ok. i'm making again a thread about this one because the other one was gone. :runaway: yeah. hey, i asked permission in the what the? thread.

and of course i hope this will be more organisd. here's a format:

the name of the structure plus other names in the post title (in order that it will be in bold).

then the location (street or area name then city or area name then province).

then some description (if that is possible/available). could be about the structure's physical appearance, it's history...
please give credit to the source of the text/s

and then the pics come after those small things. again i request posters to give credit to the photographers and/or the site where the pics were taken.

the number of pics per posts depends upon the poster. my suggestion is at most 3-5 per post. maybe that'll help those with poorer connections (like me). i'm not very sure about that but maybe we can give it a try.

we can also review the 'items' once in a while. probably after several pages and several 'items' are added. i suggest we list them alphabeticaly or according to places (which would be in alphabetical order) in order to help posters from knowing which ones were already there.

later additions are welcome. i suggest that we give emphasis that there has been something about that structure that is already posted. like a post can have a title that goes like: more pics/more info on XXX church.

discussion is encouraged. doesn't have to be directly solely on the thread title but must at least be related.

links related to the thread topic are welcome. post it away.

regarding the thread title, i just added the word 'philippine' to the old title. if anyone comes up with a better suggestion, then it would be cool. maybe we can ask the mods to change it.

i hope i am not giving you guys a hard time with those set of rules. well, that's just a suggestion to make things go easy. i hope everyone will cooperate. thank you very much.

there. hey it's quite obvious that i had fun with this advanced posting thing.
:)

malolos, bulacan

from wguides.com:
An hour's drive from Manila will take you to Barasoain Church where the first Philippine Constitution was drafted in 1898. Emilio Aguinaldo, the first president of the republic, proclaimed the ratification of the constitution from the balcony of the adjoining convent on 21 January 1899. The architecture of Barasoain Church engages the viewer for its curved facade, rose window and medieval bell tower. Floral motifs and frescoes of angels and saints adorn the interior.

from bworldonline.com
http://1898.bworldonline.com/photos/church.jpeg

more pics taken april 2004:
here's the photo during malolos constitution. i took a photo of it. so you can somehow see me in taking a pic of it.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid111/p5dfb151db0603870839a0806492ad880/f90ec710.jpg

it may look/sound familiar because it's the xx on the ten peso paperbill
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid111/p542d59c4a67fe5416aa3b5c2f77ee9fb/f90ec70d.jpg

barasoain church pt 2

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid111/p7476841f7b5a762064bc87acffb413ef/f90ec725.jpghttp://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid111/p503ffd76179cfccbd5ab950cf7840737/f90fbdf1.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid111/p255b7df0d61c84a0158f0883e013955b/f90ec74f.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid111/p8fe47497faebb0b3a53d9b2ba8d58b22/f90ec73d.jpg

barasoain xx pt 3

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid111/p4e1a98813599defa4f17ba7b593c41aa/f90ec71a.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid111/pb8132bf43616796e72c566e07870f1f1/f90ec72c.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid111/pe8f3b92e60b800402d8bd8a25d771b44/f90ec748.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid111/p5405b2b8d407b5306981349156447385/f90ec742.jpg

barasoain church pt 4

some details on the facade (in colour)
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid111/p95c51879db8458cbb7a6a1be418e2969/f90ec72b.jpg

some info
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid111/p5cbc703df91346166c4ecbca11ea9002/f90ec752.jpg

barasoain church part 5

to the right side of the church there's a small square. some pics of that area:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid111/pcaad07fc68c86dd8830ff996916a0014/f90ec740.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid111/pf09a2bcab2e071f5544d9d4a2d37e8d3/f90ec712.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid111/p5db3987385ae2884f288af93d3df974f/f90ec72f.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid111/p905e064a38a522f48f75959365ed76bd/f90ec732.jpg

A most excellent thread, weirdo--BRAVO!!!! :applause::applause::applause:

You set things out just beautifully and made a great start. :okay:

I'll visit here often because I just loooove churches. :angel1:

thanks. that was fast. now i will be motivated to work harder here. thanks again. :cheers:

barasoain church part 6 (last one)

there are some small historical monuments erected in front of the church within the compound. here are some pics:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid111/paa18db96217e125a613dcf55449822de/f90ec71d.jpg

emilio aguinaldo (the pres of the revolutionary govt):
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid111/p8e5ccee9ebec694fce1fb478f0df6528/f90ec736.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid111/p59c012fc05ae85bab61a6c52d839b172/f90ec727.jpg

bonus: a no parking sign sponsored by purina (hog chow)
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid111/pd2de6b6b06feb07a2832522e66556c4c/f90fb23f.jpg

i find that one funny. sorry for the number of pictures. i disregarded a lot. can't eliminate more.
__________
by the way, there's a museum adjacent to the church (behind the monument post#8, pic#1). i don't have a decent pic of it. and it was closed when i came so no inside pics. no interior pics of the church too cos nothing that i tooked passed. neway, enjoy. and maybe i'd post some more later.

dont be silly, weirdo. You dont need to ask permission before you start a thread!! No way...

But awesome thread indeed! Good thing this is back. Now all have to do is look for my Manila Cathedral pic.

dont be silly, weirdo. You dont need to ask permission before you start a thread!! No way...

But awesome thread indeed! Good thing this is back. Now all have to do is look for my Manila Cathedral pic.

of course all those permission stuff were silly. it was a weird idea. but what's the use of having weirdo as username hehe. twas just for fun. hey, only between you and me, i'm still gonna make this thread even if my proposal is rejected. shh! don't tell the others. hehe.

good. we will be anticipating for your manila cathedral pictures. and probably some more.

lol... You are indeed "weirdo" hahaha... and just between you and me, you should have used invisible ink to write the above so that the others wont see;)

cebu 10° 17.657N 123° 54.127E

from malapascua.de
Santo Nino, is with Magellan’s Cross, the most popular symbol of Cebu. Expressive of the pleasing oppositions in Cebuano culture, it is at once both foreign and native. In history, it was made by Flemish artisans, brought to the island by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. In local tradition, it is a miraculous piece of wood, cast out of the Visayan sea, worshipped from “times immemorial”.

SANTO NIÑO
A Tale Of The Santo Nino

is told that when, in the days of Legaspi, the capital was moved from Cebu to Manila, the authorities decreed that the image of the Sto. Nino should also be moved to the new capital. So, the image was crated and shipped to manila, but the crate arrived there empty. The image miraculously disappeared, reappearing in its shrine in Cebu. It was recreated, and the crate placed inside another box, and then shipped to manila. Again, the boxes arrived in Manila empty. The image was crated a third time, and the crate placed not in one but in two boxes - but in vain. The Santo Nino was back in Cebu.

Eventually, the shippers sent the image out in a series of Chinese boxes, one inside another, with the seventh and inner-most box containing the image. In this manner, the image arrived in Manila and was enthroned in the Augustinian church of the capital city. The image, however, kept disappearing from the Augustinian church and reappearing in its shrine in Cebu. And so, it is told, the Manila Augustinians decided to cut off one of the Holy Child’s legs to stop it from escaping and returning to Cebu. This proved of no avail. The Santo Nino still kept on returning to Cebu

Manila finally gave up and Cebu kept its little Lord. Today, it is said, one can still notice how unevenly the Santo Nino stands. It is a sign of how, at one time, it had been amputated to keep it from returning to its beloved home.

In other versions of this story, the image was shipped not to Manila but to Spain. Whatever the version, however, it is a story told to show how intimately wedded to each other Cebu and the Santo Nino have become.

IMAGE OF SANTO NIÑO - Considered as the oldest religious relic in the Philippines. It was on April 14, 1521 that Magellan gave the image to Queen Juana as a baptismal gift. Forty-four years later, on April 27,1565 when Miguel Lopez de Legaspi arrived, Fr. Andres de Urdaneta who formally Christianized the Cebuanos, found the Native hostile. Legaspi besieged the settlement and set the village on fire. It was on one of the burnt houses that Juan Camus, a soldier, found the image of Sto. Niño unscratched. Since then, the miraculous image has been venerated by the Cebuanos as its patron saint. At present, the miraculous image is kept in the parish convent, and a replica is adorned with gold and precious stones and enshrined in glass. It is housed in a side altar inside the Basilica Minor del Santo Niño.

THE BASILICA
his church was built by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and Fr. Andres Urdaneta on the site where the image of Santo Niño was found in 1565. The first structure of the church was, however, destroyed by fire on November 1, 1568. It was rebuilt in 1602 under the administration of Juan Albaran and was rehabilitated in 1740. On May 1965, the church was conferred the title of Basilica Minor del Santo Niño Antonuitte, Papal Legate during the Fourth Centennial celebration of the Christianization of Cebu.

SINULOG
Sinulog is a dance ritual in honor of the miraculous image of the Santo Nino. The dance moves two steps forward and one step backward to the sound of the drums. This movement resembles the current (Sulog) of what was known as Cebu's Pahina River. Thus, in Cebuano, they say it's Sinulog.

from cebuwebsite.tripod.com:
The Santo Niño church, or more completely known as the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, is among the most important religious pilgrim destinations of the Philippines. This church marks the seat of the Christianization of the country, which took place in 1565 with the conversion to the Christian faith of Rajah Humabon, the king of Cebu at that time, and his wife Queen Juana. In 1965, thousands of people from all over the Philippines and across the globe came to Cebu City for the celebration of the 4th Centennial of the Christianization of the Philippines. The bronze inscription at the right side of the photo commemorates the construction of the Pilgrim Center at the front ground of the church. This photo was taken at the side entrance leading to the bleacher seats of the Center

Just outside the Osmeña Boulevard gate (the main gate) of Santo Niño church, along the concrete-and-iron grill fence, are dozens of stalls such as the one shown on the photo at the left, selling religious souvenirs like Santo Niño statuettes of various sizes, rosaries, crucifixes, missals, scapulars, medals and other related items.

from waypoints.ph (narrative by gblontoc):
Getting there:
Being located in the same vicinity, at least three famous landmarks can be toured on foot: Fort San Pedro, Magellan's Cross and Basilica del Sto. Niño. Historically, these three are related to each other.

It is not difficult to find your way there. From anywhere in Cebu, the easiest is to take a taxi. You may also ask the locals which jeepney will pass near the area. Jeepneys in Cebu are coded with a number and letter combination depending on the route. The locals would guide you about those jeepney numbers. But as you may have difficulty familiarizing those codes, the simpler way is for you to just read the route written on the sides. You are sure to reach your destination if you find "Magallanes" written on it. Or you may have a map on hand and find which street are near those landmarks and take a jeepney with that street name written on its side. If that route would not directly pass by those landmarks, it is always fun to get off somewhere nearby and enjoy walking. Wherever you get off, find either Osmeña Blvd..or Magallanes St. which are the two streets flanking the Basilica. Magellan's cross is situated just at the south gate of the Basilica. Walking southeast either at Magallanes St. or Osmeña Blvd toward the port area and then through the pathways of Plaza Independencia will take you to Fort San Pedro.

If you can't speak Cebuano, I found that the locals are more comfortable answering if you ask questions in English.


links:
malapascua.de (http://www.malapascua.de/Cebu/Cebu_6__Santo_Nino/hauptteil_cebu_6__santo_nino.html)
cebuwebsite.tripod.com (http://cebuwebsite.tripod.com/cebupics03.html)
angelfire.com/ky/dodone (http://www.angelfire.com/ky/dodone/SNino.html)

basilica minore del santo niño pics:

http://www.malapascua.de/Cebu/Cebu_6__Santo_Nino/Basilica_SantoNino1.jpg

http://www.malapascua.de/Cebu/Cebu_6__Santo_Nino/Santo_Nino-4.jpg

the altar is quite grand
http://www.malapascua.de/Cebu/Cebu_6__Santo_Nino/Cebu_StoNinoAltar.jpghttp://www.malapascua.de/Cebu/Cebu_6__Santo_Nino/Santo_Nino-5.jpg


pics from malapascua.de

basilica minore del santo niño pics part 02:

pics and narrative from waypoints.ph by GBLontoc:
The Santo Niño Shrine as popularly known, was the Church of San Agustin before the title Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño was conferred to it in 1965 during the 4th centennial of Christianity in the Philippines. It is among the most important religious pilgrim destinations of the Philippines. This church marks the seat of the Christianization of the country, which took place in 1565 with the conversion to the Christian faith of Rajah Humabon, the king of Cebu at that time, and his wife Queen Juana. (Various accounts as to the year of conversion of the first Christian Filipinos are confusing. Another account points out that the baptism occurred when Magellan planted in 1521 his now famous cross.)

http://www.waypoints.ph/details/sninoc/sninoc01.jpg
http://www.waypoints.ph/details/sninoc/sninoc02.jpg
http://www.waypoints.ph/details/sninoc/sninoc03.jpg http://www.waypoints.ph/details/sninoc/sninoc04.jpg

what's the thingy bet weirdo and greyX? so does that mean i can't join in this thread or what? tell me you guys or ill @#@$ ur @#@#$@. hahahaha...ill try to find one good pic of church, but i dun go there for the purpose of worship. and won't. im not amenable to making it alphabetical. weirdo, tho ur weird, ur such an organized poster and maybe a person in general. im more spontaneous and i hate rules sometimes. u belong to those types of person who would call a spade by its scientific name, who would go to the grocery and look at every products specs. and u wanna do things right the very first time. those are the East people. ok, bk to the topic.

well, u just did:D hahaah

nice pictures, weirdo. Churches in the Philippines are so old! (which is a good thing)

this thing between greyx and me is a joke. and by looking at your post

so does that mean i can't join in this thread or what? tell me you guys or ill @#@$ ur @#@#$@. hahahaha...

it seems like you are joking too. lol. are we :drunk: ? hehe.

oh same here. i come to such places to admire the architecture.

i really love organizing things. i have a format in naming my mp3 files and i've made one 'directory' in ms excel so i won't download the same thing again. too bad i forgot about our lessons in visual fox pro and i dunno things about databases. i also have some rules in naming image files and placing them on the right folder. names in my cellphone's phonebook should be complete (w surnames). same with my yahoo messenger friends. i am obsessed with organising. i'm not very succesful everytime. and it's hard because up to now i am not burning files yet to a cd-r because the files should be organised first. hehe. i feel so bad when i dun see my stuff organised: like imagestation. oh well. have a nice day!

and lately i've noticd ur so much into that north-south east-west thing. nice.

forget it. im spamming...

its way to early for us to be drunk...i'll prolly be drunk to night tho, coz im gonna party with my friends!:D :drunk:

Opps, did i just say that in the Church thread? forgive me.

we once got drunk second time with these 2 roomies of mine...with that big sized Emperador ata. its funny how people get silly when drunk. u could talk things u cant imagine talking abt if ur on ur senses. the next morning, both of us weren't able to go to work early. :D ooopppsss...im sorry for this weirdo. im starting to make things disorganized here. mod, kindly delete this posts of mine.

nah i wont delete that. Just dont talk about being drunk (sorry i started it) here. Move to the free text if we continue this discussion.

Ok, back to churches. What is the biggest church in the country? Is it Manila Cathedral?

lol. i wish i could drink some today. finals week is done. i deserve to have some! hehe. dun worry greyx and francis, catholic priests drink wine (and sometimes they let everyone have a taste) during masses. lol. ok to hardcore catholics there, fine it's blood.

ok. disregard the crap above. come and see beautiful pics of the sinulog festival in cebu, one of the most colourful in the country. it's in honour of the santo nino, the patron of the last church i posted. have fun cos i really did. must check this out!

taken by one of my favourite photographers.
faces of sinulog (http://www.photos.ph/vicicasas/faces)
more sinulog (http://www.photos.ph/vicicasas/sinulog2003)

goddamn, that format is nuts. but ill comply to it :) even though it's tight

it's too tight a rule. i won't post :D

hey weirdo let me take care of these churches

Lubao Church, Pampanga
Sta. Ana Church, Pampanga
Manila Catherdral
San Agustin Church
San Sebastian Church

i got a series of nightshots for the last 3, and detailed exterior pics of the first two

good. ok i will.

bad news for me: something called puresight blocks the asian and philippine foums. i o not have access to this one. sa.

ok, i will start working on information about these churches this weekend. expect them all next week. if not, just pound me with update posts... :bash:

Marikina City, Metro Manila, Philippines

We see pictures of old Spanish churches in the Philippines, but we also have a tradition of modern churches. Found in the campus of Ateneo de Manila University is the Church of the Gesu, completed in July 2002.

When Ateneo transferred to Loyola Heights in 1949, Fr. William Masterson envisioned the construction of a gymnasium and a church on campus. However, only the Blue Eagle Gymnasium was built.

Designed by Jose Pedro Recio and Carmelo Casas, the edifice’s triangular structure symbolizes the Holy Trinity.

