The Paoay Church

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Under the management of the Augustinian monk Antonio Estavillon, the construction of this, a Javanese
temple reminding, majestic church started in 1694. The plan was to set up an earthquake-proof and
simultaneously imposing building in the style of the "Earthquake Baroque". In 1710, the majestic impressive
church was completed; however, already in 1793 restored and newly dedicated in 1896 as "Church of St.
Agustin".

Coral stones were used for the building of the upper parts, bricks for the upper levels. To the mortar was
added sugar cane juice and sometimes leather stripes to increase the stability of the building. The façade
shows a vertical structure by four wall columns, it is horizontally subdivided by ledges, which also orbit the
buttresses. We find tapering turrets at the top of the building. An author formulated - „they are brushing the
sky“- and they are lifting the heaviness of the building. Some sculptures and relief models - flowers, snails,
Cherubim and the Augustine's coat of arms are found in the upper part of the façade.

The 26 solid pillars are spectacular. They reach in their breadth almost half the length of the nave and are
adorned with snails, floral patterns, and show turrets likewise. Pillar stairs with rather high steps should
allow the access to the roof, which was originally covered with straw.

Another feature is the massive belltower. It is 35 meters high and the walls have a thickness of one meter.
It stands about hundred meters remote from the church and offers an excellent view over the country. The
Katipuneros, revolting against the Spanish colonial regime, used it as a watchtower. “Climbing the belltower
is almost like going back in the time”, writes Roger Gaspar (3). It is reported that due to its heaviness it is
gradually sinking deeper into the ground. In the past, riders still have ridden by the tower gate. Today that
seems to be impossible.
 The church door is provided with a wrought-iron filigree decoration. Going inside we see a very simple --
if not even dreary -- church interior with some saint pictures and a simple wooden altar cross. Originally,
the nave had a painted wood ceiling. It was removed in earlier time and today only rafters and a rusting
roof can be seen.

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Undoubtedly, the Paoay Church was neglected in the past with regard to its historical substance. This fact
becomes also evident by the strong green and bush vegetation, which can be seen in current publications.
However, after the church was declared as World Cultural Heritage, first steps for the preservation of the
church have been starting in 2000. The catalogue of measurements includes among other things a seismic
expertise, rip and stone mending and cleaning works, i.e.. the removal of vegetation. Because of possible
concussions the traffic is now diverted nearby the church, too. These remarks brings us to the general
question about the present state of preservation and restoration of the old churches in the country.
 Calasiao Church

The Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church (Iglesia Parroquial de los Santos Pedro y Pablo), commonly
known as Calasiao Church is a baroque church located in Poblacion
West, Calasiao, Pangasinan, Philippines. It belongs to the Vicariate of Sts. Peter and Paul under the
Ecclesiastical Province of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan. The 57, 840 Catholics
is under the pastoral care of Rev. Fidelis B. Layog, assisted by Rev. Isidro Palinar, Jr. and andRev.
Raymund Manaois.
The Spanish-colonial-era Church was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of
the Philippines and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

Church history
Built in several stages from the 17th to 19th centuries by the Dominicans, the best-
preserved Pangasinan church bell tower and some parts have been reconstructed because of earthquakes.
The 17th Century Calasiao Dominican Provincial chapter church under St. Paul's patronage became Sts.
Peter and Paul Parish under Fr. Juan Maldonado de San Pedro Martin as parish priest after 1621.
In 1763, Filipino rebel Palaris (Binalatongan or San Carlos) burned the church. In 1804. Bishop Miguel
Garcia de Nueva Segovia presided over the 1773 Synod of Calasiao at the sprawling Convento (per Manila
Provincial Council Acts of 1771 to implement Decrees). Archbishop Basilio Sancho de Santa Justa y Rufina
convened the Council from May to November, 1771.
Calasiao had a new church of 3 naves (89 varas or yards long, 22 wide and 18 high with 2 rows of windows)
with a bell tower. But in 1841 to 1842, this church was destroyed and rebuilt by Father Dalman in 1852 and
then burned and restored from 1853 to 1858 by Father Ramos Suarez. The March 16, 1892 earthquake
damaged the church. Dominican Vicar Fr. Bonifacio Probanza left Calasiao in 1898.
The 1936 Christ the King saw a new church. In 1945, the Lingayen cathedral and the archbishop's palace
was temporarily transferred to Calasiao amid the miraculous 3 Liberation bombs thrown into the church
and convent but failed to explode,
The earthquake July 16, 1990 destroyed its belfry. Msgr. Luis B. Ungson reconstructed the church's and
restored the bricked front wall, antique statues and the ceiling's original floral motif.[4]
Parish priests included, Fr. Juan Bello, Fathers Benigno Serafica, José Ferrer and Msgr. Oscar Aquino
under Bishop Jesus Cabrera. The present Parish Priest is Fidelis B. Layog. Msgr. Luis Ungson is assisted
by Fr. Ronwell Fabregas and by Fr. Jose R. Carino and Allen O. Romero.
At present, the church owns fully automatic bells or chimes which could be heard within 7- or 8-kilometer
radius.

