3.

) San Agustin Church In Intramuros, Manila

- originally known as Iglesia de San Pablo - founded in 1571 - oldest existing church in the Philippines - the present structure is the 3 Augustinian church erected on the site - thechurch was formally declared complete on January 19, 1607 - recognized as a Baroque church of the country - declared as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1993 - named a National Historical Landmark by the Phil. Govt. in 1976
(A monastery complex was once linked to the church by a series of cloisters, arcades, courtyards and gardens. Today the monastery and church are the repository of what is considered to be the most priceless Philippine collection of religious art, including the earliest dated retablo, wall paintings, pulpit, choir lectern, choir stalls and an important archive of books.)
rd

It is a administered by the Order of Saint Agustine (Augustinian Friars). Since the time of its foundation, the devotion to Nuestra Senora delaConsolacion y Cirrea is celebrated every Saturday. Terms for the American occupation of Manila was signed in the sacristy and First Plenary Council of the Philippines in 1953 was held in the Choirloft.

History
The first San Agustin Church was the first religious structure constructed by the Spaniards on the island of Luzon. Made of bamboo and nipa, it was completed in 1571, but destroyed by fire in December, 1574 during the attempted invasion of Manila by the forces of Limahong. A second church made of wood was constructed on the site. This was destroyed in February 1583, in a fire that started when a candle set ablaze the drapes of the funeral bier during the interment of the Spanish Governor-General Gonzalo Ronquillo de Pealosa. The Augustinians decided to rebuild the church using stone, and to construct as well an adjacentmonastery. Construction began in 1586, from the design of Juan Macias. The structure was built using hewn adobe stones quarried from Meycauayan, Binangonan and San Mateo, Rizal. The work

proceeded slowly due to the lack of funds and materials, as well as the relative scarcity of stone artisans. The monastery was operational by 1604. Macias, who had died before the completion of the church, was officially acknowledged by the Augustinians as the builder of the edifice.

Damage to San Agustin Church after the series of earthquakes in July 1880

San Agustin Church was looted by the British forces which occupied Manila in 1762 during the Seven Years' War. In 1854, the church was renovated under the supervision of architect Luciano Oliver.Nine years later, on June 3, 1863, the strongest earthquake at that time, hit Manila leaving widespread destruction to the city with San Agustin Church, the only public building left undamaged in the city.A series of strong earthquakes struck Manila again in 1880 - from the 18th of July to the 20th. This time, the tremors left a huge crack on the left bell tower of the church. The crack was eventually repaired but the left tower was permanently removed as it appears today. The church withstood the other major earthquakes that struck Manila before in 1645, 1699, 1754, 1796, 1825 and 1852. On August 18, 1898, the church was the site where Spanish Governor-General FerminJaudenes prepared the terms for the surrender of Manila to the United States of America following the SpanishAmerican War. During the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during World War II, San Agustin Church was turned into a concentration camp for prisoners. In the final days of the Battle of Manila, hundreds of Intramuros residents and clergy were held hostage in the church by Japanese soldiers; many of the hostages would be killed during the three-week long battle. The church itself survived the bombardment of Intramuros by American and Filipino forces with only its roof damaged, the only one of the seven churches in the walled city to remain standing. The adjacent monastery however was totally destroyed, and would be rebuilt in the 1970s as a museum under the design of architect Angel Nakpil.

Features
The church interior is in the form of a Latin cross. The church has 14 side chapels and a trompel'il ceiling painted in 1875 by Italian artists CesareAlberoni and Giovanni Dibella. Up in the choir loft are hand-carved 17th-century seats of molave, a beautiful tropical hardwood. The church contains the tomb of Spanish conquistadors Miguel Lpez de Legazpi, Juan de Salcedo and Martn de Goiti, as well as several early Spanish Governors-General and archbishops. Their bones are buried in a communal vault near the main altar. The painter Juan Luna, and the statesmen Pedro A. Paterno and Trinidad Pardo de Tavera are among the hundreds of laypersons whose remains are also housed within the church. San Agustin Church also hosts an image of Our Lady of Consolation (Nuestra Senora de Consolacion y Correa), which was canonically crowned by Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jaime Sin in 2000.
[3]

(ground breaking: 1586 ; completed: 1607)

4.) Church of San Augustine In Paoay, Ilocos Norte

- famously known as Paoay Church - best-known Earthquake Baroque in the Phil. - constructed in 1704 - completed in 1894 - declared as a National Treasure by former Pres. Marcos - recognized as a Baroque church of the country - declared as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1993 - a major attraction in Ilocos, Norte

Church of Paoay. Parish Founded by Augustinian Missionaries,1593. Cornerstone of Church Laid,1704; Of Convent, 1707; Of tower, 1793. Used before completion and kept in repair by the people under the joint auspices of the church and the town officials. Inauguration ceremonies, 28 February 1896. Church damaged by earthquake, 1706 and 1927.

The Church of San Agustin, also known as Paoay Church, was built by Augustinian friars in 1694 and was finished only after 200 years. It reflects a unique combination of Gothic, Baroque, and Oriental architecture.

Large coral stones were used for the lower level while bricks were used for the upper levels of the church. The walls are 1.67 meters thick and are supported by 24 carved and massive buttresses. It is a combination of Gothic, Baroque and Oriental architectural designs.

The Church Isle

Closer shot of the Altar

Thick walls and posts with buttresses to support the walls.

During the Philippine Revolution in 1898, its coral stone bell tower was used by the Katipuneros as an observation post. Construction of Paoay Church was started by the Augustinian friars in 1694. It was completed in 1894 led by Fr. Antonio Estavillo and was rededicated in 1894. According to historians, the bell tower also served as a status symbol for the locals. The bell would ring more loudly and more times during the wedding of a prominent clan that it would during the wedding of the poor.

Portions of the church was damaged during the earthquakes in 1865 and 1885. During an excavation inside the church in 2000, a prehistoric human skeleton and fragmented ceramics were discovered and are now in display at the National Museum.

Trivial Story:Long before the coming of the Spaniards, there already existed an extensive region (consisting of the present
provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra and La Union) renowned for its gold mines. Merchants from Japan and China would often visit the area to trade gold with beads, ceramics and silk. The inhabitants of the region believed to be of Malay origin, called their place "samtoy", from "sao mi toy, which literally meant "our language". On June 13, 1572, Salcedo and his men landed in Vigan and then proceeded towards Laoag, Currimao and Badoc. As they sailed along the coast, they were surprised to see numerous sheltered coves ("looc") where the locals lived in harmony. As a result, they named the region "Ylocos" and its people "Ylocanos". As the Christianization of the region grew, so did the landscape of the area. Vast tracks of land were utilized for churches and bell towers in line with the Spanish mission of "bajolascampanas". In the town plaza, it was not uncommon to see garrisons under the church bells. The colonization process was slowly being carried out.

The town of Paoay was originally called "Bombay" as the earliest inhabitants believed to have came from India. The earliest historical record of the area dates back to 1593, becoming an Augustinian independent parish in 1686.

Building of the present church was started in 1694 by Augustinianfriar Father Antonio Estavillo, and it was completed in 1710.