The site area of 10,200 square meters houses the church and has a seating capacity of 1000 persons.

http://mishappa.image.pbase.com/u27/kage/upload/15788852.1101058_IMG.JPG

http://mk31.image.pbase.com/u27/kage/upload/15788989.1101059_IMG.JPG

http://web2.photos.ph/large/87340.2.jpgl.jpg

http://web2.photos.ph/large/87341.3.jpgl.jpg

http://web2.photos.ph/large/88193.gesu1.jpgl.jpg

Anyone have pics of the protestant Church of the Risen King (I believe designed by Nakpil) and the UP Church of the Holy Sacrifice (designed by leandro Locsin)? Those are the best examples of contemporary churches in the Philippines.

That triangular church is awesome...Its in Ateneo?

Padre Diego Cera Ave., Las Piñas, 1740

What makes this church special is that it houses one of the Philippines' most priceless artifacts, the Bamboo Organ.

The Las Piñas Bamboo Organ is one of the Philippines' national treasures. It's home is the Parish Church of St Joseph located in Las Piñas City. The organ, the church and the surrounding buildings have been restored to their 19th century state by Architect Francisco "Bobby" Mañosa and associate Ludwig Alvarez, making a trip to the site a popular excursion for Filipinos and foreign visitors alike.

The builder of both the church and its organ was Fr. Diego Cera de la Virgen del Carmen, a monk of Augustinian order of the Recollects. A native of Spain, he served as parish priest in Las Piñas through many endeavors. Historians portray him as a gifted man-natural scientist, chemist, architect, community leader, organist and organ builder.

Having previously built organs in Manila area with some organ stops made of bamboo he chose bamboo for most of this organ, and only the trumpet stops are made of metal. The choice of bamboo was probably both practical and aesthetic- bamboo was abundant and used for hundreds of items, both a practical and an artistic nature.

Fr. Cera began work on the organ in 1816, while the church was still under construction, and the organ was completed in 1824. During Fr. Cera's lifetime, disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons damaged both church and organ and Fr. Cera himself was the organ's first "restorer." Down through the years, natural disasters continued to take their toll; the organ was unplayable for years. Somewhat unexpectedly reassembled early in the 20th century, partial restoration took place from time to time up through World War II.

In recent years, several concerted attempts were made to save the instrument. In 1972, a contract for total restoration was awarded to Johannes Klais Orgelbau KG in Bonn, Germany, and it was shipped there in 1973. While the restoration of the organ was taking place in Germany, a massive project was completed at the church. With the help of the community of Las Piñas and many others in the Manila area, the church grounds were restored to its original state.

The restored organ returned home in March 1975, to a joyous welcome by the people of the Philippines. The joint restoration of church and the organ was a triumph of local and international cooperation. Since them the scene of many concerts and festivals, the Bamboo Organ is described by many international organ masters as one of the finest old organs in the world. Its construction of bamboo is noted as being one of the major factors that gives it a truly unique and lively sound.

At present, the Las Piñas Bamboo Organ is being maintained by Diego Cera Organbuilders, Inc.

http://bamboo.diegocera.com/bamboo_organ.jpghttp://bamboo.diegocera.com/Stpknb2.jpg
http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/21784/Church3.jpg
http://gallery.cybertarp.com/albums/userpics/21784/2813307.jpg

Pictures 1-3 courtesy of the Las Piñas Bamboo Organ website, 4th image from Getty Images.

hmm.. it's a surprise i lived in the south part of MM and i still haven't visited the bamboo organ. :bash:

the church looks nice, i don't know a lot of spanish-times churches in South MM.

so this is the fourth church in our thread

Plaza del Carmen, Quiapo, Manila
Philippines

from http://www.ca-catholics.net/churches/manila-s-sebastian/
The Basilica of San Sebastian is one of the 4 minor basilicas in the Archdiocese of Manila. It is said to be the only church in Asia built of steel. The architect decided to use steel to build the present structure because the church had been completely destroyed by an earthquake twice.

The basilica contains the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Every year the feast of Our Lady is celebrated twice a year. The biggest feast is celebrated on January 31 with a traditional novena ending with a procession all along the parish streets. Her feast on July 16 is also celebrated with a novena but with a shorter religious procession.

San Sebastian was raised to a minor basilica in 1890. The basilica was consecrated in 1891

pics from the same site
http://www.ca-catholics.net/churches/manila-s-sebastian/1865-00.jpg
http://www.ca-catholics.net/churches/manila-s-sebastian/1865-05.jpg

now for my pics
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid113/p18bda3a0c9cce50e13b52bffd93b303b/f8e404b1.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid113/p0500f8e9ba208f0af5fc0d60cd23d092/f8e404cc.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid113/p1667a1d7ccd844e0685667a9b323ced9/f8e404e6.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid113/p13be09075c68efeb002c18a3e97c6ef8/f8e404c0.jpg

more pics of San Sebastian Church
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid113/p1041e8c55883e016c9442e081eb9b3c5/f8e404d8.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid113/pc92f540c64f5794bd6a8ad5e9062591e/f8e404ab.jpg
if i'm not mistaken my uncle told me to take this shot on a roof of a toyota revo, which was not ours
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid113/p191f068d72116f0ea884e4dd31e6f044/f8e40510.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid113/pb1964c256c9bacfe02b31a09360a69e3/f8e4050a.jpg

the church looks nice, i don't know a lot of spanish-times churches in South MM.

The only Spanish-era churches I know of are Saint Andrew's Church in Parañaque, and St. Joseph's Church. Saint James the Greater Parish Church (1990) on Cuenca in Ayala Alabang and Saint Jerome (1982) beside Alabang Town Center are great Spanish-style churches, though.

San Sebastian is quite a sight!

that church beside ATC isn't from the spanish times is it? or is it an attempt to look like one?

that church beside ATC isn't from the spanish times is it? or is it an attempt to look like one?
Nope, it was built, I think, in 1982. It's quite small actually.

But Saint James... It's a church befitting the people of Ayala Alabang. It's like wow.

But Saint James... It's a church befitting the people of Ayala Alabang. It's like wow.
Hey, it's even air-conditioned now, after a lot of substantinal donations. The launching of the air-conditioned church was quite grand, there were cocktails and a concert by chamber artist.

Don Bosco in Makati (near Makati Cinema Square) is also air-conditioned, though there were so much people when i went you couldn't feel the cool-ness..

Yeah Don Bosco was just recently air-conditioned. They dont turn them on all the time, hence it is still hot. I think they switch them on on certain masses.

bad news for me: something called puresight blocks the asian and philippine foums. i o not have access to this one. sa.

oh, that sucks. Hope you will be back soon.

just hope he will continue posting, even if it's small contributions. a post a week wouldnt be bad, as long as there's a sign he's still there

I was just in Bohol last month, and I took a lot of pictures of the many amazing chuches that can be found on the island.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid114/pd47eaa2272262c283dd02d80ee52dead/f8dc39f9.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid114/p1470787af82ece23ecccc8ed28cf2998/f8dc34ad.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid114/p60826d6d10961b1b76de9caaea9e24ab/f8dc34ac.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid114/p336d408813c72704cc8acc7d141cdfb7/f8dc34a5.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid114/pc8df73f0c0b25c4f24eebea12555600c/f8dc34a2.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid114/pf7d9627ac8274ec8ccc123e0f59ede14/f8dc34a7.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid114/p29d5022259920368cc096885e0ba163f/f8dc3205.jpg


There's more where this came from, I went to 14 different towns.

Cool, nice pics! Do you go to Candijay? Thats where my mom comes from:D

nice nice. thanks for observing the guidelines for proper posting. angas ng dating nung church of the gesu sa admu. ganda. ganun din ung sa st joseph sa lp. and ung san sebastian lupit. may lakad akong recto nung isang araw. napadpad ako jan sa ubelt. ganda tlaga ng baste. :cheers: ung mga simbahan jan sa bohol. aliw. ganda ganda. meron bang magpopost ng di katoliko/kristiyanong sambahan?

meron bang magpopost ng di katoliko/kristiyanong sambahan?

siguro ako, post ko Kingdom Hall namin, or ung assembly hall namin sa Victoria, Laguna. pero teka, wala naman kaming sinasamba sa loob ng hall, ang isinasagawa namin ay kristiyanong pagpupulong. :)

whoah, those are some amazing churches in bohol.

some look like they're mosques... especially the 2nd last one.

No time to follow Weirdo's rules to the tee right now. I hope this is good enough.

Golden Mosque
Quiapo, Manila

I believe this mosque was built under instructions of Imelda Marcos for the Islamic community in Manila. This is not the only mosque in the Metro. However, the Quiapo/San Miguel area has a large Muslim community.

http://russia.shaps.hawaii.edu/cseas/seapics/04/img0028.jpg

Khalsa Diwan Indian Sikh Temple
Paco, Manila

I used to always pass by this temple. I don't know much about it.

http://russia.shaps.hawaii.edu/cseas/seapics/04/img0094.jpg

http://russia.shaps.hawaii.edu/cseas/seapics/04/img0095.jpg

Hong Giam Taoist Temple
Paco, Manila City

I don't know anything about this, except that there is a sizeable Chinese community in Paco.

http://russia.shaps.hawaii.edu/cseas/seapics/04/img0096.jpg

http://russia.shaps.hawaii.edu/cseas/seapics/04/img0098.jpg

The Golden Mosque was built in 1976, yes, under the instructions of Imelda Marcos. She wanted it to be the biggest in Metro Manila so that she could 'wow' Libyan leader Colonel Moamar Gaddhafi for his planned visit. Ultimately, the Colonel cancelled his trip to Manila.

Imelda also had a mosque built on the Malacañang grounds for the Colonel.

those were beautiful. thanks for sharing.

that's the only mosque i know of in Manila... actually in the whole country. :D i'm sure there are other mosques in the country, but none of the same fame

I see a lot of Mosques in Zamboanga City. But there are still more churches there.

I think i saw a mosque somewhere in QC...just dunno where.

are there any mosques in Zambo of any fame?

Yes. There is one that is quite large that you can see from the airport as you touch down. It is on the foot of a mountain.

Here's a new pic of Quiapo Church and Plaza Miranda at sunset. The Church was just recently finished being repainted. I think its present brown and ochre colors suit it better than the previous salmon color scheme.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid115/pd0685e2e04d09788d5f15733106a61f2/f8c69f7e.jpg

it looks great... but now the plaza miranda archways do not match the church color-wise?

i have to see that one. thanks. i will buy pdvds on the other side and maybe some colpan in hidalgo next week.

hmm... this church looks nice repainted, but some don't really are photogenic when repainted. some look better as it goes old

i like the painting job. made it more striking. the lighter one before wes fine too. can't decide yet which one is better

here's a list of the structures we have posted here:

bulacan
barasoain church (our lady of mt carmel), malolos

cebu
santo niño church (basilica minore del santo niño)

metro manila
church of the gesu, marikina city
golden mosque, quiapo, manila
hong giam taoist temple, paco, manila
khalsa diwan indian sikh temple, paco, manila
parish of saint joseph (bamboo organ church), las piñas city
san sebastian church (minor basilica of our lady of mount carmel), quiapo, manila

+
a pic of quiapo church
and some bohol churches

i hope this helps posters. i will be posting some when i have the time. summer classes is almost over but the 1st trimester will be starting next week.

While looking for pics to use for the DOT campaign, I rifled through my old files and found these photos I took of San Agustin among a set of Intramuros pics. Despite everything, you can't deny how this church oozes history from every pore. It isn't right that this thread doesn't have pictures of it yet!


The stately facade, now painted an accurate shade of peach

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid118/p48371eb1bcdb2c4220adeb982bca65ca/f88ee6f9.jpg


The gilded interiors and trompe l'oeil-ed ceiling

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid118/p543928b5b780a830907722ea892a17bb/f88eedb0.jpg

i need to upload those San Agustin night pics. will do those ASAP

please do. :) and maybe you can do the researching too so people who do not know things about san agustin will be very grateful when they check this thread out. if that's too much for now, we'll understand. :).

bernardino street, guadalupe viejo, makati city

from philtravelcenter.com:

Description: Doric architecture with massive butteresses to support its vault of hewn stones taken from the still visible but extinct Guadalupe quarry. Free from ornamentations, its walls are solid and stable and built in such a way that they still stand today as when it was completed in 1629.

How to get there?: From Taft Avenue, take the Ayala bound bus and get off at Ayala Avenue corner Makati Avenue. Take another jeepney going to J.P. Rizal (Ibabaw) and get off in front of Guadalupe Ruins.

weirdo says: get off at Guadalupe station of the MRT. walk sa gilid ng EDSA then enter Bernardino street (yung may loyola memorial chapel) then walk
lang dun sa street. makikita na un sa may right. pag di nakita umiyak na lang.

Travel Time: Aproximately one (1) hour. but much less than that if you follow my way.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid118/pc0744c13275f33c499b9d3945498ae5e/f887358d.jpg

from makati.gov.ph:

During his term as mayor following the 1986 EDSA Revolution, Jejomar C. Binay (1986-1998) changed the official seal to one that more accurately reflects the state of Makati: It shows the Guadalupe Church, an enduring symbol of the community's Spanish heritage, surrounded by skyscrapers that represent the new Makati, a vibrant financial center. Thirty-three rays emanate from the center, each ray representing the 33 barangays of Makati. It symbolizes the unity of the various communities that continues to illuminate and sustain Makati up to this day.

surviving pics from weirdo's imagestation:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid60/p12971ca1bf5da5f40e30eae52e9075a5/fc3eddf4.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid60/p0ea7a2080f5f455dd3b424b141e02e18/fc3ede9a.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid60/p01332cb43bbccb536e1d56dd49db2ec4/fc3edf39.jpg

kinda weird inside
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid60/pb10976379d972bba7e92f11dc8339ca4/fc3ee0ea.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid60/p792a624cf6bbe54abc8a10403b3bc2f7/fc3edd66.jpg

claim to fame: this church appears on the official seal of makati city (the financial capital of the philippines) and it is said that this parish has been used so many times to film tv commercials, soaps and movies. :runaway:

Does anyone have any more pics of mosques in the Southern Philippines?

this is a very nice photo of the church of the gesu i found at imagesphilippines

http://www.imagesphilippines.com/images/012203_150828.jpg

hmm...unique design.

is that the ateneo church? i think so from a rare view.

Yes it is. There are more pics of it in the beginning of this thread. I think on page 2.

oh. thanks boybaha. i've been there several times already and it really is a very modern and good looking church. :cool:

yep. there are more pics of the same thing in earlier posts. sorry guys i forgot to tell you.

damn. i haven't had the time for uploading, with exams and moving... guess they will have to appear around july-august

Does anybody have pics of the "nature" church in Moonwalk Village, Las Piñas? If not, I'll try to go there sometime and take pictures myself. I heard that it looks nice, being built of all natural materials.

It's a really nice church, it's basically a garden with a place of worship inside. It was built on a 4000 sq. m. mango orchard and was designed by Bobby Mañosa. Even the pews are tree stumps. Here's a pic:
http://www.mylaspinas.20m.com/naturechrch2.jpg

awesome pics!

We have a church in Poblacion, Makati City that was built on 1620 by the jesuits. This is Sts. Peter and Paul Parish originally known as Sampiro along P. Burgos St. Unlike the Guadalupe ruins (Nuestra señora de gracia), the church was not been damaged by wars. So the Church(structure) is much older than Guadalupe ruins. This is where the original name of Makati came from (San Pedro de Makati). Unfotunately, it was renovated and altered before 1980 (if I'm not mistaken). We are now campaigning for it's restoration to it's original design. Maybe you can help us in finding old pictures of it's original design. If you have any info on where we can find one, pls text our contact us at 0927-3011847. It will be a great help. More power to this thread. :)

Khalsa Diwan Indian Sikh Temple
Paco, Manila

Wow, we're everywhere :D

Are there many Sikhs in the Philippines?

Only 5-6's ;)

i do not know how many of your people are here. but maybe there are a good number of them in the capital.

http://www.mylaspinas.20m.com/naturechrch2.jpgWAH! One of my cousins recently got married at Nature Church (it's in Las Pinas), although i wasnt able to take the trip there for the wedding (i'm soo poor :( LMAO) but we did get loads of nice photos.. looks so kewl inside form what i can see :D

One of my other cousins was one of the choir members at d San Jose Church also in Las Pinas (Home of the Famous Bamboo Organ)..
http://www.tropicalisland.de/MNL_Las_Pinas_San_Jose_Church_b.jpg

http://www.tropicalisland.de/MNL_Las_Pinas_San_Jose_Church_Bamboo_organ_b.jpg

:D:D

nice contributions.

same thing with this thread. please bear with ime. id be posting some new places (and old ones) once i get to upload stuff in my new imagestation.