Description
Calasiao's prioririty status is due to its geographic representation of various regions across the nation,
being one of the largest churches in Pangasinan.
The imposing Latin American-style facade of bricks and cement of Calasiao Church, today, is 88.3 meter
long, 25 meters wide and 27.3 meters high.The sprawling convent is 75 meters long, 25 meters wide and
has 2 yards. Its 5-storey octagonal brick bell tower (replica of the earthquake destroyed original on July 16,
1990) with architectural designs that slightly resemble those of the Southeast Asian Hindu-Buddhist
Pagodas is 30 meters high.
The prized original retablos (and a classic altar) is ornately decorated with statues of saints. The Baroque-
style carved, the painted ceilings and the magnificent overall exterior are preserved for centuries. The
intricate sculpture has tone of the Renaissance age's undying European Art as demonstrated by the
majesty of its ceiling or dome, walls and the altar from the aisle near the main door.
The magnificent structure's main door, the entrance to the church features some heavy details: "Iglesia
Parroquial San Pedro Y San Pablo Calasiao, Pangasinan". The church's large wooden floors on the second
floor was setting of Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang and the Sleeping beauty Episode. Outside, sculptures,
could be found including the cave of the Nativity and the Sunico heritage bell on display and the Sacred
Heart of Jesus.
Museo Calasiao, a mini museum stands on the right side of the church inside the sprawling convent which
shows some vintage photos and history of the church. Its dome-kitchen structure separately engineered
from the church and the convent is one of its odd and distinct features.Some parts of the church are
currently being renovated as there are plans to promote it as a tourist attraction. Father Layog adds there
are plans to put up a gallery so that visitors can appreciate the church’s historical value.
In front of the church and Convento are spacious parking areas for vehicles tightly guarded by a solid iron
entrance gate.Some meters therefrom is the famous "Senor Divino Tesoro Shrine" with the miraculous
statue of a crucified Jesus Christ (believed to grow in size).

1588 Parish Church of Saints Peter and Paul (prized original retablos and classic altar ornately decorated with statues
of saints).

Baroque church
As one of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines, the Parish Church of Saints Peter and Paul has been
at the forefront of Philippine history-Spanish colonial rule. Its unique architectural design reflects the
Spanish and Latin American architecture integration of indigenous Philippines works of art with Chinese
style fusion. Its massive bricks or ladrillo had been designed to withstand revolts and rebellions, due to its
fortresses facade.
Its massive retablo mayor is massive and complex woodwork is seen at the back.
Within the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippine Church of Calasiao, known as Earthquake Baroque, has
powerful and most imposing buttresses and foundations but failed upon earthquakes' annihilations.

Declaration as a National Cultural Treasure

In 2001, Calasiao Church was declared as declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum
of the Philippines and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts under R.A. 4896 (as amended by
P.D. 374 and R.A. 8492), on September 29, 2001. It is the 5th church to be declared as National Cultural
Treasure. The Calasiao church (second in Pangasinan, following San Carlos') was adjudged as possessing
"outstanding historical, cultural, artistic and/or scientific value and are representative of the original church-
building orders of Augustinians, Franciscans, Jesuits, Dominicans, and Augustinian Recollects, and all the
major regions of the country.

