baroque churches na yan,ang san agustin.na surprise naman ako sa san agustin church kasi simple sa labas pero ganda pala sa loob and they have an interesting collections pa sa kanilang museum.
3 nalang sir… yes, surprising yung san agustin. eto yung mga churches na bagay na bagay yung kasabihang “don’t judge the book by its cover” (dont judge the church by its facade) hahaha
3 out of 4 na ang narating ko. di ko pa nakita ang miag-ao. bibisitahin ko rin yan one day kapag ni-retrace ko ang roots ng maternal grandfather ko 🙂
i know you will visit miag-ao soon. dont forget to drop by at san joaquin too when you’re in miag-ao na
3 down , 1 to. Go… Nice post ..
Happy travel!!!
Done with all the churches 🙂 very impressive yung structures talaga especially the two from Ilocos!
indeed, love the combination of bricks and coral stones.
thanks for this post idol! how ironic that of the four, it’s the Church in Miag-ao that i wasn’t able to visit….to think that I live it it’s neighboring island – Negros. and since i’m here in Iloilo today (for official business), i might as well visit the place before i go back to Bacolod tomorrow.
ohhh really? now that its very near you, im sure you are now planning a visit.
Fortunately, I was able to visit all 4 churches… I didnt know they were one of UNESCO’s world heritage.
wow Kathleen! congrats to you too and now you know. hehe
apir!
3! 🙂 Hope I can revisit them again. 🙂
I haven’t been to Iloilo but will surely put that up on my list of places to see. 🙂
i hope you visit miag-ao soon morena!
#s 1&2- check!!! i stayed in miag-ao for 4yrs bcoz of upv and Miag-ao church is very close to my heart. i’l be in ilocandia ds november and i have a feeling makukumpleto ko na yung list. 🙂 yehey!
been backreading your blog for quite some time. good that i stumbled upon your First solo backpacking (14 days in the Visayas) months ago. now i’m “addicted” to ur blog. u are an inspiration. keep it up! be safe always! 🙂
thanks mikay! that one is crazy adventure
Visited all! kaso gabi na nung nakapunta kami sa Sta.Maria, hindi ko napasok yung loob 🙁
i arrived there late too but i slept in town so i was able to see what’s inside the next morning