Malate Church

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid128/p920f056cd48687cbd97bd5de96665b63/f7dee058.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid128/ped3a9354a66abdd7961553c8bd79c3a0/f7dfb3ec.jpg

i like malate church! looks so rustic

yeah

Where is the Manila Cathedral?

inside Intramuros.

Iglesia Ni Cristo

http://pro.corbis.com/images/KV003662.jpg?size=67&uid={e8da460a-81e3-42f4-b48f-f4d7deeb3fa6}

where is that INC church? is that the main one in QC?

here's the main church, i think, in Lubao, Pampanga. someone told me the plaza was used for a soap-opera in TV.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid141/p2b9f5637c1acaf0fdf6e95aac43e6795/f6d30e73.jpg

yup that's INC's main chapel along Commonwealth Ave in Diliman, Quezon City... its just across UP Diliman... and behind New Era University

any Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses picture? :colgate: :D:

--

inside Intramuros.

I was actually expecting someone to post some pics. :)

as requested
http://www.filipino.com/sfdot/top/images/cathed1.jpg

if you ask me it's a pretty mediocre church. maybe because the fact that it's been destroyed numerous times. San Agustin i like more, and San Seb.

hello there. thanks for contributing lots to this thread. lemme just post the list of the structures that have been posted here:

bulacan
barasoain church (our lady of mount carmel parish), malolos. page 01

cebu
basilica minore del santo nino (santo nino church). page 01

metro manila
church of the gesu, admu campus, marikina. page 02
golden mosque, quiapo, manila. page 03
hong giam taoist temple, paco, manila. page 03
khalsa diwan indian sikh temple, paco, manila. page 03
nuestra senora de gracia parish (guadalupe ruins), makati. page 04
saint joseph parish (bamboo organ church), las pinas. page 02
san sebastian church, quiapo, manila. page 02

+ ung iba na pics pa lang meron:
bohol (dami) page 03
quiapo church page 03
san agustin church page 04
nature church page 04
malate church page 05
iglesia ni cristo (main chapel) page 05
lubao main page 05
manila cathedral page 05

carcar, cebu

http://www.waypoints.ph/details/carcar/carcar01.jpg
picture by romadz_op (2002) from waypoints.ph

from hawaii.edu:
This edifice is typical of old Roman Catholic churches in the countryside, such as Carcar, in the province of Cebu, one of the many islands comprising the Visayas, Philippines. But there is something special about it. This church, known as St. Catherine Church, was named after the town's patron saint, St. Catherine of Alexandria, in whose honor the people of Carcar celebrate the yearly fiesta every 25th of November. St. Catherine's Church is the second oldest church in Cebu. Fr. Antonio Maglano, the parish priest of Carcar at the time, started building the church in 1859. However, it took six years before it was finished. Another priest, Fr. Manuel Fernandez took the credit for the present design of the church, admired for its byzantine architecture, Greco-Roman altar, and twin- bell towers having a minaret shape similar to Muslim mosques.

Like most old Spanish churches in the Philippines, the St. Catherine's Church is fronted by the town plaza, a well-maintained place for community gathering, celebration and other social functions.

Carcar is also an old town in the province of Cebu, built in 1599, at the time when the Roman Catholic religion was spearheaded by the Agustinian friars. Its population (1995 census) stood at 78,726, while the town is currently rated as 5th class municipality. The town's population has remained small and level of development is slow due to constant outmigration to Cebu City, the nearby islands, including Mindanao.

more info from ngkhai.com:
Among the great wonders in Carcar is the 124- year old St. Catherine’s Church. Although it is not the very first church in Carcar, it has kept great wonders over the years.

Carcar, formerly called Sialo, became a parish in 1599 under Fray Gasper de San Augustine. Unfortunately, it was not known who built the edifice, but it must be observed that the Augustinian friars during the first years of the Spanish regime took charge of the parishes from San Nicolas down to Tañon. Hence, St. Catherine’s Church is the second oldest church in the entire province of Cebu.

Since the dawn of Christianity in Cebu, until the year 1898, the orders of St. Augustine handled the church in Carcar. Several Augustinian priests were assigned in the church and in the convent. The church, which was smaller than the present structure took 260 years before the new building was finally constructed.

Fr. Antonio Maglano became the "cura" of the parish of Carcar on October 16, 1858. A year later, he began the construction of the present day church. Several friars left it unfinished; thus, the construction lasted for six years. At that time St. Catherine’s already had three naves. The style was patterned after the "mujedar" in Spain, comprising of two bells With an onion-shaped tip.

Fr. Gabriel Gonzalez succeeded Fr. Maglano on November 17, 1865

Nine years later, Fr. Manuel Rubio Fernandez from Asturias, Spain succeeded Fr. Gonzalez. He was able to finish the construction for two years. Fr. Manuel was an exemplary man. He designed the church with such great finesse, that anyone who entered the church marveled at the authentic style of his craftsmanship. One of his prides is his construction of the masonry and the wood convent, which measured 33 meters in front and 22 meters on the side.

Unfortunately, he was arrested in 1898 and was detained in Sibonga.

St. Catherine’s Church now holds an unprecedented history. Inspired by the Graeco-Roman style, with strong Muslim influence, the church is made of masonry with one main nave and two aisles. The nave measures 68 meters long, 22 meters wide, and 12 meters high. The main entrance has a double arch design inviting attention in the massive rectangular façade. The twin bell towers of solid geometric pylons, act as buttresses but are integrated as part of the façade. The twin bell towers end up at the third level in the minaret shape common to Muslim mosques.
The only embellishments that have been provided are the geometric flora on the spandrels, the blind rose window below the upper recessed arch and the carved Augustinian symbol above it. The simplicity of the design of the façade is the counter-foiled by the complex pattern of the upper-story of the Muslim like bell tower and the Baroque pediment. It is noticeable that all the twelve apostles were carved in white except for Judas, which was done in black.

photo from hawaii.edu:
http://www.hawaii.edu/cps/carcar.jpg

for more info on carcar town try searching on google. looks really interesting. *andami raw ni rerestore na old houses*
enjoy. :cheers: :runaway:

the church and the town plaza (from waypoints.ph)
http://www.waypoints.ph/details/carcar/carcar02.jpg

from ngkhai.com-
labas
http://www.ngkhai.com/pointcebu/culture/images/catherine.jpg

loob
http://www.ngkhai.com/pointcebu/culture/images/catherine1.jpg

http://www.ngkhai.com/pointcebu/culture/images/catherine2.jpg

http://www.ngkhai.com/pointcebu/culture/images/catherine3.jpg

if you ask me it's a pretty mediocre church. maybe because the fact that it's been destroyed numerous times. San Agustin i like more, and San Seb.

thanks, but i wanna see more, clear pics, like the ones we had before the hack.

@ Thunderflip - I have some, that i took a while back. Let me look for it first.

Here it is:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/93mmcathedral.jpg

magaling.

@ Thunderflip - I have some, that i took a while back. Let me look for it first.

thanks man, i think all those pics u took of the Manila cathedral looked classic.

http://news.inq7.net/lifestyle/index.php?index=3&story_id=18892&published_site=28



ryan i have a similar photo, from the foot of Manila Cathedral, this time it's at night.

while it might look very classic, Manila Cathedral up close and personal looks very "rebuilt", if a term like such exists. compared to San Agustin, which remains intact after generations, it's building materials look very modern, still smooth without any big cracks or etc. about the interior, i wasn't able to see it. unfortunately with people stealing their statues or other valuables, they close very early.

--

--

I was just in Bohol last month, and I took a lot of pictures of the many amazing chuches that can be found on the island.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid114/pd47eaa2272262c283dd02d80ee52dead/f8dc39f9.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid114/p1470787af82ece23ecccc8ed28cf2998/f8dc34ad.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid114/p60826d6d10961b1b76de9caaea9e24ab/f8dc34ac.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid114/p336d408813c72704cc8acc7d141cdfb7/f8dc34a5.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid114/pc8df73f0c0b25c4f24eebea12555600c/f8dc34a2.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid114/pf7d9627ac8274ec8ccc123e0f59ede14/f8dc34a7.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid114/p29d5022259920368cc096885e0ba163f/f8dc3205.jpg


There's more where this came from, I went to 14 different towns.


Bumping for the Save Bohol Heritage campaign

And here's an article I did about Bohol's architectural heritage

Horizons Lost and Found

Architectural adventures on the heritage isle of Bohol

Most tourists to the island of Bohol normally go for its natural and aquatic attractions. Snorkelling, diving, and hiking are the must-dos, while the Chocolate Hills, dolphins, whales, corals, and tarsiers are the must-sees. However, Bohol is also fertile ground for the equally rewarding and no less strenuous sport of heritage-hunting. In this adventure, the quarry might be a bit easier to track down but are just as endangered. Species range in size from the petite urnas to gigantic cathedrals, and in age from Baclayon church, one of the oldest in the country, to the freshly-weaved buri and bamboo baskets of Antequera.
Making your way around the province, one can embark on a fascinating journey through the evolution of Philippine art, architecture, construction and design. The wealth of prospective prey can be bewildering. Fortunately, the NCCA has published two very important field guides for the budding heritage hunter. There is Visita Iglesia, Regalado Trota Jose's painstakingly comprehensive guide to Bohol's churches, and Tubod, the Heart of Bohol, a book embracing the entirety of Bohol's cultural legacy. We also managed to ask Instituto Cervantes director, Dr. Javier Galvan, an architect by profession and ardent heritage conservationist, to lend some enlightening post-hunt commentary.
Not far from the tropical playground of Alona beach, right in front of "the biggest plaza in the province of Bohol", stands the imposingly solid Panglao Church, and a few paces towards the seafront rises Bohol's tallest stone watchtower. Dr. Galvan finds the hexagonal tower of Panglao particularly interesting because of its curved sillhouette, reminiscent of chinese pagodas. "The angle of each section is different, it changes, leaning more and more inward, thus creating a curve out of straight lines. It shows how careful the construction was, that the people who made this building have aesthetical values that were quite elaborate for the time and place," he rambles disarmingly in his trademark tongue of Archi-Spanglish (here translated).
Journeying onward, past the previously featured Cloribel house, just before we cross the causeway to Tagbilaran, is the town of Dauis. Its church is one of the fanciest and most Gothic in the province, the project of an ambitious Recollect parish priest who also had the adjacent bridge constructed. In contrast to the suggestively Oriental Panglao tower, the tower of Dauis has a cantilevered roof with wooden trusses more evocative of buildings in Medieval Europe. "They are on the same island, very close but they are very different," notes Dr. Galvan.
At Dauis is also where we first encountered the alarming impact of every heritage hunter's nemeses, the dastardly architectural salvagers, and their crooked comrades the relic thieves. The church was closed to the public as protection against these nefarious elements. Unfazed, we were still able to sneak into the back and catch a glimpse of the guarded treasures. Dr. Galvan grieves for the many santos and artistic artifacts that have been removed or stolen. "You can find more santos in the antique stores of Malate than in the churches. It's understandable how they need to close them because it's an unavoidable necessity in these modern times to keep the antiques and relics out of reach from people who may steal them. But it's a pity because the church is something that belongs to a community."
Antique dealers have shamelessly plundered Bohol for years. From its venerable churches and houses have come countless holy images and icons, hardwood furniture, and the ornately carved and gilded urnas, miniaturized altars unique to Bohol. The island's rich trove of treasures may have been remarkably spared from the devastation brought about by war and natural calamities, but greed and apathy is now threatening to keep them from being properly exhibited for all to rightfully admire. However, it is not just these portable objets d'art that are in danger of disappearing from view. Even its enduring monuments are not safe from destructive hands. Ironically, the curious history of Bohol's churches may be partly to blame.
"An interesting feature that you only see in Bohol are these porticos that were added to the original churches by the Recollects after the Jesuits were expelled from all the territories of the Spanish crown," Dr. Galvan explains, "Most Filipino churches did not have a portico, so as you cross the main gate you come under the hot sun orpouring rain. I think it's very clever to have a portico in the Philippines because of the weather."
What has happened is that recently in many old structures they have built modern canopies or concrete awnings that seriously hamper the view of the facade at the very least, and completely ruin the original architecture at the very worst.
"In the beginning, the buildings were made by artisans who knew how to cut the stone. But these construction skills have been lost by society. With the arrival of concrete and steel, there came a particular moment in the 20th century when there was a divorce. All these skilled people, carpenters, fandejos, and guilders, were lost," mourns Dr. Galvan. "The alterations are normally done in very bad taste because they are made by people who are not professional. They don't have the sensitivity, the feel for how architecture was before. So the results in most cases are terrible."
But Dr. Galvan does not rule out renovation work altogether. "I agree that it is necessary because a building in use is a living organism. You cannot freeze it and put it in a box. But restoration is a discipline, you need trained and skilled people. Not just anyone can do it. You can't hire a contractor who only knows how to work with concrete and has never even heard about lime mortar which is fundamental for this work. You cannot put concrete on old stones, the pressure will destroy them. It is necessary to stop these people before they try to do any renovation work."
With every church and tower we encounter, we hear about yet another forgotten craft secret and unveil even more lost building skills. Scrutinising these mighty edifices, one has to admire their methodical construction, the details of which we can only speculate on. As far as we know, pillars of hard molave wood formed the framework around which the stones were laid. To produce the mortar, known as la mezcla (the mix), that held the stones together, lime from powdered coral and seashells were mixed with beach sand washed of its salt. And then a secret ingredient (different in every region) was added to fortify the mix. In Bohol, tradition states that egg whites and molasses were used. Glass was expensive at the time so for most windows, translucent squares were cut from the shells of lampiro clams, or what we call capiz. Aside from their age, the care and detail that went into these structures should be enough to ensure their continued preservation, but that does not always hold true.
"There are many cases where there are people who have destroyed structures because they have thought that it is old and they want something new. You destroy a monument, something that has lasted centuries, to construct a new building without any character, absolutely similar to any building anywhere with no connection to Filipino history. That is a pity," Dr. Galvan sighs.
And yet Bohol has fared better than most regions in the Philippines. Neglected in favor of more populous and popular provinces for decades, Bohol's natural and cultural resources have managed to escape the blight brought by industrialization. The grandeur of their surviving heritage structures is where the humble Boholanos have an edge over their haughtier neighbors. "In Tagbilaran, the Presidencia is one of the very few civil buildings standing from the Spanish period, and that's quite outstanding," agrees Dr. Galvan. "There is awareness. The community has a sense of heritage, of the value of old things. Also, Bohol has a comprehensive inventory of its monuments, which other provinces lack. So the role Bohol might play for illustrative purposes, as a model for other provinces, is very important."
For now, with a dutiful community on watch, Bohol's great stone ladies stand safe, their painted ceilings and tiled floors welcoming parishioners every Sunday, their carved facades, colorful gardens, and varied configurations captivating all who pass by. Like the whales swimming through the waters off Pamilacan, these beautiful behemoths glide gracefully through time, seemingly aloof from the problems plaguing their precarious existence. But if the whalers of Bohol were able to abandon their centuries-old hunting traditions and serve as stewards of the sea, then we can hope that it will be much easier to encourage more Filipinos to become protectors of our patrimony. So fellow hunter, think twice before buying that next rebulto. The past that you save is your very own.

--

I don't see the reasoning behind painting the facade but not the bell tower, looks like its a common thing around the country. It's a bit like a half job, which doesn't look good at all. But at least some of 'em are still standing:)

Post pictures here:

Manila Cathedral
http://digitaldoze.dinsworld.com/coolpix0310/400-031005-3665.jpg
The 400-year-old church, ravaged by at least six earthquakes and a world war and rebuilt eight times, is being prepared to become a destination for pilgrims seeking an encounter with the Our Lady of Immaculate Conception.
he original Manila Cathedral was a nipa hut built by a Dominican, Fray Domingo de Salazar, the first bishop of the diocese of Manila, in 1581, or 50 years after the Spaniards came to Philippine shores.

The wooden church was burned down in 1583, was rebuilt, then destroyed by a hurricane in 1588. The first stone cathedral was hit by an earthquake in 1599, and even while it was still being repaired, several earthquakes from the 17th to the 18th centuries destroyed whatever improvements had been made. The seventh cathedral was bombed during the Liberation of Manila in 1945.

http://www.tropicalisland.de/MNL_Manila_Cathedral_b.jpg

4 philippine baroque churches in world heritage:
Immaculate Conception: District of Intramuros, City of Manila
Nuestra Senora: Municipality of Santa Maria, Province of Ilocos Sur
San Agustin: Municipality of Paoay, Province of Ilocos Norte
Santo Tomas: Municipality of Miag-ao, Province of Iloilo

World Heritage Site... click here (http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=677&multiple=1&unique_number=677)

wow... rebuilt 8 times over 400 years!! interesting stuff... how old is the eighth one? or, I mean, when was it built?

Hey this should be in the Philippine Places of Worship thread.

bumpity bump

I'm not sure if i've posted this before, but I think not.