Panay Church

The Santa Monica Parish Church, also called Panay Church, Spanish: 'Iglesia Parroquial de Santa
Mónica', is a historic church in Panay, near Roxas City in the province of Capiz, on Panay island in
the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. It was built in 1884 on the site of an earlier church, built in
1774 by Miguel Murguia, which was gravely damaged by the typhoon of 17 January 1875. The church is
built of coral blocks and is approximately 70 metres long, 25 m in width and 18 m in height; the walls are
about 3 metres thick.
The church has an unusually large bell, the largest in the country. This was cast by Juan Reina in about
1884, using sacks of coin given by the people of the town; it weighs more than 10 tonnes.
In 1997 the church was declared a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Commission of
the Philippines.
 Laoag Cathedral

Laoag Cathedral, canonically known as Saint William’s Cathedral (Spanish: Catedral de San
Guillermo) is a church in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. The current church was built in 1612
by Augustinian friars to replace a wooden chapel. It also serves as the seat or central church of
the Roman Catholic Diocese of Laoag.

History[edit]
The first church of Laoag was made of wood and thatch when the Augustinians established the parish in
1580. The foundations of the current church was laid on 1612. It was damaged by fire in 1843 and was
restored from 1873 to 1880 by the Obras Publicas under Engineer Antonio de la Camara and Father
Santiago Muniz. The church was occupied by the revolutionists in 1898, and by the American forces in
1899. The ownership of the church was contested by the Aglipayans from the Roman Catholic from which
the Catholic church won ownership.The church facade was renovated by adding lime plaster in 1936. It
became a cathedral when the Diocese of Laoag was created in 1961. The church was again renovated
from 1971 to 1972. It was slightly damaged by an earthquake in 1983.

Features

The Sinking Bell Tower

The church is known for its Italian Renaissance design.It also has an unusual two-storey façade, supported
by two pairs of columns on each side of the arched entrance. The top of the façade holds a
recessed niche that showcases the image of the city's patron saint, San Guillermo el Ermitaño. It has
windows made from capiz with wrought iron screens.
It has a main retablo and two smaller ones on its sides. The lower level of the huge retablo contains the
image of Saint William, the parish's patron saint.

Sinking Bell Tower

The church is also famous for its Sinking Bell Tower, which sinks into the ground at a rate of an inch a
year. It has survived several minor earthquakes since its construction, causing scholars to label it
an Earthquake Baroque style structure. The tower, built presumably after the 1707 earthquake, has a
foundation of 90 metres (300 ft). It is made of locally manufactured bricks joined by molasses and juice
of sablot leaves mixed with lime and sand, and reinforced with four massive columns on each corner and
a winding stairway leading to the belfry. It used to have a large clock on the tower's western face.

Morong Church

St. Jerome Parish Church (also known as Morong Church) is a Roman Catholic church located
in Morong, Rizal, Philippines. It was built under forced labor during the Spanish colonization in the country,
where men, women, and even children had to dig stones from a hill called Kay Ngaya; lime from the stones
of the mountain Kay Maputi; and sand and gravel from Morong River.

History
The town of Morong traces its origins to the pioneering work of the Franciscans Juan de Plasencia and
Diego de Oropesa. Both were responsible for starting most of the lake town mission in 1578. They
constructed chapels (visitas) attached to a bigger settlement to allow religious and civil administration.
Later, this settlement was converted into Pueblo de Morong and was made the provincial capital of the
Franciscan Order at that time. Baras, Tanay, Pililia, Cardona, Binangonan and Teresa were the visitas
under Pueblo de Morong.
Fr. Plasencia was well known for his mastery of Tagalog and is credited with compiling a dictionary of the
vernacular and writing a draft of a catechism which is later used for composing the Doctrina
Christiana (1593), the first book printed in the Philippines.
It was not until 1586, that Morong had a friar named Fr. Blas de la Madre de Dios assigned as first minister
of the pueblo. He constructed a wooden church on the south bank of the river but was burned down together
with a large part of the pueblo in 1612. After three years, a new church was built of stone and mortar on
elevated ground at the opposite bank of Morong River which ensured the its safety from floods and fires. It
measured 42 varas long by 12 varas wide, had a single nave with semi-circular apse, built under the
direction of Chinese master craftsmen.[1]The church, dedicated to St. Jerome, was completed in 1620. The
church had remained substantially unchanged until 1850-53, when Fr. Maximo Rico commissioned
Bartolome Palatino, a native of Paete, to renovate the facade and build a bell tower.
The new Baroque facade with a towering height of 20 varas was completed on February 2, 1853, almost
three years after its construction.
The Order of the Franciscan Missionaries were first assigned in the church of Morong. As a proof, the
Franciscan coat or arms is seen on the main facade of the bell tower, the hands of Jesus and St. Francis
of Assisi. Next were Columban Missionaries.

