Barasoain Church

Malolos, Bulacan

Also known as Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Barasoain Church has also earned
the titles of the Cradle of Democracy in the East, the most important religious building in
the Philippines, and the site of the First Philippine Republic, thanks to its being the
setting of key events in Philippine history. The three major occurrences were the
convening of the First Philippine Congress, the drafting of the Malolos Constitution in
1898, and the inauguration of the First Philippine Republic in 1899.
Liliw Church
Liliw, Laguna

Photo via Shutterstock

Also known as Saint John the Baptist Parish Church and Lilio Church, Liliw Church was initially
established as a reduccion, particularly an annexed vista of the then-town of Nagcarlan
Paranaque Cathedral
La Huerta, Paranaque

Photo by Slickdeejay via Wikimedia Commons

Officially called the Cathedral Parish of Saint Andrew, Paranaque Cathedral was founded by Augustinian
friars in 1580, making it one of the oldest and most historical churches in the Philippines. It is also the
seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Parañaque, which is the church that comprises the cities of
Parañaque, Muntinlupa, and Las Piñas. The cathedral is the home of the Nuestra Señora del Buen
Suceso, which was canonically crowned as the Patroness of the City of Parañaque in 2000.
Church of San Juan del Monte
San Juan, Metro Manila

Photo by Shubert Ciencia via Flickr

Built at the onset of the 1600s, the church more formally known as Santuario del Santo Cristo and its
convent has undergone numerous destructions and subsequent renovations throughout San Juan’s
history. The current church was built in 1774, and was used as a shelter by the Katipuneros during the
1898 Philippine Revolution. It serves as the seat of the Cofradia del Santísimo Cristo de San Juan del
Monte or the “Confraternity of the Holy Christ of Saint John of the Mountain.”
Bacarra Church
Bacarra, Ilocos Norte

Photo by Arnel Manlises via Flickr

Widely recognized for its centuries-old, dome-less, leaning bell tower, Bacarra Church is arguably one of
the most visited in the Philippines. Apart from the “beheaded” belfry known as Torres di Bacarra, there is
also Museo di Bacarra, a church museum housed in the former convent. The two-story convent dates
back to the Spanish colonial era, and presently houses religious and cultural artifacts, as well as archival
photos and documents.