The all-steel, neo-gothic cathedral, San Sebastian.

02.12.05
http://www.geocities.com/csbrocks_hunter/Photo_021205_002x.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/aaron_charles_ofngol/Photo_021205_003x.jpg

--

wires, wires, wires, they're scattered (literally and figuratively :colgate: ) everywhere in the metro.
So expect to see more pictures ruined by unsightly wires. :(

--

guys.. just wanna share my visit to Our Lady of Manoag at Pangasinan last weekend with my family. Here are some pics... grabe. was so hot and packed with people. Enjoy :D

The candle lighting area...
http://tinypic.com/2lrynd

The Virgin Mary sculpture on a tree... grabe galing.
http://tinypic.com/2lrypu

A common area... where they do blessings of holy water, statues, etc.
http://tinypic.com/2lryvt

The grand altar... The blue curtains behind Mother Mary : There are stairs going up behind it... where you can touch her at the back and say your wishes. The line was long... really long. But the wait was worth it.
http://tinypic.com/2lryx4

The dome of the church... Ganda....
http://tinypic.com/2lrz29

San Miguel Parish - the parish Church right beside the Malacanang Palace and where confirmation is given all year round...
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid169/pe21ed978925cb4ad4671da3a8231b5cf/f40e39cf.jpg

Statue of St. Michael the Archangel killing the serpent
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid169/pe6a43cc9eedc7e01a6733a2a1a816bb9/f40e39c6.jpg

San Miguel Parish's Altar
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid169/p23c86e16e1f9c992a879519ae9f83db2/f40e39b5.jpg

inside the Santissimo Rosario Parish (UST Chapel)
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid169/p858ce1907351c12d1aad5d391de0a746/f40e3929.jpg

Shrine of Jesus, the way, the truth and the life, SM CBP, Bay City Complex

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/aaron_ofngol/000_0022x.jpg

Altar
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/aaron_ofngol/000_0023x.jpg

------------------------------------

Nice pics there Paul :okay:

Hmm.. that Shrine of Jesus looks quite classical, maybe pollution has helped it a bit look older...

Wow... it's good to look back at uuh.. Manaoag, we often go there before we go to Baguio.

Remember the 10-peso bill?
Don't you think the Barasoain Church there looks similar to the Shrine of Jesus?

Roman Catholic Churches I visited when I was in the Philippines ...

In ILOILO

---- The Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral (The seat of Archdiocese of Western Visayas)
---- St. Anns in Molo (or better known as the Molo Church itself)
---- San Jose Parish in Plaza Libertad
---- St. Clements in LaPaz (Mother of Perpetual Help)
---- Santo Tomas de Villanueva in Alimodian, Iloilo
---- Santo Tomas de Villanueva in Miag-ao (UNESCO Heritage)
---- San Vicente Ferrer in Leganes, Iloilo


In MANILA

---- Baclaran Church (Mother of Perpetual Help)
---- Quiapo Church (the Black Nazarene)
---- The Manila Cathedral
---- San Sebastian Church


In CEBU

---- Santo Nino Church in Cebu Cityn (The Basilica)


In BAGIUO

---- The Baguio Cathedral


In BACOLOD

---- San Sebastian Church in Bacolod City

Shrine of Jesus, the way, the truth and the life - 05.22.05

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/aaron_ofngol/100_0953x.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/aaron_ofngol/100_0930xx.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/aaron_ofngol/100_0893xx.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/aaron_ofngol/100_0892xx.jpg

There was a wedding at that church and look where I found the newlyweds... photo and video taking at the esplanade after the wedding,
with matching strong winds and splashes of seawater (mind you, the waves are so strong that day that you'll get splashed with water when you're there) :D
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/aaron_ofngol/100_0922xx.jpg

The photographer was even laughing because the bride is having a really hard time climbing up the seawall :colgate:

Silay Church

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid169/pf6c26414cdbbb39829577a17195ba9c8/f4104339.jpg


Dumaguete Church

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid169/p5652a8cdee02bc614d0a69b1a7717a85/f40a48d4.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid169/p83eb81da566dde77089a36595bb2f746/f40a48d7.jpg


Siquijor Church

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid170/p174a01a2da99e2572e2cd97f59a36c8a/f3fefdd7.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid169/p062784e681f61c6d21ce075884dfe79d/f403b5a3.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid169/p0c4d8fa97c881fbb7d9df737815e3772/f403b5a6.jpg

The old convent of Siquijor, the island is known for its massive conventos

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid170/p640c5aeb27063bef9b9d36c4aa81be15/f3fefdc3.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid170/pa4ebf26791d023f61ba9ebf75b509265/f3fefdcb.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid170/p391da8c0719a7f6d7d38b5310b989b33/f3fefddb.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid170/p8e9d0ceeba321554f9310ec8ee1f7232/f3fec578.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid170/p7e47e2c6c1ed0f7f33f7bfc569d01f97/f3fee627.jpg

Jude D,

Those were really awesome shots. The composition was excellent in each of those photos. Gives me a tinge of nostalgia.

Hello. Went by Sta. Cruz Church to do a comparison shot. I took these additional photos..

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/Circa1900/webcruz1-05.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/Circa1900/webcruz2-05.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/Circa1900/webcruz3-05.gif

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/Circa1900/webcruz4-05.gif

Here is the Basilica of St. Martin in Taal. Sorry they're kinda blurry.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v198/louman84/Pilipinas/DSC01848c.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v198/louman84/Pilipinas/DSC02109c.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v198/louman84/Pilipinas/DSC02111c.jpg

A small church across where I stayed for a couple of weeks. It was during New Years Eve.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v198/louman84/Pilipinas/DSC01867c.jpg

Binondo Church

Address: Paredes St. at Plaza Calderon de la Barca, Manila, Philippines

This 16th-century church still has its original stone walls. Note the replica of St. Peter's dome at the main altar and the Madonna encased in glass. The first Philippine saint, Lorenzo Ruiz, started here as an altar boy.

The Binondo church after the 1863 earthquake. [source - http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/page16.htm ]
http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p16ima1.jpg


my pic: Kuha kahapon lang.. got lucky, kaka-red lang ng stop light and wala gaanong sasakyan..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v439/su_819/manila/binondo_church.jpg

Great website kryptonite.

Great website kryptonite.
Yeah, I also found this.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p17ima2.jpg

The cathedral tower after the 1880 earthquake. Francisco van Camp. SHM The 1880 earthquake caused considerable damage in the city of Manila, and particularly to the octagonal, four-section structure of the cathedral.

nice photo kryptonite! and thanks for finding time to follow the suggested format. ;) and thanks to all for those lovely images and for keeping this thread alive.

binondo church looks old. it looks like the facade didn't change at all. i wonder which of the original ones remained. the inside is fine. i'm not very sure with the paintings on the ceiling.

will post some of my binondo church pictures later when uploading is done. ;)

aka minor basilica of san lorenzo ruiz

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/shigure/xx/binondoxx04.jpg

:cheers:

this is actually from a single image. croppd lang ibang parts

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/shigure/xx/binondoxx02-photobucket.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/shigure/xx/binondoxx01-photobucket.jpg

:weirdo:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/shigure/xx/binondoxx05-photobucket.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/shigure/xx/binondoxx03-photobucket.jpg

i've already posted copies of these last 3 pics in manila, my manila thread(s). dunno which one(s).
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/shigure/xx/binondo06-ongpin-photobucket.jpg
binondo church from ongpin street

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/shigure/xx/binondo04-plaza-photobucket.jpg
yellow bus

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/shigure/xx/ongpinstatue02-photobucket.jpg
ongpin's statue with the silver dome at the background.

all taken around 2003 with canon instamatic
:weirdo:

Hi, Snakepit! When I was a child, I used to see a photo of the Sts. Peter & Paul Parish Church hanged on the walls of old Makati houses. I remember seeing it in the house of the Bautistas on Mercedes/Kalayaan Street. Of course, it's in black and white. I would very much like to have one for myself for posterity.

In bringing back the said Church to its old splendor, I think the 'house' attached to it where the priest lives should be destroyed. Honestly speaking, it's really an eyesore, and shouldn't be there in the first place.

Also, there used to be a 'retablo' near the church's main entrance before. It was transferred many years ago to one of the 'kalbaryos' in the Poblacion, but I'm not really sure about this. Or you might want to check it out in the chapel of St. Therese of the Child Jesus annexed to the Church. If that retablo could be brought back to the main church, that would really be great!

Are you also going to restore the inner walls of the church? They used to show the 'lapidas' of the deads who were buried in the church's crypts.

More power, and may you be successful in this very worthy endeavor!

Snakepit, for the benefit of members of this forum, especially those who no longer live in the Philippines (yours truly included), could you please post a photo of Makati's Sts. Peter and Paul Church here? Thank you in advance, and more power!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/shigure/xx/ongpinstatue02-photobucket.jpg
ongpin's statue with the silver dome at the background.
:weirdo:

I like the composition of this picture. Kitang-kita pa yung Eng Bee Tin Hopia. I miss those hopias lalo na fresh from the bakery. Now, I'm having cravings for some.

Notice in Kryptonite's post how the plaza in front of Binondo Church is already fixed and clean? It would be cool to have a wider view of the newly upgraded plaza. (hint hint :) )

Thanks weirdo!

CHURCH OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW
Nagcarlan, Laguna

http://www.laguna.net/jbilchurch/ch13.JPG

The first church, of light materials, was built by Fray Tomas de Miranda,OFM in 1583. The second church, of brick and stone, was built in 1752, but was partly destroyed by fire in 1781. A choirloft was added to the reconstructed church in 1845 by Fray Vicente Velloc, who built the Nagcarlang cemetery and its underground crypt. (HRMC) Pilgrims flock to this church to pray before the images of St. Bartholomew and San Diego de Alcala known for their miraculous healing. The present Parish Priest is Rev. Fr. Jose D. Barrion.

[source - http://www.laguna.net/jbilchurch/jubilee.html]



http://www.laguna.gov.ph/Graphics/Pics/Nagcarlan_Large.jpg

[source - http://www.laguna.gov.ph/Articles/11_02_00_Churches_01-10.htm]



It's also the church on ABS-CBN's soap.

http://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/gallery/kuba/photo16.jpg

@Lili i love hopia too. monggo, baboy, ube...kahit ano masarap lalu na pag bagong luto.

@boybaha yea. the first time i saw kryptonite's photo i couldn't believe that it's possible to take a pic from there without parked cars and mess. haven't been there recently. would like to check it but probably it just had new floors similar to ones in baywalk, avenida rizal, plaza lacson, muele del rio, t.mapua, feu...

@kryptonite no prob. thanks again for contributing. ive never seen kampanerang kuba. not really fond of watching telenovelas. ano kaya ratings nito?

ah and w/o the tower, that st bartolome church looks like a wider versio of malate church.

MOLO CHURCH iloilo
http://takashimadaira.hp.infoseek.co.jp/travel/iloilo/iloilo3.JPG

JARO CATHEDRAL iloilo
http://www.waypoints.ph/details/jaro/jaro01.jpg

UNIVERSITY CHURCH
Central Philippine University Iloilo
http://www.cpu.edu.ph/tour/images/page8b.jpg

This is a good example of how a beautiful church got ruined by recent addition on the structure. The priest responsible for this act should be excommunicated, hehehe!

San Luis Church, Pampanga

http://photobucket.com/albums/v635/jbkayaker12/church6.jpg

Angels in Stone - Augustinian Churches in the Philippines

nice shot... was that taken at nighttime or daytime?

nice shot... was that taken at nighttime or daytime?

It was taken from a book that I bought in the Philippines, Angels in Stone - Augustinian Churches in the Philippines. Hehehe!

You should see the other churches in the book, there is one in particular with a statue on top of a bell tower that looks like it is about to do a bungee jump. Hehehe!!

Do you need a statue to pray? I pray whenever I get the urge regardless of my location, be it in a toilet, inside the car, in my bedroom, at work or pretty much anywhere else really! Oh I go to Sunday mass as well to pray. I learned growing up from my catholic upbringing that God is everywhere, do you feel the same way. Do you think statues remind you of the supreme being? Is a statue the supreme being? Just wondering what you guys think.

cant help but :lol:
* at old church-new "shed".will support the "excomm" move.
* at the night time-day timre query, it also made me wonder

Do you need a statue to pray? I pray whenever I get the urge regardless of my location, be it in a toilet, inside the car, in my bedroom, at work or pretty much anywhere else really! Oh I go to Sunday mass as well to pray. I learned growing up from my catholic upbringing that God is everywhere, do you feel the same way. Do you think statues remind you of the supreme being? Is a statue the supreme being? Just wondering what you guys think.

Your query struck an interest in me, here's what the Bible says (from the New King James version) in Exodus 20:3-6, it's part of the Ten Commandments.


3. "You shall have no other gods before Me.
4. "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;
5. you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
6. but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

This is a good example of how a beautiful church got ruined by recent addition on the structure. The priest responsible for this act should be excommunicated, hehehe!

San Luis Church, Pampanga

http://photobucket.com/albums/v635/jbkayaker12/church6.jpg

Angels in Stone - Augustinian Churches in the Philippines

This goes to show how ignorant our clergies are or just they don't have any taste at all. This is not the first church to suffer being defaced. I am inclined to think that Humanities or Art related subjects are not thought in the seminaries. Maybe even Philippine history doesn't get much emphasis.

We could see from this picture one of the dangers for our built heritage. And still, most of us suffer from apathy.

Your query struck an interest in me, here's what the Bible says (from the New King James version) in Exodus 20:3-6, it's part of the Ten Commandments.

I cannot speak ex cathedra or with authority, but this is what I personally know off. First of all, it is not required to pray with icons or images. Second, it is forbidden to worship them and(this is what the Roman Catholic Church teaches). One does not worship a chunk of wood or whatever material an image is made of. Unfortunately, most Catholics suffer from the misconception from other sects or denominations as idolaters or that they worship the images, which is not the case. Although some Catholics goes overboard with their veneration, I guess. Third, the images are an instrument to remind us (for Catholics) of what that image represents or if it is a saint, what that person did. Let us try to remember that once upon a time, not all people had Bibles and not all people could read or where literate. This is why the Church has several symbols or images, as representations of it's teachings etc. Think of it as a child's picture book. Again, it is forbidden and a sin to worship this images.

True, in the old testament, it was or still is forbidden to make graven images. But I would like to point out the story of Moses and the Israelites when they were plagued by snakes. Wasn't Moses commanded to make an image of a snake (I think although I'm not quite sure of this, made from copper). And another instance is when the temple was being built, wasn't there a specification on how and what materials where the cherubs or cherubims would be made off? For those who are experts or knowledgeable on these subjects, I would appreciate it if you can find the exact chapter and verses for these.

Still, it would be the best for us to read the Bible.

hmmm treading in dangerous ground are we...

cant help but :lol:
* at old church-new "shed".will support the "excomm" move.
* at the night time-day timre query, it also made me wonder

agree with you and jbkayaker'

who on earth thought of this one my goodness, it's like a joke

hmmm... naging interasado ako bigla sa topic dahil sa mga previous posts.......

Should we bow down or pray to images, pictures, or symbols in our worship? No! Exodus 20:4, 5 says - "4 You must not make for yourself a carved image or a form like anything that is in the heavens above or that is on the earth underneath or that is in the waters under the earth. 5 You must not bow down to them nor be induced to serve them, because I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion, bringing punishment for the error of fathers upon sons, upon the third generation and upon the fourth generation, in the case of those who hate me.

Jehovah says that we must worship only him. He will not share his glory with anyone or anything else. Images have no power to help us.—Psalm 115:4-8... 4 Their idols are silver and gold, The work of the hands of earthling man.
5 A mouth they have, but they cannot speak; Eyes they have, but they cannot see; 6 Ears they have, but they cannot hear. A nose they have, but they cannot smell. 7 Hands are theirs, but they cannot feel. Feet are theirs, but they cannot walk;They utter no sound with their throat. 8 Those making them will become just like them, All those who are trusting in them.

Isaiah 42:8 - “I am Jehovah. That is my name; and to no one else shall I give my own glory, neither my praise to graven images.

Deuteronomy 7:25~26 says :25 The graven images of their gods you should burn in the fire. You must not desire the silver and the gold upon them, nor indeed take it for yourself, for fear you may be ensnared by it; for it is a thing detestable to Jehovah your God. 26 And you must not bring a detestable thing into your house and actually become a thing devoted to destruction like it. You should thoroughly loathe it and absolutely detest it, because it is something devoted to destruction.

1 Corinthians 10:14 - Therefore, my beloved ones, flee from idolatry.

by the way, I am a Jehovah's Witness. :)

http://photobucket.com/albums/v635/jbkayaker12/scan0002.jpg

A beautiful church but sadly check out both sides of this structure. At least the canopy is not as vulgar compared to the one above.