Significance of the Church during Filipino-Spanish War[edit]

After the Cry of Pugadlawin on August 23, 1896, a civil guard stationed in Binangonan named Agustin
Natividad escaped from his post and passed the mountain trails to reach Morong. He organized a camp
with other Filipino civil guards and attacked Morong. The Spanish casadores and other loyal civil guards
retreated to the Gobierno Politico-Militar building while the Katipuneros under Natividad sought refuge in
Capitan Mariano's rice camarin. Due to lack of food and arms, they left with their families and attacked
Morong Church and forced the enemies to retreat inside the convent and church.
On June 1, 1898, fully armed soldiers from Cavite and a shipment of rifles and a canon arrived to aid the
Katipuneros who came from the different points of Distrito de Morong. The three principal revolutionary
leaders at that time were Brigade Commander Miguel Aquino, Assessor Juan Sumulong and Quintin
Gonzales. Firing went on as the Spaniards took their stand in the church and convent.
The Spaniards besieged in the church and convent surrendered to the Katipuneros on August 19, 1898.

Architecture

One of the lion sculptures at the side of the church. Note the locked chains

The Morong facade and bell tower is easily the most striking of all church facades along Laguna de Bay.
Frequently photographed and described as baroque, the facade/bell tower is more properly described
as Baroque Revival architecture. The central portion of the facade surges outward and the catenated
balustrade above give the whole a dynamic felling. Various decorative elements, some Mexican in origin,
give the facade a richness characteristic of Baroque. Four angels, representing the cardinal virtues, stand
at the corners of the bell tower. Fr. Felix Huerta, writing in 1852, states that the facade had finials shaped
as jars and shells used for illuminating it.
It is said that it was built by Chinese craftsmen as evidence: two Chinese lion sculptures ( a boy and a girl
lion ) at the entrance to the steep driveway. One lion, said to be the girl lion, was stolen between 2000 and
2005. Local folklore said that the female lion has a hidden treasure inside it. While the other lion, the male
lion, is safeguarded at the St. Jerome school vicinity.
The stone and mortar church which has a three-story facade, and an octagonal bell tower whose cross is
illuminated at night and can be seen from the surrounding countryside. The bell tower of the church is used
by local fisher man in the nearby towns as a light house when fishing at night and during the storm. Its
Frontispiece and the belfry were renovated by Bartolome Palatino of Paete, between 1850-1853.

1st class relic of St. Jerome

An added attraction in the church of Morong is the first class relic of the town's patron saint Saint Jerome;
(Patron of scholars of the bible, Saint who translated the bible, feast day : September 30). The first class
relic (a part of the saint's body) was given to the parish year 2005, through the effort of then parish priest
Rev. Fr. Lawrence "Larry" Paz, when they had their first pilgrimage tour to holy land and Vatican City.
The relic is publicly exposed every Saturday during the anticipated mass, guarded by the knights of Saint
Jerome. While the kissing of the relic is done every last Saturday of the month. After two years, another
relic was given, in 2007 to the parish again as a gift from the main chaplain of the church of St. Jerome in
Rome, this time bigger. This relic is now buried on top of the table of the main altar which is being kissed
by the priest every time there is a mass.

Renovations
The following were the most significant projects done according to the records of the parish:

Year Priest Renovations

The dome (bubida) was repaired and reconstructed. Arch. Pacifico T. San
Miguel drew the plan.
1948 Fr. Hugh O'Reilly
Paintings of the 4 Holy Evangelists St. John, St. Luke, St. Mark and St.
Matthew were set up on the sides of the dome.

The old convent was repaired.

1950- Fr. John Kaiser
Classrooms were constructed for the newly established St. Jerome's
1953 (1st term)
Academy. The old main altar was demolished and a provisional wooden altar
was constructed.

1959- Fr. John Kaiser A new convent was constructed on the western side of the church, separate
1961 (2nd term) from the main church building.

Through the initiative of the Historical Conservation Society, the repair,

Fr. James
1961 restoration and renovation of the church facade and belfry was made
McCarthy
possible.

Fr. Thomas All stone walls of the church inside and outside and the ceilings were
1967- repaired and restored.
Conolly & Fr.
1969
Victor Gaboury
Marble tiles were laid on the floor of the sanctuary/main hall.

Landscaping of the churchyard

1981-
Fr. John Stratton The provisional wooden altar was demolished and a concrete main altar was
1988
constructed. The plan was drawn by Mike San Miguel. Stairways going to the
churchyard was restored.

The convent was repaired and an extension was constructed.

1991- Fr. Patrick
1994 O'Herlihy A new concrete belfry at the back and east side of the church building was
constructed. The plan was drawn by Arch. Ricardo S.D. Gutierrez.
 Fr. Patrick
1993 The old baptistry was converted into an Adoration Chapel.
O'Herlihy

Stained glass pictures of the 4 Holy Evangelists St. John, St. Luke, St. Mark
and St. Matthew were set up on the windows of the walls of the sanctuary on
the east and west sides of the dome (bubida).
1994-
Fr. Arnold Layoc
1997 Stained glass pictures of Jesus and Mary (twin hearts) were set up on the
windows at the western sides of the central hall. Stained glass picture of St.
Jerome was set up on the southern window of the choir loft. Landscaping of
the area in front of the church convent.

1997- Fr. Felipe

Repairs, renovations and changing of electrical wirings and connections
1999 Pedraja

1999-
Fr. Larry Paz The convent and Office of the Parish were repaired and renovated.
2006

All wooden church doors were repaired.

"Dambana ng Kagalakan" was constructed. Pacifico San Miguel and Mike

2000 Fr. Larry Paz
San Miguel drew the plan. Lamp posts around the patio and on the southern
side of the driveway were installed. Brick tiles were laid on the ground of the
patio.

St. Jerome statue was placed on the garden in front of the convent.
2001 Fr. Larry Paz
The Adoration Chapel was renovated and a wooden altar was constructed.

The relic of St. Jerome was embedded in the main altar.

2005 Fr. Larry Paz The perimeter wall on the southern side of the churchyard, which was struck
by lightning, was restored. Steel spiral stairs going up the choir loft was
constructed.

Locals
It was within this cultural landmark that a local theater group took residence and began to nurture the
several local artists who continue to share their talents and expertise in theater, television, media and
education. Founded in 1998 by Fr. Felipe Pedraja and the local church choir KISAP, the Dulaang San
Geronimo (DSG) is an organization committed to artistic excellence and a people’s culture that fosters
both personal fulfillment and social transformation in the province of Rizal. The architecture of the church
influenced the diversity of performances that they produced, prompting the artists to explore possibilities
that the unique architecture had to offer.
 Taal Basilica
The Taal Basilica canonically known as the Minor Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours (Filipino: Basilika ni
San Martin ng Tours; Spanish: Basílica Menor de San Martín de Tours) is a Minor Basilica in
the town of Taal, Batangas in the Philippines, within the Archdiocese of Lipa. It is considered to be the
largest church in the Philippines and in Asia, standing 88.6 metres (291 ft) long and 48 metres (157 ft)
wide. St. Martin of Tours is the patron saint of Taal, whose fiestais celebrated every November 11.

History
Earlier churches
In 1575, 3 years after the founding of Taal town in its old site near the shores of Taal Lake, work began on
the construction of its first church by Father Diego Espinar (O.S.A.) with Saint Martin of Tours as patron
saint. The church was rebuilt in 1642 using stronger materials but in 1754, it was destroyed along with the
town of Taal in the largest recorded eruption of Taal Volcano. This event led to transfer of the town and the
church farther away from the volcano to its present site atop an elevated hill facing Balayan Bay. The ruins
of the previous church can still be seen in San Nicolas.
Father Martín Aguirre donated the land and began the construction of the new church in 1755. It was
continued by Fr. Gabriel Rodriguez in 1777 and by Fr. Jose Victoria in 1782. Fr. Ramon del Marco
decorated the church, built the convent and paved the "processional" road with bricks around the atrium of
the parochial building. This church was damaged by a strong earthquake on September 16, 1852. The
earthquake centered near Taal Volcano, though no volcanic eruption was recorded.