Wow, the country never seems to run out of them. Where is this? :)

Here are some old pictures of the interior of old churches.

The interior of the old Antipolo Church
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a89/overtureph/Antipolochurch2.jpg

Antipolo church
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a89/overtureph/AntipoloChurch.jpg

Antipolo church altar
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a89/overtureph/antipolo_altar.jpg

We could see that the old Antipolo church which was destroyed during WWII is much prettier that the present one. In my opinion, the present Antipolo church is ugly.

I think this is the interior of the old Manila Cathedral (not the reconstructed or present one).

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a89/overtureph/catedraldemanila.jpg

The old Manila Cathedral
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a89/overtureph/manilacathedral1.jpg

The rebuilt or present Manila Cathedral
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a89/overtureph/cathedral.jpg

The interior of our churches are beautiful more so than the exterior. The book Angels in Stone has many interior shots of our churches.

http://photobucket.com/albums/v635/jbkayaker12/churchinterior.jpg

http://photobucket.com/albums/v635/jbkayaker12/churchinterior1.jpg

http://photobucket.com/albums/v635/jbkayaker12/interior.jpg

http://photobucket.com/albums/v635/jbkayaker12/interior1.jpg

http://photobucket.com/albums/v635/jbkayaker12/interior2.jpg

Our churches are truly beautiful unfortunately some of the parish priests in charge of our churches do not use their funds wisely, our churches are showing signs of neglect.

hey did any1 thought of this yet


you guys should make a thread about CEMETERY. every one knows about the chinese cemetery and the norte but has any1 tried to come up w/ the thread yet. i would, but dont know how. its eerie and creepy but thats what make the philippines better than any other countries. our oblegation to have our relatives to rest in a nice and grandeur place. :)

My god, those churches are damn beautiful! They really need to be restored and valued! They are part of our heritage! Damn, those paintings on those wooden ceilings are just awesome, even the colors are striking.

http://www.ca-catholics.net/churches/manila-s-sebastian/1865-00.jpg
http://www.ca-catholics.net/churches/manila-s-sebastian/1865-05.jpg


http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid113/p18bda3a0c9cce50e13b52bffd93b303b/f8e404b1.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid113/p0500f8e9ba208f0af5fc0d60cd23d092/f8e404cc.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid113/p1667a1d7ccd844e0685667a9b323ced9/f8e404e6.jpg


ito pa ibang pics

[IMG]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/sansebastian3.jpg (http://) http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/sansebastian5.jpg (http://) [URL=http://][IMG]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/tigidig14/sansebastian4.jpg (http://)

Again the canopy is an eyesore.

yup, its all-metal. If I'm not mistaken the parts are imported from Belgium and then assembled here, as in para na lang silang nagbuo ng lego.

Wouldn't that be as "hot as hell" ( :lol: ) inside when it's scorching outside?

wow!!! ganda ng mga interiors...galing ng mga ceilings and altars even the floors!!! sayang kung hindi mabibigyan ng tamang pangangalaga. those are national teasures. thanks jbkayaker12 and tigidig14.

Wouldn't that be as "hot as hell" ( :lol: ) inside when it's scorching outside?

I believe if I can remember correctly San Sebastian has cooling system inside the church. Not fans but AC, I guess they only use it on special occasions.

Oh I got married in this church. Nice church, Aron is right imported from belgium in a kit ,made by no other than Eifel himself. Yes the maker of the Eifel tower, interesting tidbit they were planning to go into the insta church kit business with the newest latest material of that time - Steel!!!

Not really that hot , as it's pretty high anyway, was restored to it's former glory in the 90's. Don't remember if they have AC, but I think they do.

Of course the people in Belgium didn't realized it rained here so much so no protection from the rain, hence the san sebastian fathers just improvised in typical pinoy fashion:)

More interior shots of Augustinian churches.

http://photobucket.com/albums/v635/jbkayaker12/interior5.jpg

http://photobucket.com/albums/v635/jbkayaker12/interior4.jpg

http://photobucket.com/albums/v635/jbkayaker12/interior3.jpg

st james the great church in ayala alabang
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/stjameschurch.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/stjames1.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/imagesaver1206/stjames2.jpg

@dudz: thanks for that pics. reminds me... tagal ko ng di nakapagsimba.

San Jose church, Navotas

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/kryptonite_819/sc/sanjose01.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/kryptonite_819/sc/sanjose02.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/kryptonite_819/sc/sanjose03.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/kryptonite_819/sc/sanjose04.jpg
(under construction tong part na to)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/kryptonite_819/sc/sanjose05.jpg

Maikling kasaysayan ng simbahan ni San Jose

Noong si Fernando De Norzagaray ang Gobernador-Heneral ng Pilipinas, samantalang si Pio IX ang nakaluklok na Papa sa Roma, at ang kagalang galang na Jose Aranguren, ORSA, naman ang Arsobispo ng Maynila, ang parokya ni San Jose sa Navotas ay itinatag, ika-1 ng Huloy, 1859. Si Fray Matias Naboa, isang paring Agustino, ang nahirang bilang unang kura paroko. Ang unang pansamantalang kapilya ay sinimulang itayo noong Nobyembre, 1859 at natapos nang sumunod na taon. Noong Enero, 1868, si Fray Manuel Perez ay nagsimulang magtayo ng isang mas matibay na bahay-dalanginan. Ito ay natapos noong Okobre 23, 1877. Ang naunang dalawang simbahan ay naitayo sa lugar ng kasalukuyang lumang bahay-pari. Noong Hunyo 1892, nagkaroong muli ng pagbuo ng bagong simbahan sa dahilang nasira ang nauna. Ang bagong simbahan ay natapos noong Agosto, 1895. Ito ang simbahang nakilala ng maraming taga-Navotas, ito rin ang simbahang naging saksi sa pagdating ng mga sundalong Hapon at naging piitan ng mga kalalakihang taga-Navotas. Ang malalaking haligi at pader ng ating kasalukyang simabahan ay bahagi ng orihinal na simbahang yaon. Noong 1964, sa tulong ng mga taong may mabuting kalooban, sinimulan ang malawakang pagsasaayos ng simabahang ito hanggang Marso, 1968. Napalitan ang altar bilang tugon sa pagbabagong dala ng Ikalawang Konsilyo Vaticano. Pinalawak din ang simbahan sa pamamagitan ng pagdaragdag ng magkabilang panig na nagsisilbing mga munting altar noon Disyembre, 1985. Sa pamatnubay ng Parish Pastoral Council, muling ipinagpatuloy ang pagsasaayos ng simbahan hanggang sa kasalukuyan.

i was in loyola house of studies (ateneo de manila) last saturday. they have a small exhibit on the ground floor. content is on the different churches/places of prayer in the philippines. very informative: they talk about different styles such as baroque and vatican ii. but it's mostly limited to the jesuit churces in the country.

if you have the time, check it out. and if you have the opportunity, check out the church of gesu inside the campus as well. one of my favorites in the country.

I cannot speak ex cathedra or with authority, but this is what I personally know off. First of all, it is not required to pray with icons or images. Second, it is forbidden to worship them and(this is what the Roman Catholic Church teaches). One does not worship a chunk of wood or whatever material an image is made of. Unfortunately, most Catholics suffer from the misconception from other sects or denominations as idolaters or that they worship the images, which is not the case. Although some Catholics goes overboard with their veneration, I guess. Third, the images are an instrument to remind us (for Catholics) of what that image represents or if it is a saint, what that person did. Let us try to remember that once upon a time, not all people had Bibles and not all people could read or where literate. This is why the Church has several symbols or images, as representations of it's teachings etc. Think of it as a child's picture book. Again, it is forbidden and a sin to worship this images.

True, in the old testament, it was or still is forbidden to make graven images. But I would like to point out the story of Moses and the Israelites when they were plagued by snakes. Wasn't Moses commanded to make an image of a snake (I think although I'm not quite sure of this, made from copper). And another instance is when the temple was being built, wasn't there a specification on how and what materials where the cherubs or cherubims would be made off? For those who are experts or knowledgeable on these subjects, I would appreciate it if you can find the exact chapter and verses for these.

Still, it would be the best for us to read the Bible.

@overtureph, for your inquiry, please refer to the Book of Numbers, Chapter 21, Verses 8-9. Please refer also to the 2 Kings, Chapter 18, Verse 4; 1 Kings 6:29-32, 8:6-66; 2 Chr 3:7-14; and Daniel 7:9. They will surely give you enlightenment and conviction on this matter.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a137/ECdoesit/041_41.jpg

This is a good example of how a beautiful church got ruined by recent addition on the structure. The priest responsible for this act should be excommunicated, hehehe!

San Luis Church, Pampanga

http://photobucket.com/albums/v635/jbkayaker12/church6.jpg

Angels in Stone - Augustinian Churches in the Philippines

Oh my gosh! what the hell are the Philippine Historical Comission doing?

this has been revived from the grave

In the Philippines, the baroque churches of the Spanish colonial period constitute the most emblematic element of the country's architectural heritage.

The religious orders played a decisive role when the Spaniards reached the Philippines; they filled Intramuros with churches, monasteries, and convents, scattering the city with religious buildings, which also performed social and welfare functions, it was the "City of God".

Sixteenth-century Manila was ravaged by fire time and time again. Homes and churches were devoured by flames. Sedeña, a Jesuit, taught the Philippine people how to work and lay stone, and Manila bloomed once more with new churches built "in the European style", but their sheer weight and rigidity made them fragile in the face of earth tremors. In 1645, the city was destroyed by an earthquake. Almost everything crumbled, except the church of San Agustín.

New churches were built; these had more robust proportions and were not so high, and followed the style adopted in seismic zones in America; a new mestizo architecture had emerged and this was to be called "earthquake baroque". Later on, in 1863 and 1880, earthquakes were to devastate Manila once more. Almost everything crumbled, except, again, the church of San Agustín.

San Agustín (1604), a permanent miracle in stone, a church built in the "severe baroque" style with Spanish and Italian influences imported from the "Virreinato" of Mexico.

The Binondo church after the 1863 earthquake. Álbum de fotografías de vistas y tipos de Filipinas. End of the 19th century. BN Its façade was characteristic of those to be seen in Manila, as was that of the monastery church of San Francisco which no longer exists. Typical elements are lateral towers, trapezium-shaped gable ends topped with a vaulted niche, small octagonal-shaped windows and twin columns.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p16ima1.jpg

Binondo church. 19th century. AGI The church built in this Chinese quarter, founded in 1596, was the work of the architect Domingo de la Cruz González, and is one of the architectural heritages of Manila.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p16ima2.jpg

Santa Rosa de Lima Monastery. AGI This plan dated 1788 belongs to a project drawn up by Captain Domingo de la Cruz, which was never carried out. The façade of the church comprises a gigantic row of dressed pilasters, similar to those used in the construction of some of the buildings in Antigua Guatemala.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p16ima3.jpg

Ground plan of the San Clemente seminary. 1706. AGI This was the work of the priest Juan Bautista Sidoti. The arrangement of its main floor follows the Renaissance style urban palace model, with an interior patio and an enormous flight of stairs, this model being commonly adopted in many Spanish cities.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p16ima4.jpg

Façade of the monastery of San Juan de Dios. José Nadrada. BN The merging of West with East is obvious in this façade: the front of the building is in the El Escorial or Carmelite style, and is flanked by Chinese-style towers.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p16ima5.jpg

Santo Domingo church. Álbum fotográfico... End of the 19th century. BN This was the fifth church to be built by the Dominican friars. It was inaugurated in 1868. It is the work of the first "qualified" Philippine architect Félix Rojas, and was constructed in the neogothic style. Its façade is a literal imitation of the façade of York Cathedral in England (13th and 14th centuries).

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p16ima6.jpg

Santo Domingo church in Manila. 1861. SHM This fourth Dominican church was destroyed in the 1863 earthquake. Constructed with three naves and a "very Philippine" façade with twin pillars, it has baroque elements with "Gesú style" eaves and a split pediment.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p16ima7.jpg

The Jesuit church. 1884. SHM This was the fourth church to be built by the Jesuits in Manila, and construction work began in 1878 in accordance with the plans drawn up by Félix Rojas, the first Philippine architect. There is a remarkable amount of metal structural elements which gives it an air of modernity, although the general design continued to follow the classical style.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p16ima8.jpg

Jesuit church. Manuel Herbella. 1869. SHM The third Jesuit church was built by Friar Campion around the year 1625, and was destroyed in the 1863 earthquake. In 1867, the military engineer Herbella drew up a plan of the condition of the building for the purpose of drawing up a budget for its demolition.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p16ima9.jpg

Monastery of San Juan de Dios. Mapas de América y Filipinas en los libros españoles de los siglos XVI y XVIII by Francisco Vindel. BN In 1656, the medical friars of San Juan de Dios took charge of the hospital of the Brotherhood of Mercy. In 1850, the hospital of San Juan de Dios was sited next to the Parian gate.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p16ima10.jpg

Photograph of the tower of San Agustín after the earthquake. Francisco van Camp. 1880. SHM This church, whose construction was completed in 1604, has been described as a permanent miracle in stone, since it withstood the strong earth tremors that shook Manila after it was built. This church follows the severe baroque style, but incorporates Herrera and Vignolesque influences, which reached the archipelago from the Viceroyalty of Mexico. It is included in the World Heritage List of buildings.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p16ima11.jpg

The church of San Sebastián under construction. Revista de Obras Públicas. 1897 Not only the main structure of this building, but also its walls and even the intersecting vaulting, were of metal construction. This was the fruit of neogothic tendencies and the Industrial Revolution.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p16ima12.jpg

San Sebastián church in Quiapo. Revista de Obras Públicas. 1897 This was a pioneer in the field of prefabricated construction. It incorporates metal constructions made in Belgium in accordance with the design drawn up by the engineer Genaro Palacios y Guerra.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p16ima13.jpg

Parish church. 1849. SHM Architecture began to adapt to earthquake conditions; the dimensions of constructions were made lower and wider, walls were made thicker and buttresses were made stouter, while upper structures were made lighter.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p16ima14.jpg

Manila parish church. SHM Parish churches were constructed in accordance with projects reflecting designs similar to those of churches built in Spain and America, although local techniques were used.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p16ima15.jpg

Tower of the Quiapo church. 1850-1898. AHN The towers of Philippine churches are a combination of Renaissance bell towers and pagodas. Their presence is the architectural symbol par excellence of the Christian faith, which was carried to the Philippines by Spanish missionaries.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p16ima16.jpg

Tower of the Santa Cruz church. 1850-1898. AHN Many of the towers of Philippine churches comprise a series of sections whose girth decreases as they climb upwards. Their shape and dimensions are reminiscent of the composition of other Asiatic styles of architecture.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p16ima17.jpg

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p17ima1.jpg

Is there any other city in the world whose cathedral has been rebuilt as many as seven times?

The first cathedral was constructed in 1581, damaged by a typhoon in 1582, and destroyed by fire in 1583. The second cathedral is rebuilt using stone, 1592, destroyed by earthquake damage in 1600. The third cathedral is constructed in 1614, destroyed by earthquake damage in 1645.

The fourth cathedral is constructed between 1654 and 1671 by Bishop Miguel Poblete. Juan de Uguccioni built the new fifth version of the cathedral in 1750, achieving a harmonious construction upon the remains of the old cathedral, which had not the least symmetry or decoration.

The new cathedral was: admired by all who contemplate it; they never tire of wondering how in this distant land it has possible to apply the exact rules of such a stringent architectural form.

(Fray Miguel Lino de Ezpeleta, 1757)

The fifth cathedral was heavily damaged by the 1863 earthquake, and plans for the construction of the sixth version were undertaken between 1870 and 1879, in accordance with the project drawn up by Serrano Salaverri. This new cathedral was the fruit of eclecticism at its purest, reproducing the Romanic style which was so in vogue in Europe during those 19th century years.

Designed to withstand earthquake damage, its author was to have no inkling of the destructive power that mankind was to hold in the palm of its hand, and which would be used just seven decades later to destroy his work. Today, the seventh version of the cathedral still stands.