Present church
Construction of the present church began in 1856 by Fr. Marcos Antón with Spanish architect Luciano
Oliver, commissioned to design and manage the construction of the new church. Although it was unfinished,
it was inaugurated in 1865. The huge church was completed by Fr. Agapito Aparicio in 1878, adding the
main altar of Doric style measuring 24 metres (79 ft) high and 10 metres (33 ft) wide.[1] He was also
responsible for the baptistery made with tiles imported from Europe. The stone church had three naves
with a grand transept and an elegant facade with Ionic and Doric orders.[4] A small tower on the left side of
the facade contained the large church bell, which in 1942, was destroyed by an earthquake.

Minor Basilica and further renovations

The church was then restored in 1953 in preparation for the Canonical Coronation of the Our Lady of
Caysasay. The following year on December 8, 1954, the church was declared as a Minor Basilica, the third
in the country to be given such honor. The church was again restored in 1972 by the Taal Quadricentennial
Council for the 400th anniversary of the town's establishment. By Presidential Decree No. 375 on January
16, 1974, the church was declared a National Shrine.
The old belfry was later rebuilt in 1990 under the supervision of the National Historical Institute. In 2011,
upon the assignment of Msgr. Alfredo Madlangbayan, the Basilica underwent another renovation as
sections the church interior were repainted to its original trompe l'oeil ceilings. The tower was also modified
to imitate the old tower destroyed by the earthquake of 1942, a new set of carillon bells was later installed.
The renovations was completed in November that same year.
In April 4, 2017, the Basilica was damaged by a 5.5 earthquake that struck Tingloy, Batangas. The Basilica
was significantly damaged again caused by twin earthquakes (magnitudes 5.6 and 6.0) that struck the
neighboring towns of Mabini and Taysan that occurred on April 8. The National Historical Commission of
the Philippines is undertaking some precautionary measures in order to preserve the Basilica.

Santa Ana Church

The Santa Ana Church, also known as the Parish of Our Lady of the Abandoned (Spanish: Parroquia
de Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados), is a Spanish colonial period church located in the district
of Santa Ana in Manila, Philippines. The parish was established by the Franciscan missionaries in 1578
under the patronage of Saint Anne. The present stone church was constructed by Father Vicente
Inglés, OFM from 1720 to 1725 and was dedicated to its present patron, the Our Lady of the Abandoned.
The revered image of its patron was made in Valencia,Spain in 1713 and arrived in the Philippines in 1717.
The church houses two National Cultural Treasures declared by the National Museum of the Philippines;
the Santa Ana Site Museum located in the convent patio and the Camarín de la Virgen (or the Dressing
Room of the Virgin).

History
The town of Santa Ana was first established by the Spanish Franciscan missionaries in 1578, in a
settlement beside a creek connecting to the Pasig River, which the local inhabitants referred to as Sâpa.
Its first church, dedicated to their titular patroness Saint Anne, was made of nipa and bamboo until a decree
from the Colonial Government in 1599 permitted the religious order to build the church in stone. However,
the construction came only around 1720 upon the direction of then parish priest of Santa Ana Fr. Vicente
Inglés, OFM wherein a new site was chosen, which is the current location of the structure. Dedicated to Our
Lady of the Abandoned (Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados), the building of the stone church began in
September 12, 1720 with the laying of the cornerstone by Governor General and Archbishop of
Manila Francisco de la Cuesta, OSA.[1] The construction took five years to finish, with the total cost
of ₱ 33,000 including the donation of the Governor General amounting to four thousand pesos.
In the early 1700s, Fr. Inglés went to Valencia, Spain. The friar had been very enamored of a famous image
of Our Lady that had become a popular spiritual attraction in Valencia. The image was known as the Our
Lady of the Abandoned. While Fr. Inglés was in Valencia, in the year 1713 he decided to have a copy of
this image for Santa Ana Parish, which was in the process of being constructed near Manila. After reverently
touching the copy to the original image, the friar brought the new replica image with him to the Philippines
in 1717. The image has been venerated in Santa Ana since then. In time, the parish became known as Our
Lady of the Abandoned Parish, as it is today, though St. Anne still is honored in the church with a statue of
her with the child Mary in a niche directly above the image of Our Lady of the Abandoned. Governor General
Francisco de la Cuesta, offered his" baston de mando " to the Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados de
Manila and Proclaimed the title ( Gobernadora de la Ciudad de Manila ).
The Santa Ana Church also served as barracks for the wounded American soldiers during the Philippine–
American War in 1899.
Architecture
The church structure follows the Baroque architectural style, utilizing adobe blocks in its wall surface finish
to give an impression of massiveness. Its floor plan formed the shape of a Latin cross oriented in north-
south direction, with the main entrance facing north. The church facade is divided into three levels by
heavily molded string courses. The topmost level or the pediment is adorned with Vitruvian-scroll design
on its raking cornice, and a central niche flanked with octagonal windows. The second level is composed
of semicircular arched windows covered with stained glass. The lowermost level is the main entrance
flanked with two niches containing the statues of St. Anne and St. Joachim, the parents of the Virgin Mary.
The ornamentation is mostly found in the frames of lateral niches and the moldings in the cornices and
the apertures. Attached to the right side of the structure next to the church facade is the four-floored
octagonal bell tower, also made of adobe blocks and were embellished by heavy string courses and other
ornamentation.