The cathedral tower after the 1880 earthquake. Francisco van Camp. SHM The 1880 earthquake caused considerable damage in the city of Manila, and particularly to the octagonal, four-section structure of the cathedral.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p17ima2.jpg

Preliminary project for the ground plan. 1870. AHN Drawing made by Luciano Oliver of the works being undertaken on the cathedral in a preliminary project incorporating two naves with chapels.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p17ima3.jpg

Condition of the ground floor of the cathedral in 1863, according to Vicente Serrano Salaverri. 1872. AHN The 1863 earthquake caused serious damage to the old cathedral. Its ground plan with three naves was designed by Salaverri when he took charge of the reconstruction works in 1871.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p17ima4.jpg

Ground plan of the cathedral in 1753. AGI The cathedral was first built in 1581 of cane and nipa palm, and was destroyed by fire in 1583.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p17ima5.jpg

Drawing of the oldest picture of the cathedral still preserved. 1750. AGI Manila cathedral was reconstructed on several occasions as a result of damage caused by earthquakes, cyclones, fires and other causes bringing ruin to the building.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p17ima6.jpg

Preliminary project for the main façade. Vicente Serrano Salaverri. 1872. AHN The architect proposed for the cathedral reconstruction works the use of granite for the ashlars and base, volcanic rock for the foundation bed, cast iron for the framework, and hollow blocks for the upper section of the façade, the arches and the wall panels.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p17ima7.jpg

Main façade and ground plan. Vicente Serrano Salaverri in Colección de planos... 1876. BETSICCP, Madrid Salaverri drew up the project for a building in the neo-Romanic style, with oriental influence geometric decoration reminiscent of Byzantium.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p17ima8.jpg

Main façade. Vicente Serrano Salaverri. 1872. AHN This was the condition of the main façade, built in the classical style with heavy Doric columns, after the 1863 earthquake, according to a drawing made by Salaverri for the purpose of restoration works.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p17ima9.jpg

General ground plan of the cathedral in the project drawn up by Vicente Serrano Salaverri. 1872. AHN In this ground plan the architect extends the choir and changes the shape of the transept arm extremities from square to semicircular.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p17ima10.jpg

Timber framework for the reconstruction of the roof for the preliminary project drawn up by Vicente Serrano Salaverri. 1872. AHN Rising from the cathedral roofing is an octagonal dome with groups of three large windows on each of its sides; it is topped with red copper laid in fluted laminas.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p17ima11.jpg

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p16ima12.jpg

Look at the steel framework for the apses and cantilevers. Amazing. San Sebastian is my favorite church in the Philippines.

Cross-section. Vicente Serrano Salaverri. 1872. BETSICCP, Madrid Project for the roof over the naves, with twin round arch canted groined vaulting supported on groups of four columns and twin pilasters.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p17ima12.jpg

Longitudinal section. Vicente Serrano Salaverri. 1872. BETSICCP, Madrid An endeavour was made to maintain the same style on the interior of the naves as on the exterior with a profusion of gilt and distemper murals by the Italian artist Giovane Dibella.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p17ima13.jpg

Main façade. Signed by Francisco de Castro Ponte, chief engineer. 1894. AHN Project for the construction of two twin towers for Manila Cathedral.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p17ima14.jpg

Ground plan of the cathedral. Signed by Manuel Ramírez Bazán, the inspector general, in 1882. AHN After Salaverri, the work was continued by the engineer Eduardo López Navarro, and after this by Manuel Ramírez Bazán, who presented another solution with a project in which the tower was free-standing.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p17ima15.jpg

Main façade with the modifications incorporated during its reconstruction. Eduardo López Navarro. 1877. AHN Plan showing the change made to the second section of the façade and to the type of roofing, which are reminiscent of those used in iron architecture.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p17ima16.jpg

Here's an 18th century engraving of the old Manila Cathedral, from the same website

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/p12ima1.jpg

It looks strikingly similar to Rome's Gesu Church (the mother church of the Jesuits), built in 1584 - for a comparison - see below :

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/475px-Gesu.jpg

The Gesu's architectural significance lies in the fact that it represents the transition from High Renaissance to Baroque.

^^It does indeed!

Look at this:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a137/ECdoesit/EglisedesReformes.jpg
The Eglisedes Reformes Church in Belgium. Doesn't it look a bit like the
San Sebastian Church?

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p16ima13.jpg

What type of architecture is this, Gothic?

That's not surprising, Lil, since according to this brief history of San Sebastion, the church was built pre-fab in Belguim and shipped piece by piece to the RP just like the statue of Liberty:
Earthquakes destroyed three churches on this site before the Recollect Fathers attempted to make one earthquake-proof. In 1891, they imported 50,000 tons of prefrabricated steel from Belgium and built the present neo-gothic structure. Its design, featuring two open-work towers, is much influenced by the great gothic cathedral of Burgos, Spain. Inside, note the steel vaulting and stained-glass windows. Above the altar is an object of pilgrimage, the statue of the Virgin, Nuestra Senora del Carmen. Brought from Mexico in 1617, it survived all the earthquakes, but its valuable ivory head was stolen in 1975.

And here's a pic of Burgos Cathedral:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/camino_3070.jpg

How about some of Bicol's:

The Cagsawa church:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/cagsawaold.jpg

And as it stands now as a national park:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/CagsawaNationalParknow.jpg

And the Daraga town church, one that has been reported to having been built by (drfeelgood17, correct me if I'm wrong on this one) by the 'dalagas' or young women of the town. Carrying each stone block (really?) of this structure up the hill where it is now:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/daraga_church.jpg

And the Basilica Minore in Naga City, one of the main sites of the Penafrancia Festival (?):

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/basilicaminore.jpg

How about some of Bicol's:

The Cagsawa church:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/cagsawaold.jpg

And as it stands now as a national park:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/CagsawaNationalParknow.jpg

And the Daraga town church, one that has been reported to having been built by (drfeelgood17, correct me if I'm wrong on this one) by the 'dalagas' or young women of the town. Carrying each stone block (really?) of this structure up the hill where it is now:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/daraga_church.jpg

And the Basilica Minore in Naga City, one of the main sites of the Penafrancia Festival (?):

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/MatteoMatt/basilicaminore.jpg

Matteo, I can confirm that that interesting tale does not come from me! :cool: :) Maybe it was Olineil's?

NAGA METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL
founded: 1595
restored: 1843
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/42321231.jpg

Interior of Naga Cathedral
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/42321216.jpg

church art inside Naga Cathedral
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/PlpNagaReligArt4403.jpg
stained glass ceiling
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/42321230.jpg

Franciscan monastery, 17th century, Naga city
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/42321220.jpg

Sto Domingo church, Sto Domingo, Albay
built: 1789
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/stodomingochurch.jpg

St Stephen Church, Ligao City
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/ligaochurch.jpg

Camalig church, Camalig, Albay
originally built: 17th century
rebuilt after earthquake, typhoon and Mayon-induced damage: 1848
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/camaligchurch.jpg
Camalig's wealthiest families each donated a crystal chandelier, seen below in the interior:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/camaligchurchint1.jpg
Church of San Juan Bautista, Tabaco City
Taken from the Albay Tourism website: http://tourism.albay.gov.ph

Declared by the National Museum as one of the National Cultural Treasures, this church was built by the secular clergy in 19th century. Its belltower features rocaille elements dated from an earlier time. The church has an unusual floor plan, with compartments that are inexplicable as of now. The stones on the walls bear masons’ marks, rarely seen elsewhere in this country.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/tabacochurch1.jpg
Tabaco church interior:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/tabacochurchint.jpg

Interior of the Penafrancia Shrine, Naga City
built: mid-18th century
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/4_20030903140049.jpg

Church of Our Lady of the Gate, Daraga, Albay
built: 1773
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/daraga.jpg

The Daraga church can be described as a hybrid of architectural styles. Evident from the façade and side gate is the quaint mixture of Renaissance Gothic and Mexican Baroque, which distinguishes it from most other churches, built in colonial Philippines. Alicia M.L. Coseteng, in her book Spanish Churches in the Philippines, has this to day about its architecture: The friars wanted to build a beautiful church...in a style that would incorporate the best of the Gothic and Renaissance. But in this they were frustrated, since the masons and craftsman were unable to execute their intention in stone.

Apparently, the frustrations of the friars turned out to be the fulfillment of the Filipino masons and craftsmen. For there is no question that indigenous Baroque has achieved its fullest expression on the façade of the church. Before it one is amazed at the outpouring of skill, imagination and feeling in the spectacular display of splendor. Indeed, the crude stone structure has been transformed by Filipino artisan into a piece of architecture of dazzling beauty: rich, warm, its extravagance tempered with a sense of spontaneity.

The four spiral columns (architecturally called salomonica) that stand out remarkably in its façade make the Daraga church unique among all the churches in the Philippines. Daraga says Mrs. Coseteng, is the only surviving church in the country today which has adapted the salomonica columns, the hallmark of the baroque in the colonial churches of Spanish-AmericaThe twisting spiraling columns reinforce the complexity of the design and the beguiling, dynamic movement of the façade.

NAGA METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL
founded: 1595
restored: 1843
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/42321231.jpg

Interior of Naga Cathedral
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/42321216.jpg

church art inside Naga Cathedral
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/PlpNagaReligArt4403.jpg
stained glass ceiling
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/42321230.jpg

Franciscan monastery, 17th century, Naga city
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/42321220.jpg

Sto Domingo church, Sto Domingo, Albay
built: 1789
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/stodomingochurch.jpg

St Stephen Church, Ligao City
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/ligaochurch.jpg

Camalig church, Camalig, Albay
originally built: 17th century
rebuilt after earthquake, typhoon and Mayon-induced damage: 1848
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/camaligchurch.jpg
Camalig's wealthiest families each donated a crystal chandelier, seen below in the interior:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/camaligchurchint1.jpg
Church of San Juan Bautista, Tabaco City
Taken from the Albay Tourism website: http://tourism.albay.gov.ph

Declared by the National Museum as one of the National Cultural Treasures, this church was built by the secular clergy in 19th century. Its belltower features rocaille elements dated from an earlier time. The church has an unusual floor plan, with compartments that are inexplicable as of now. The stones on the walls bear masons’ marks, rarely seen elsewhere in this country.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/tabacochurch1.jpg
Tabaco church interior:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/tabacochurchint.jpg

Interior of the Penafrancia Shrine, Naga City
built: mid-18th century
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/4_20030903140049.jpg

wow, I love all of them. The european style architecture and the colors used are sooo my favorite :D

Latest Pics of Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño in Cebu City

Pilgrim Center:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/DSCN0490.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/DSCN0491.jpg

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http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/DSCN0563.jpg

Latest Pics of Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño in Cebu City

Church interior:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/BDSN.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/DSCN0462.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/DSCN0512.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/DSCN0513.jpg

Sto. Niño de Cebu
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/DSCN0520.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/DSCN0527.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/DSCN0539.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/DSCN0541.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y261/michaelsinjin/redempt.jpg
Cebu's version of Baclaran Church.

Latest Pics of Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño in Cebu City

Church exterior
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/BDSN1.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/DSCN0489.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/DSCN0500.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/DSCN0508.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/DSCN0565.jpg

History
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/DSCN0505.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/DSCN0504.jpg

Overhaulings
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/DSCN0498.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/DSCN0496.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/DSCN0499.jpg

I'm so excited to see the facade of the Basilica once the renovation works are over. I presume that this is the beginning of the preparation works for the much awaited SINULOG 2006. :)

I'm so excited to see the facade of the Basilica once the renovation works are over. I presume that this is the beginning of the preparation works for the much awaited SINULOG 2006. :)

Yup, it's so beautiful eventhough it wasn't finished yet.
There are more tourists now in Basilica del Sto. Niño than before...
Before, only East Asian tourists but now even Americans and Europeans....
So nice to hear them say loudly "WoW beautiful, look at that" as she pointed and took pictures of those 4 statues of different Saints @ the Pilgrim Center above its stairways...

Any pics of Cebu Taoist Temple? I remember going there when I visited Cebu in the 70s even if we weren't Taoist. Is it a major destination? I just remember being in the countryside and looking down some hills.

^^ Its pretty much a tourist destination, our tour guide took us there too.:D

^ive been over there for more than 20times but i havent been to that place because probably theres more in cebu than just the cebu city ;)

stained glass ceiling
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/42321230.jpg

I love this one! How vivid with colors and beautiful! I could just stare at it while hearing mass all day.

Interior of the Penafrancia Shrine, Naga City
built: mid-18th century
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/drfeelgood17/4_20030903140049.jpg

Look at those frescoes.

http://manalang.com/philippines/images/lrg_philippines_0266.JPG

http://manalang.com/philippines/images/lrg_philippines_0247.JPG

This church once stood about 20 feet taller than it does now. Luckily it survived the lahar flow in 1995.

http://manalang.com/philippines/images/lrg_philippines_0249.JPG

Notice the windows on the side of the church. These used to be tall windows, now only the top of the windows are visible.

http://manalang.com/philippines/images/lrg_philippines_0263.JPG

Another view of what's left with the side windows of the church

http://manalang.com/philippines/images/lrg_philippines_0264.JPG

A closer view of the alter in San Guillermo church

http://manalang.com/philippines/images/lrg_philippines_0252.JPG

---

http://manalang.com/philippines/images/lrg_philippines_0256.JPG

Here's a photo of what the church used to look like before the lahar flows of 1995.

http://img493.imageshack.us/img493/9161/a3xb.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/6383/s5ne.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This edifice is typical of old Roman Catholic churches in the countryside, such as Carcar, in the province of Cebu, one of the many islands comprising the Visayas, Philippines. But there is something special about it. This church, known as St. Catherine Church, was named after the town's patron saint, St. Catherine of Alexandria, in whose honor the people of Carcar celebrate the yearly fiesta every 25th of November. St. Catherine's Church is the second oldest church in Cebu. Fr. Antonio Maglano, the parish priest of Carcar at the time, started building the church in 1859. However, it took six years before it was finished. Another priest, Fr. Manuel Fernandez took the credit for the present design of the church, admired for its byzantine architecture, Greco-Roman altar, and twin- bell towers having a minaret shape similar to Muslim mosques.

Like most old Spanish churches in the Philippines, the St. Catherine's Church is fronted by the town plaza, a well-maintained place for community gathering, celebration and other social functions.

Carcar is also an old town in the province of Cebu, built in 1599, at the time when the Roman Catholic religion was spearheaded by the Agustinian friars. Its population (1995 census) stood at 78,726, while the town is currently rated as 5th class municipality. The town's population has remained small and level of development is slow due to constant outmigration to Cebu City, the nearby islands, including Mindanao.

^^ did you notice the facade.. they just painted it with ordinary enamel paint!!! :ohno: the antique look of the church is now gone. same with the Pardo Parish Church, they coated the coralstone exterior of the church with ordinary paint :ohno: :ohno: :ohno: :down: ..

^^ did you notice the facade.. they just painted it with ordinary enamel paint!!! :ohno: the antique look of the church is now gone. same with the Pardo Parish Church, they coated the coralstone exterior of the church with ordinary paint :ohno: :ohno: :ohno: :down: ..

Speaking of Pardo Church I found an old picture of it in the other thread (Page 12)... that is just so sad...people should value the importance of this colonial buildings.

:bash:

Speaking of Pardo Church I found an old picture of it in the other thread (Page 12)... that is just so sad...people would value the importance of this colonial buildings.

:bash:

oo nga eh. By doing that, they are somehow neglecting the history and culture of these structures :(

http://manalang.com/philippines/images/lrg_philippines_0249.JPG

http://manalang.com/philippines/images/lrg_philippines_0256.JPG

Here's a photo of what the church used to look like before the lahar flows of 1995.

Interesting contrast @Animo. The church almost seemed converted into a chapel. I see the altar remained intact. They must have dug it from the lahar flow to recover the full altar. What happened to the circular balcony railings surrounding the apse?

^ I would assume they took the roof and replaced it. It was buried 20 feet below than what it is now. The height wherein you can see the chairs/electric fan used to be the windows of the church.

Wow, buried 20 feet. It's good they decided to recover the church and still make it functional.

BTW, @Animo, your avatar is making me sad.

http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/5409/baclayon17ju.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/1037/baclayon23ev.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img387.imageshack.us/img387/9297/baclayon36sc.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Baclayon is considered to be one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. It is one of the best presevered Jesuit build churches in the region, although in the 19th century, the Augustinian Recollects added a modern facade and a number of stone buildings that now surround the church.

The first Spanish missionaries or doctrineros in the region, Fr. Juan de Torres and Fr. Gabriel Sanchez, first settled in Baclayon in 1595. Shortly after their arrival, a visita was erected on the spot.

Although Baclayon was the first seat of the Spanish Jesuit missionaries, fear of Moro mauraders soon forced them to move their headquarters more inland, to Loboc. Only in 1717, Baclayon became a parish, and construction of a new church commenced. Some 200 native forced laborers constructed the church from coral stones, which they took from the sea, cut into square blocks, and piled on to each other. They used bamboo to move and lift the stones in position, and used the white of a million eggs as to cement them together. The current building was completed in 1727. The church obtained a large bell in 1835. In the Baclayon church is a dungeon, which was used to punish natives who violated the rules of the Roman Catholic church.

Next to the church is the old convent, which also houses a small museum with centuries-old religious relics, artifacts and other antiquities, dating back to the 16th century. Included in the collection are an ivory statue of the crucified Christ looking towards heaven; a statue of the Blessed Virgin, said to be presented by Queen Catherine of Aragon; relics of St. Ignatius of Loyola, old gold embroidered ecclesiastical vestments, books with carabao skin covers, and librettos of church music written in Latin on sheep skins. Here you can also find the cuadro paintings made by the Filipino painter Liberato Gatchalian in 1859.