Notable features and components

Baptistery
The baptistery or bautisterio is located at the base of the bell tower on the right side of the vestibule or
entrance hall. Inside the small room contains the marble baptismal font and a Neoclassical retablo featuring
the painting of the Baptism of Christ, framed by two Corinthian columns on each side. Conservation efforts
on the Santa Ana church revealed that two paintings have actually adorned the retablo of the baptistery.
The first painting one was done on wood, which depicted Saint John the Baptist pouring water on Jesus
Christ, the Holy Spirit (symbolized by the dove) together with cherubsabove them, and two angels holding
a red cloak to cover Jesus. The wooden painting was later covered with the painting on metal, which most
likely dated around 1938. The second painting has much simpler depiction, composing of only St. John the
Baptist, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit above them.

Retablo

The retablo of the church

The main altarpiece or the retablo is in churrigueresque style, characterized by heavy ornamentation, which
is further highlighted by gold leaf on its details. It has thirteen niches, framed with solomonic and
churrigueresque columns. The tabernacle or sagrario occupied the central niche at the lower level and is
flanked by Franciscan Saints, namely Saint Bonaventure , Saint Peter of Alcantara, Saint Bernardino of
Siena and Saint Clare. The central niche of the second or main level is occupied by Our Lady of the
Abandoned at the center, which is flanked by the images of Saint Dominic and Saint Francis of Assisi,
founders of Catholic religious orders, and Biblical figures Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the
Evangelist. The upper level niches contained the images of Saint Anne (the titular patron of Santa Ana
district) at the center with Saint Peter and Saint Paul on its sides. At the top the retablo is the image of Saint
Michael the Archangel, which is flanked by medallions containing the painted images of Saint
Didacus and Saint Paschal Baylon.
Dome interior
The interior of the dome structure located above the transept crossing has two layers of balconies. Sixteen
paintings depicting Jesus, the twelve apostles (with Saint Matthias instead of Judas Iscariot), the
evangelists Saint Mark and Saint Luke, and Saint Paul decorated the first level balcony.

Historical and cultural declarations

The Santa Ana Church has been designated by the National Historical Commission of the
Philippines (then Philippine Historical Research and Markers Committee) as a Historic Building in 1936
with a historical marker for being the first Franciscan mission established outside Manila. The Santa Ana
Site Museum located in the convent patio and the Camarín de la Virgen was declared as a National Cultural
Treasure on August 1973 by President Ferdinand Marcos.

Basilica del Santo Niño

The Basílica Menor del Santo Niño de Cebú (Minor Basilica of the Holy Child of Cebú) commonly known
as the Santo Niño Basilica, is a minor basilica in Cebu City in the Philippines that was founded in the 1565
by fray Andrés de Urdaneta, O.S.A. and Diego de Herrera, O.S.A.. The oldest Roman Catholic church in
the country, it is built on the spot where the image of the Santo Niño de Cebú was found during the
expedition of Miguel López de Legazpi. The icon, a statue of the Child Jesus, is the same one presented
by Ferdinand Magellan to the chief consort of Rajah Humabon upon the royal couple's christening on April
14, 1521. It was found by a soldier forty years later, preserved in a wooden box, after Legazpi had razed a
local village.[1] When Pope Paul VI made the church a basilica in 1965, he declared it to be "the symbol of
the birth and growth of Christianity in the Philippines."
The present building, which was completed from 1739-1740, has been designated by the Holy See as the
"Mother and Head of all Churches in the Philippines" (Mater et Caput... Omnium Ecclesiarum Insularum
Philippinarum).