Latest Pics of Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño in Cebu City

Church interior:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/BDSN.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/DSCN0462.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/DSCN0512.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/DSCN0513.jpg

Sto. Niño de Cebu
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/DSCN0520.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/DSCN0527.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/DSCN0539.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/DSCN0541.jpg

Congratulations, @slerz, and thank you for those great photos! They are truly appreciated. May I request you to (if it's possible only) take detailed photographs of the retablo on the main church's main altar? Thanks in advance.

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/5528/loboc3a6nj.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/839/loboc25ex.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/1023/loboc10lz.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

wondering where that unfinished bridge is heading? yeah!!! it's heading right straight to the church.. i've seen it with my own eyes.. only in the filifins!!! :D

The Church of San Pedro in Loboc is the second oldest church in Bohol. It was originally built in 1602, but soon reduced to ashes. In 1638, a stronger one was build. Located near the river, it has survived a number of floods. Inside the church, you can admire some remarkable naive paintings on the ceiling. A Spanish coat of arms can be found in the stone wall near the entrance of the convent. The bell tower of Loboc is about 100 meters from the church.

Attached to the building is a three storey convent, which today houses the Museo de Loboc on the third floor. This museum houses a few old statues of saints, and some other antique religious artifacts.

In Loboc, you can also admire a shameful witness of wasteful planning. Exactly next to the church is a partly finished bridge across the river. Hopefully, this bridge will never be completed, as, to do that, the Church will have to be destroyed.

Congratulations, @slerz, and thank you for those great photos! They are truly appreciated. May I request you to (if it's possible only) take detailed photographs of the retablo on the main church's main altar? Thanks in advance.


what do you mean by retablo? sorry, I have no idea...hehe

^^ did you notice the facade.. they just painted it with ordinary enamel paint!!! :ohno: the antique look of the church is now gone. same with the Pardo Parish Church, they coated the coralstone exterior of the church with ordinary paint :ohno: :ohno: :ohno: :down: ..

Speaking of Pardo Parish Church in Cebu City...here it is:

OLD look of Pardo Parish Church.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/6pardochurch19.jpg

the current Pardo Parish Church.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/7PresentPardochurch.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/9.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/10.jpg

I think they asked permission to the Historical Institute or Commission (whatever) to paint it white, and so with the Basilica del Sto. Niño...
btw, it's not an ordinary paint... I dunno what it's called...

^^ i dont know.. but i still prefer the old look. "sayang kaau ang coralstones.. ila lang gipintalan" thanx for sharing those pics..

^^ i dont know.. but i still prefer the old look. "sayang kaau ang coralstones.. ila lang gipintalan" thanx for sharing those pics..

The paint will tarnish as time passes by, then it would produce a better effect.

what do you mean by retablo? sorry, I have no idea...hehe

@slerz, retablo (or retable in English) is the shelf (or, in this case, the shelves) above an altar, where the 'santos' or 'rebultos' are placed.

wondering where that unfinished bridge is heading? yeah!!! it's heading right straight to the church.. i've seen it with my own eyes.. only in the filifins!!! :D

The Church of San Pedro in Loboc is the second oldest church in Bohol. It was originally built in 1602, but soon reduced to ashes. In 1638, a stronger one was build. Located near the river, it has survived a number of floods. Inside the church, you can admire some remarkable naive paintings on the ceiling. A Spanish coat of arms can be found in the stone wall near the entrance of the convent. The bell tower of Loboc is about 100 meters from the church.

Attached to the building is a three storey convent, which today houses the Museo de Loboc on the third floor. This museum houses a few old statues of saints, and some other antique religious artifacts.

In Loboc, you can also admire a shameful witness of wasteful planning. Exactly next to the church is a partly finished bridge across the river. Hopefully, this bridge will never be completed, as, to do that, the Church will have to be destroyed.

That is so dumb! Who made that decision on building a bridge next to the church?! Its a waste of public funds, energy, and a public nuisance! :bash:

That is so dumb! Who made that decision on building a bridge next to the church?! Its a waste of public funds, energy, and a public nuisance! :bash:

not dumb but stupid.. :bash: when i went to bohol and passed by the church, i was like :eek2: .. hehehe if they insist on finishing the bridge, they've got two choices: destroy the entire loboc church or remove the upper portion of the church's so the bridge could pass through.. good thing they did'nt choose between the two.. :) ONLY IN THE FILIFINS

by: Findelle de Jesus

Just recently, I was trying too hard to identify a place with unique features that is not only worthy of admiring but also considered artistic. Then I asked myself, “What place has not been much written but holds of great significance?” I was bothered, staring blankly at nothing until my father offered me this-- “Why bother go far? Try considering the San Sebastian Church.” Then I asked him, “What’s with it?” My father then replied, “Well, It’s just sad that many people didn’t know that the San Sebastian Church is the only Gothic church ever built in the Philippines - or perhaps, in the whole of Asia. If only for that, it is worth visiting.” I got excited by the idea of writing about this historical landmark and before any books can be used for my reference I asked my father to share his knowledge of San Sebastian. And with this he said, “Despite the discrepancies in the dates of its founding, the San Sebastian Church is the only steel church in Asia built in the late 18th century. It should have celebrated its centennial around 1991. Yet, it seems that not even the Catholic administration paid any interest in its historical significance nor in the fact that it was Alexander Gustave Eiffel who designed it.” After this enlightening conversation with my father, I felt the need to research more about this, and maybe, to know the story that lies within this church.

Alexander Gustave Eiffel was the only man in Europe famous not only for the defining symbol of the Eiffel Tower but also for exporting knockdown steel churches in Latin America. He was a great engineer who also designed bridges, transported to their sites piece by piece, and assembled it like a Lego set. Eiffel was also the one who designed the metal structure of the Statue of Liberty.

Ambeth Ocampo, a Filipino historian and writer, once wrote that the story of San Sebastian Church began when Chinese-American, I.M. Pei, visited the Philippines in the late 70’s. He came to confirm of a news he has heard that Gustave Eiffel designed a steel church in Asia. Inspecting the church, he later declared that the metal fixtures and the overall structure were no less designed by Gustave Eiffel.

The Order of the Agustinian Recollect (OAR) Parishes Manual cited that the San Sebastian church “is the first all-iron church in the world, the first iron edifice in Asia and the second in the world after Eiffle Tower.” It has its beginnings in 1621 when Don Bernardino Castillo, a generous patron and a well-known devotee of San Sebastian donated his lot for the dream of having a steel church in Asia become a reality. The original church, which was made of wood, was burned in 1651 during a Chinese uprising. The succeeding structures were destroyed by fire and an earthquake in 1859, 1863, and, 1880 destroyed the imposing stone of the church. The exasperated parish priest, Fr. Esteban Martinez approached the Spanish Architect Genero Palacios with a plan to build a fire and earthquake-resistant church made entirely of steel. Ambeth Ocampo states that the present San Sebastian church was ordered knockdown in steel parts from the “Societe Anonime des Enterprises de Travaux Publiques in Brussels, Belgium. The Societe cast all the parts and shipped them piece by piece to Manila, (as what Eiffel did in most of his designs). Two Belgian engineers supervised the construction of the church which was later completed and inaugurated in 1891.

However, the catalogues of Gustave Eiffel’s work and the list of the designs and exportation of the church in Manila, Philippines gives 1875 as its date runs counter to the National Historical Institute date of 1891. In any case, it is certain that Eiffel designed the metal structure of the church and it is strongly possible that the Spanish Architect Palacios was the one who designed the San Sebastian Church.

We may not have an Eiffel Tower nor a Statue of Liberty which is famous in all the works of Gustave Eiffel. But look around here in the Metropolitan Manila Area, and you will see landmarks that are significant, unique, and truly a treasure of the arts-- the San Sebastian Church.

http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/main/archives.php?pid=24

That article about San Sebastian church is very interesting. I have read somewhere else that Gustave Eiffel might have designed it but this is the first article that categorically states it was one of his works.

Yes, very interesting article, indeed!

It is truely magnificent. The government or city officials just need to use this into an advantage and in the process help educate more the people about history and culture.

Latest Pics of Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño in Cebu City

Pilgrim Center:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/DSCN0490.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/DSCN0559.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/DSCN0561.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b337/hurtyp/DSCN0563.jpg

wow! beautiful!! i miss this place. looks like you're in Rome :D last time i went there was in highschool. i attempted to go there several times especially every Sinulog festival but i just really had a hard time, jampacked with church goers and pilgrims!

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/5528/loboc3a6nj.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/839/loboc25ex.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/1023/loboc10lz.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

wondering where that unfinished bridge is heading? yeah!!! it's heading right straight to the church.. i've seen it with my own eyes.. only in the filifins!!! :D

The Church of San Pedro in Loboc is the second oldest church in Bohol. It was originally built in 1602, but soon reduced to ashes. In 1638, a stronger one was build. Located near the river, it has survived a number of floods. Inside the church, you can admire some remarkable naive paintings on the ceiling. A Spanish coat of arms can be found in the stone wall near the entrance of the convent. The bell tower of Loboc is about 100 meters from the church.

Attached to the building is a three storey convent, which today houses the Museo de Loboc on the third floor. This museum houses a few old statues of saints, and some other antique religious artifacts.

In Loboc, you can also admire a shameful witness of wasteful planning. Exactly next to the church is a partly finished bridge across the river. Hopefully, this bridge will never be completed, as, to do that, the Church will have to be destroyed.

@sugbuanon, those are superb pictures of the exterior of the Loboc Church. Do you have any interior photos of the same? Just asking, but if you have them, I'd appreciate it if you could please post them as well. Thank you and more power!

http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/9540/loboc15cs.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

the church's altar

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/1/loboc24cm.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

interior perspective

http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/1548/loboc30bt.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

the world famous Loboc Children's Choir

http://img493.imageshack.us/img493/5444/paoay33go.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img499.imageshack.us/img499/9886/paoay16lg.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img499.imageshack.us/img499/5979/paoay29ah.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


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 Philippine Revolution. Paoay Church is included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

Paoay is located west of Batac, southwest of Laoag City and north of Currimao. Situated 480 kilometers north of Manila and 23 kilometers south of Laoag City, it is bounded on the north by Laoag City and San Nicolas, on the south by Batac and Currimao, on the east by Batac, and on the west by the South China Sea.

http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/9540/loboc15cs.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

the church's altar

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/1/loboc24cm.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

interior perspective

http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/1548/loboc30bt.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

the world famous Loboc Children's Choir

Thank you, @sugbuanon, for those nice photos!

http://img493.imageshack.us/img493/5444/paoay33go.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img499.imageshack.us/img499/9886/paoay16lg.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img499.imageshack.us/img499/5979/paoay29ah.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


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 Philippine Revolution. Paoay Church is included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

Paoay is located west of Batac, southwest of Laoag City and north of Currimao. Situated 480 kilometers north of Manila and 23 kilometers south of Laoag City, it is bounded on the north by Laoag City and San Nicolas, on the south by Batac and Currimao, on the east by Batac, and on the west by the South China Sea.
wow! this church looks really good ... perhaps one of the best looking in the whole country. I like how it looks quite Asian :D and greens growing at the church itself gives a great feeling of history

A Unique Flowering

http://www2.hawaii.edu/~gaspar/intro-betis1.jpg

Perhaps one of the most exciting yet tumultuous time in Philippine history is the Spanish colonial period. During this time, Western culture, education, government, economics, and lifestyle planted the seed of a new nation in Southeast Asia. When the Spaniards was finally expelled in 1899, they left behind a culture that was strongly indoctrinated with theirs. In architecture, the most distinct witness of the Spanish presence in the country are the hundreds of churches built all over the archipelago.
The flowering of colonial church architecture under the Spaniards was a unique event in the architectural heritage of the country. Unfortunately, the end of the Spanish regime was also the end of the church building enterprise of the missionaries. No one would ever witness a church to rise up again in the grandeur and spirit of the colonial era. In some sense, the churches are very special today because the mold was broken after they were created. But more specifically, they are very special because of the events and circumstances surrounding their creations. For today, their eclectic styles do not seem to fit into the characterization of western traditional church architecture. A person with a western orientation would never know where to begin in describing the aggregation of diverse styles of the churches. Colonial churches, explains Manila architect Augusto Villalon, may not be correct from a western point of view, but the indigenized styles are correct in their own setting. Indeed, the churches hardly impersonate European or Mexican models; instead, they seem to charm each other.

But what, in specific terms, makes Philippine colonial church architecture so unique from the realm of western traditional architecture? There are several diverse reasons; yet, each explanation seems to point back to the geographic location of the Philippines, the archipelago being a far-flung colonial outpost of the Spanish era.

A FAR-FLUNG OUTPOST.
There was no direct link between colonial Philippines and mother Spain. The colonization of the archipelago was accomplished only through New Spain or Mexico. Hence, colonizers were arriving directly from South America rather than from Europe. Considering how long it took to travel in those days, the archipelago was considered a far flung outpost of the Spanish regime. Not many conquistadors were up and ready to risk everything they had in the new colony; thus, most of those who arrived in the archipelago were ardent religious missionaries.

Perhaps, the early missionaries were too ecstatic to venture in a new territory that they missed to bring along with them an architect. As a result, there were no trained architects when it was time to build missionary churches. It was only in the latter part of the colonial period that architects began arriving in the colony. But for almost all of the great churches throughout the country, the design and style were executed by the Spanish missionaries and the local maestro-de-obras or master builders. Faced with the undoubting task of designing and building a church, the missionaries had to rely either on their memories of past encounters or illustrations of churches in the west.

The only link between Mexico and the new colony was the Galleon Trade. Alicia Coseteng, in her book Spanish Churches in the Philippines, explains how illustrations of an architectural trend, such as the Mexican Baroque that flourished in Mexico in 17th and 18th Century, reached the Philippines through the Galleon Trade between Manila and Acapulco. This is one reason why almost all of the colonial churches in the country have very strong Baroque tendencies.

The Galleon Trade between Manila and Acapulco was a very slow journey; the ship took about a year to reach its destination. Because of this, new architectural ideas and trends in the Philippines always lagged behind from the other colonies in South America. While this situation did not allow too much artistic leeway for the friars in their designs, the local artisans had ample time to develop their newly acquired skills. In time, the artisans began infusing their individualistic and often indigenous styles into the architecture. Although it was done with innocuous intentions, the rules of western traditional architecture were freely deviated.

A GATHERING OF ARTISANS.
The local artisans were a varied mixture of people. When building a church, the Indios, a reference to the natives at the time, contributed much of the needed labor force. The Filipinos were good builders of wood and bamboo, but they were unskilled in building with stone. Hence, Chinese laborers were hired when such a specific skill was required. Muslims were also recruited to render labor. In several churches in the south, this resulted in minaret-like belltowers with onion-shaped roofs, trefoil arches, and geometric patterns. One good example is the Carcar church in Cebu. Muslim influence also prevailed in the central north, as the Malate church in Manila illustrates. The gathering of artisans with different ethnic backgrounds plus the fact that Filipinos have a strong Malay heritage, eventually led to the infusion of non-western motifs into the architecture, further creating a distinct style. The facade of the Miag-ao church in Iloilo is an extreme example of how a western idea was transformed to suit the taste of the local artisans.

The church builders had to learn to build with what was available. In general, the early missionaries had very limited resources, in terms of financing as well as materials. This was further aggravated by the fact that they had to learn to build churches which can survive the onslaught of natural calamities prevalent in the new colony. These conditions led to many improvisations on both the friars and the local artisans. In the north, the massive buttresses of the Paoay church in Ilocos Norte are a reminder of the church builders’ struggle against earthquakes.

A CONTINUOUS BUILDING PROCESS.
Colonial church architecture in the country is distinctly unique because the churches are a mixture and accretion of different architectural styles. It was never a question whether the builders should tear down an old church to make way for a new one. That would have been very wasteful, considering the limited resources they had. When churches were rebuilt, they were often reconstructed over existing foundations or walls. As a result, the architectural style is usually a crossbreed of disparate sources. The Morong church in Rizal, however, displays how the integration of a new belfry with the old facade can create one of the most well-composed architectures in colonial Philippines.

Put together, geographic location, climate, materials, and the spontaneous and improvisational attitude of the Filipinos created a kind of architecture that give hint to western ideas yet unique enough to stand on its own. Traditional western architectural idioms were interpreted in ways that are suitable only to the Filipino taste. Through these processes, exceptional churches abound in all parts of the archipelago. In the north, the Tumauini church in Isabela is renown for its intricate brick ornamentation. Betis church in Pampanga has an exceptional trompe l’oiel interior that is seemingly second only to San Agustin church in Intramuros.

The church building enterprise of the Spanish missionaries also set significant world records in the evolution of architecture in this part of the world. Taal church in Batangas is the widest church in Asia, while San Sebastian church in Manila, perhaps the crowning glory of colonial church building in the country, is the first all-iron church in Asia. As a pre-fabricated steel structure, San Sebastian church is closely behind the structural feat of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Colonial churches have been a great source of inspiration for a long time. Painters and artists have often recreated the churches in their works; writers and lyricists have enigmatized the churches in their passionate endeavors (Who has not heard of Constancio de Guzman’s classic Lumang Simbahan?); modern-day architects often turn their back to the past to reorient themselves from the chaos of architectural ‘isms of today. But more than that, these edifices of faith have steered the course of the country and the Filipino people to where they are now. At times when the country struggled to unite itself and tried to recover from the devastation left by natural disasters, political instability, and economic mismanagement, the Filipino people, because of their strong religious faith, have managed to pick up themselves time and time again.

Besides their role as bastions of the Catholic faith, they are poised as living monuments and proud standing witness to the Filipino heritage. They are reminders of an era in the country’s colorful history. One can only hope that the churches will continue to exist for hundreds of years more to come.

http://www2.hawaii.edu/~gaspar/church-intro.html

http://www2.hawaii.edu/~gaspar/paoay9.jpg

The town of Paoay seem to be isolated from the rest of Ilocos Norte, so enclosed the town is surrounded by tall, old mango and acacia trees, that a newcomer would not know what to expect. Only the tip of the belltower exerting itself to the sky gives a hint of what lies beyond the fortress of trees.
At the end of the long, narrow road leading from the Manila highway to the town proper, the hundred-year-old Parish Church of Saint Augustine awaits silently, considered as one of the most striking edifices in the country with its huge buttresses flanking the sides and rear facade.

http://www2.hawaii.edu/~gaspar/paoay6.jpg

It has been a wonder how and why such huge wall reinforcement was ever fancied by the early church builders. Was it just another way of impressing the people by demonstrating the strength of the new religion--that is, Christianity--or was it just a result of the rivalry among Catholic church builders who were trying to outdo each other? The answer is more humbling and simpler.

Earthquake was, and still is, one of the most destructive natural calamities in the Philippines. This harsh reality is severely evident in the church building practices in the Ilocos. As a response to earthquakes, church builders devised means to make sure that the church held up against the fury of the earth. Wall buttressing was a promising solution because it required a simple building method and simple materials. In the case of Paoay church, however, the dreadful paranoia of church builders became the epitome of earthquake-resistant churches in the Ilocos region.

http://www2.hawaii.edu/~gaspar/paoay1a.jpg

The church was started by the Augustinian Fr. Antonio Estavillo in 1694. It was completed in 1710 and rededicated in 1896, just three years before the expulsion of Spanish rule in the country. The style of the church has been dubbed “Earthquake Baroque” by Alicia Coseteng, one of the early authorities on colonial church architecture. Because the buttresses extend out considerably from the exterior walls, the entire visual experience becomes three-dimensional, unlike most of the churches in the country where the inherent beauty of the church is limited only at the facade.

The buttresses are a visual spectacle. One can easily imagine them as giant sentinels poised to protect the church from adversaries. The rhythmic flow of massive form cascading down from the pinnacles to the ground, emphasized by spiral relieves visible on each side of the buttresses, alludes to a Baroque character. Yet, the dark receding plaster and exposed coral stone wall, complete with foliage overgrowth, creates a momentary feeling of being in some exotic Javanese temple.

The materials used for the walls were a mixture of coral stone and bricks. Large coral stones were used at the lower level of the walls, while bricks, smaller and more manageable to transport, were used at the upper levels.

The mortar used for the coral stones and bricks dramatizes the desire of the builders to make sure that the church stood against natural calamities. The other ingredients added to the mortar were as exotic as the style of the church itself. Regalado Jose, in his book Simbahan, points out that leather straps were mixed with the mortar. Felipe M. de Leon, who wrote The Filipino Nation, adds that the “stucco was said to have been made by mixing sand and lime [with] sugarcane juice, which were boiled with mango leaves, leather, and rice straw for two nights.”

http://www2.hawaii.edu/~gaspar/paoay4.jpg

Another unusual idiosyncrasy that seems to be typical to many Ilocano churches is the existence of a step buttress at the sides of the church, at or near half of the length of the exterior wall. There seems to be no other reason for building this other than as a means to access the roof. In the early days, this would have been necessary when fixing or patching the cogon grass roof. What throws off everyone’s speculation is that the stair-like buttresses have steps that were built too steep and too far apart for a normal person to climb. But perhaps, they were built in such manner in order to save valuable space. If the step buttress on the left of the Paoay church was built properly, it would have jutted out far beyond the boundaries of the church fence.

http://www2.hawaii.edu/~gaspar/paoay3.jpg

The facade of the church, even as it is beginning to lean towards the front, still manages to be as equally impressive as the buttresses. Viewed from the side, the giant buttresses look like huge volutes making the facade appear as a massive pediment rising from the ground. The facade is divided vertically by square pilasters that extend from the ground and all the way to the top of the pediment. The Gothic affinity of the church is suggested by the vertical movement of the pilasters and the finials that cap them at the top of the pediment. The facade is also divided horizontally by stringed cornices that extend all the way to the edges. The cornices extend to the sides of the church and wrap each buttresses around, adding attention and articulation to the massive side supports. At the apex is a niche, while the otherwise stark plaster finish is embellished with crenallations, niches, rosettes, and the Augustinian coat-of-arms.

http://www2.hawaii.edu/~gaspar/paoay5.jpg

The facade is complemented with a belltower located at its right hand side. Belltowers are a very important element in the overall composition of colonial churches, both for its function and aesthetics. For practical purposes, belltowers were used as a communication device to the townspeople. In the case of the Paoay belltower, it also played, ironically, an explicit role in the lives of the Filipinos during the war.

http://www2.hawaii.edu/~gaspar/paoay2.jpg

Climbing the belltower is almost like going back in time. Inside, the musty smell of coral stone, coupled with rotting wood scaffoldings and stairs, relives the dark days of the Katipuneros when they climbed up and down the shaft and used the belltower as a lookout during the revolt against the Spaniards.

The view from the top of the belltower is absolutely magnificent. On one side, one can roam with his or her eyes the vast span of land until it merges with the China Sea. In some sense, it is still used today as a lookout point, not by the Katipuneros, but by mischievous kids from the nearby high school who often flee from the wrath of an angry teacher.

http://www2.hawaii.edu/~gaspar/paoay8.jpg

As one enters the edifice, the church abruptly relinquishes the powerful strength of the massive buttresses that they discharge at the exterior. Inside, the church has a very solemn, almost sentimental ambiance. The interior looks bare and empty. Regalado Jose mentions in his book that the ceiling was once painted with a scene similar to that of the Sistine Chapel in Italy. Unfortunately, the original ceiling is no longer in existence today. What is left is a cavernous maze of trusswork with exposed and rusting corrugated roof sheets.

Compared to its still magnificent exterior, the Paoay church looks austere and stark inside, with but a few old images of saints and a simple wooden cross at the altar, that it is hard to imagine now how it looked like a hundred years ago. Only on Sundays does the Parish enjoy quite a number of worshippers. It is sad to think that on any other day, except for an intermittent bus loads of Taiwanese tourists, the church suffers from the lack of patronage.

It is impossible not to be compelled by the exotic quality of the church, as demonstrated by the huge and powerful buttresses. Yet, there is also a sense of humility behind such exuberant assertion, as expressed by the pensive interior. But the most enduring impression, perhaps, that any visitor takes with him as he departs from the church, are the poignant memories of a tumultuous yet glorious past of a nation, imbedded among the layers and heaps of huge stones and bricks that make a church.

http://www2.hawaii.edu/~gaspar/paoay7.jpg

http://www2.hawaii.edu/~gaspar/paoay.html

http://www2.hawaii.edu/~gaspar/tumaui4.jpg

Jewel of the Valley.” This is how Benito Legarda calls the Parish Church of Saint Mathias in his inquiry, Angels in Clay: The Typical Cagayan Church. Its exquisite brick ornamentation makes this church in Isabela one of the most striking and interesting churches built during the Spanish colonial period.
The church stands in a quiet little corner of the town, away from the mad rush hour of everyday life, at the end of a short, narrow, uneven asphalt track that diverts unobtrusively from the main road of Tumauini, a bustling little town where every mode of transportation- cars, jeepneys, buses, tricycles, bicycles, calesas- claim a stake to the same road. Tumauini is located in the northern part of Isabela, only an hour-and-a-half drive away from Tuguegarao in the Cagayan Valley.

http://www2.hawaii.edu/~gaspar/tumaui6.jpg

Tumauini church was built by Fr. Domingo Forto from 1783 to 1788. With a keen eye to details and an affection to decoration, Fr. Forto created a work of art in his church. To achieve the ornamentation he wanted, he went as far as importing artisans from Pampanga to carve the wood moldings for the clay insets. Likewise, he devised an ingenious method that assured him that the laborers followed exactly his design, especially when he went away on missionary travels. A closer look at the spiral relief of the facade shows carved out numbers that indicate the proper sequence of the bricks. Some of the bricks were even stamped with a date; one brick displays the year "1784".

http://www2.hawaii.edu/~gaspar/tumaui1.jpg

Paired pseudo-Corinthian columns on the facade create a vertical rhythmic division, perhaps inspired by native foliage. Directly above an arched doorway in the central portion of the facade, a niche for a statuette precariously sits within the heavy laden horizontal cornice. Two larger niches, set in between paired columns, flank each side of the doorway. Another horizontal cornice traverses along the lower portion of the facade, demarcating a solid base for the entire composition.

http://www2.hawaii.edu/~gaspar/tumaui3.jpg

The abundant ornamentation is seemingly overwhelming to the untrained eyes that it is easy to miss the fine details that give life to the facade. Perhaps, one must take moments of repose to scan the wealth of each red clay brick and discover trimmings of flowers, foliage, swags and angel faces. Some ornamentation are so subtle that discerning their meanings or allusions could bring a sense of fulfillment. For example, the columns that frame the side niches are faintly shaped just enough to suggest solomonic or twisted columns.

On the other hand, it is perplexing, almost impossible, to draw any meaning from some other ornamentation. For instance, one can only guess the significance of carriage wheel images at the base of the facade.

http://www2.hawaii.edu/~gaspar/tumaui5.jpg

Possibly the most intriguing of all the ornaments are the odd-looking clay insets that bound the sides of the facade. These insets come to life as curvilinear forms that seem to crawl on the surface of the wall. Shaped like a reversed letter “S” or the number “3”, they could have originally signified some important message or idea that is now lost to an observer. The brick walls remain silent and they won’t tell the story.

The proliferation of ornaments on the facade is crowned by a pediment with stepped pinnacles on both sides. The stepped pinnacles are embellished with more clay insets varying from flowers to a coil. The pediment itself is also uncommon, being the only pediment in the colonial church lineage that has a very strong circular form. It is punctuated with a rose window that is decorated with a dazzling movement of swag-like ornaments.

http://www2.hawaii.edu/~gaspar/tumaui2.jpg

Besides its brick inset ornamentation, the church is also exceptional among the colonial churches because of its unusual exposed brick construction. Unlike most timeworn churches, Tumauini church lacks a protective coating of plaster on its walls. One can assume that bricks in Tumauini were made durable enough to last natural elements as well as the passage of time.

To complete the composition, a belltower resolutely stands close to the facade. Built in 1803, the belltower is a rare gem, too. According to Winand Klassen, in his book Architecture in the Philippines, the Tumauini belltower is the only known cylindrical tower in the colonial period. The belltower's cylindrical shape reinforces its kinship with the circular composition of the pediment. Like the facade, it is festively decorated with festoon garlands that wrap around each tier of the belltower. Here, the embellishment is magnified by the effective contrast of the reddish clay insets against the white plaster finish.

http://www2.hawaii.edu/~gaspar/tumaui9.jpg

The happy gathering of brick ornaments extends into the church interior. Above the altar, a half canopy that is made of stone and carved with delicate ornaments becomes the central focus. The half canopy is unprecedented within the context of this brick church since stone, according to Legarda, was rarely used in this region.

The book, Great Churches of the Philippines, sums up the brick ornamentation of the church: “An ultra-Baroque church, it is unique for its extensive use of baked clay both for wall finishes and for ornamentation. In the construction of Western-style churches, clay is an off-beat idiom. It is structural slang!”

Surely, Tumauini church is an amalgam within the realms of Western traditional architecture. But the Parish Church of Saint Mathias is not in the west, or anywhere else. It is in the busy little town of Tumauini in Isabela. Here, the church contentedly awaits the next visitor to come and relish its wonderful architecture.

http://www2.hawaii.edu/~gaspar/tumaui.html

http://img227.exs.cx/img227/5528/holyrosary2wq.jpg

Santo Rosario Church/Cathedral in Angeles City.

sorry co-forumers napabayaan ko yung thread. ;)

anyway, thanks to all for keeping this thread alive with discussion, great pictures, illustrations and researches, and comments. ang haba na ng list natin!

from page 01-25 (13 ata sa iba) hanggang post ni culiat

philippine churches and other places of worship

albay:
cagsawa church/ruins/park
our lady of the gate (daraga town church), daraga
santo domingo church, santo domingo
camalig church, camalig
tabaco church, tabaco city
st stephen church, ligao city

batangas:
saint martin basilica, taal

bohol:
our lady of the immaculate conception (baclayon church), baclayon
san pedro church, loboc
marami pa (unidentified pics by JudeD. help boholanos)

bulacan:
barasoain church (our lady of mount carmel parish), malolos

camarines:
basilica minore, naga city
metropolitan cathedral, naga city
franciscan monastery, naga city
penafrancia shrine, naga city

cebu:
basilica minore del santo nino (santo nino church), cebu city
+basilica minore del santo nino pilgrim center, cebu city
saint catherine of alexandria, carcar
redemptorist church
pardo parish church, cebu city

dumaguete:
dumaguete church*

ilocos:
paoay church, batac

iloilo:
molo church, molo*
jaro cathedral, jaro*
university church, central philippine university

laguna:
church of saint bartholomew, nagcarlan

metro manila:
church of the gesu, admu campus, marikina
saint joseph parish (bamboo organ church), las pinas
san sebastian church, quiapo, manila
golden mosque, quiapo, manila
hong giam taoist temple, paco, manila
khalsa diwan indian sikh temple, paco, manila
minor basilica of the black nazarene (quiapo church), quiapo, manila*
san agustin church, intramuros, manila*
nuestra senora de gracia parish (guadalupe ruins), makati
nature church, moonwalk village, las pinas*
nuestra senora de los remedios (malate church), malate, manila*
iglesia ni cristo (main chapel), diliman, quezon city*
minor basilica of the immaculate conception (manila cathedral), intramuros, manila
san miguel parish, san miguel, manila
santissimo rosario parish (ust chapel), sampaloc, manila
shine of jesus the way, the truth, the life, bay city complex
santa cruz church (blessed sacrament), santa cruz, manila
minor basilica of san lorenzo ruiz (binondo church), binondo, manila
saint james the great, ayala alabang
san jose church, navotas
santo domingo church, ??

negros:
church of san diego (silay church), silay*

pampanga:
lubao main church, lubao*
san luis church*
san guillermo parish church, bacolor
holy rosary parish church, angeles city

pangasinan:
our lady of manaoag, manaoag

rizal:
antipolo church, antipolo

siquijor:
siquijor church, siquijor*
siquijor convent



+agustinian churches from the book angels in stone scanned by jbkayaker12

illustrations only and ??
??san clemente seminary
san juan de dios monastery
santo domingo, manila
the jesuit church

*the ones with asterisk do not have any info. anyone can contribute here.

wee. it's good that we have more forumers from other parts of the philippines now. the problem before kasi was most of the pinoys are either outside the country or in manila that's why there's a scarcity of info and new pics (most of available stuff in the internet are old). but now we even have threads for different provinces and cities. and it's really cool.

and also a good number of our forumers today are pro/amateur photographers, hobbyist, travelers who have cameras (even digicams).

ok. so ayun. i'll try to post some later.

Lanao del Sur

http://www.thelandofpromise.com/lanaosur/mosque02-1098.jpg

http://www.thelandofpromise.com/lanaosur/mosque01-P7263225.jpg

Maguindanao

http://www.thelandofpromise.com/maguindanao/mosque02-PB110002.jpg

http://www.thelandofpromise.com/maguindanao/shariff1-PICT5085.jpg

^^ wow great pix!!! thanx for sharing them sleepwalker..:D

nice pics kuya. may iba-ibang pangalan rin ba mga mosque nila or sa pangalan nung lugar lang rin kinukuha?