History
 Basilica del Santo Niño Cebu

The church of the Holy Child was founded by Fray Andrés de Urdaneta, O.S.A. on April 28, 1565, the day
when the image of the Holy Child was found in a partially burned hut. More than a week passed after the
rediscovery of the image of Santo Niño, on May 8, 1565, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi initiated the founding of
the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines. On the spot of the house where the image of the Santo
Niño was found, the monastery of the Holy Name of Jesus was constructed.
The first church to be built on the site where the image of the Holy Child was found was burned down on
November 1, 1566. It was said to be built by Fr. Diego de Herrera using wood and nipa. Fray Pedro Torres,
O.S.A. started the construction of a new church in 1605. It was finished in 1626 but was again burned in
March 1628. Fray Juan Medina, O.S.A. started the construction of another church in 1628, using stone and
bricks, a great innovation at that time. The construction was stopped because the structure was found to
be defective.

Present church
On February 29, 1735, Father Provincial Bergaño, Governor-General Fernando Valdes, Bishop Manuel
Antonio Decio y Ocampo of Cebu and Fray Juan de Albarran, O.S.A. started the foundations of the present
church, using stone. Since the friars did not have the means to complete the church, they enlisted the help
of the parishioners of Opon and San Nicolas to contribute materials, while the people of Talisay contributed
labor. The lack of chief craftsmen and officers forced Fray Albarran to acquire some knowledge of
architecture.
The church was finished not later than 1739.
On January 16, 1740, the miraculous image was enthroned in the new Augustinian church.
In 1789, the church underwent a renovation. In 1889, Fray Mateo Diez, O.S.A. did another renovation. The
original features of the church have been retained except for the windows which he added.
In the 1960s, both church and convent underwent a bigger restoration on the occasion of the Fourth
Centennial of the Christianization of the country. The face lifting was made with utmost respect for the
historical character of the old structure.
In 1965, His Eminence Ildebrando Cardinal Antoniutti, Papal Legate to the Philippines, conferred the church
the honorific title Basilica Minore upon the authority of Pope Paul VI. As a Minor Basilica, it is given
precedence over other churches and other privileges. Philippine President Ferdinand E. Marcos also
declared it a National Landmark.
The Basilica del Santo Niño remains under the care of the Augustinian Friars.

Pilgrim Center

The Pilgrim Center of the Basilica

The devotees keep increasing over the years and could easily fill the Basilica. To accommodate this
growing number of devotees who come to hear mass in the Basilica, a pilgrim center was built within the
church compound opposite of the Basilica and Holy Mass is celebrated on Fridays and other Religious
Festivities are held here in the open-air, theater-like structure.
Completed in September 1990, this open-air structure can accommodate 3,500 people. The basement of
the Pilgrim's Center houses the Basilica Del Sto. Niño Museum.

2013 Bohol earthquake

Main article: 2013 Bohol earthquake
On October 15, 2013, at approximately 8am GMT+8, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake shook Tagbilaran, Bohol,
its force felt throughout the Visayas. It caused more than 120 casualties, and much damage to buildings,
historical landmarks and churches. The earthquake destroyed most of the Basilica's belfry and façade;
some walls and frescoes were cracked. A video of the collapse can be seen here. The building was
soon[when?] restored[citation needed]and later re-opened to the public. The bell tower is now fully reconstructed and
the main door of the church as well as the area in between the original church and the pilgrim center is now
fully accessible.

Museum
The museum was first established in the year 1965 by Fr. Ambrosio Galindez, O.S.A. for the purpose of
the commemoration of the Fourth Centennial of the Christianization of the Philippines. It was then located
at a certain room in the convent. Old church documents dating back to the 17th century, antique church
furniture, antique church things (i.e. Chalice, Altar Table, Thurible, etc.), and antique vestments of the
priests are in display. The old vestments of the Sto. Niño de Cebu dating back to the 17th century are also
in display. The relics and statues of the different saints are also in exhibit. The replicas of the Sto. Niño
used in different pilgrimages in the Philippines and abroad are displayed. Some donated jewelleries and
gift toys to the Sto. Niño are in display also.
The Basilica del Sto. Niño Museum is currently located at the basement of the Pilgrim Center.