Baroque Churches of

the Philippines

The Baroque Churches of the Philippines

are a collection of four Spanish Colonial-
era baroque churches in the Philippines,
which were included in UNESCO's World
Heritage List in 1993.[1] The churches are
also considered as national cultural
treasures of the country.[2]
 Baroque Churches of the Philippines

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Miagao Church

Location Philippines

Includes 1 Church of the

Immaculate
Conception of San
Agustin (Manila)
2 Church of La
Nuestra Senora de la
Asuncion (Santa
Maria, Ilocos Sur)
3 Church of San
 Agustin (Paoay)
4 Church of Santo
Tomas de Villanueva
Criteria Cultural: (ii), (iv)

Reference 677bis

Inscription 1993 (17th session)

Extensions 2013

World Heritage Site 677

The 2013 revision of UNESCO's World
Heritage Site (WHS) 677, Baroque
Churches of the.[3]

Historical Context
There was a conglomeration of factors
that led to the presence of Baroque
elements in the architecture of the
Philippines, specifically in church
architecture. During the Spanish Colonial
Period (1521–1898), Spanish missionaries
arrived, sharing not only their religion but
also their architecture, inspired from their
native land. The Spaniards wished to
create permanent, long-lasting churches
as a testament to the power of God, and
did not consider the current church
structures in the Philippines as proper
places to worship.[4] As most Spanish
missionaries were not trained in
architecture or engineering, the local
townspeople including Filipinos and
Chinese migrants, alongside the Spanish
friars would take part in the building and
design of local churches. The combination
of ideas from the missionaries and locals
effectively fused native Spanish designs
with a uniquely Oriental style. The church's
aesthetic was also shaped by limited
access to certain materials, and the need
to rebuild and adapt to natural disasters
including fires and earthquakes, creating a
style sometimes referred to as Earthquake
Baroque.[5]

The four baroque churches of the

Philippines are classified as UNESCO
world heritage sites as they have
important cultural significance and
influence on future architectural design in
the Philippines. The churches display
certain characteristics that express a
‘fortress baroque,' such as thick walls and
high facades that offer protection from
marauders and natural disasters alike. The
four churches further exemplify the
baroque style with elaborate iconography
and detailed scenes from the life of Christ,
fusing traditional Catholic values from
Spain with island elements such as palm
fronds or patron saints dressed in
traditional island clothing carved
alongside scenes from the bible.[6] The
lavish embellishment also reflects the
Filipino attitude about the aesthetic of
decorating, known as horror vacui, or ‘fear
of empty spaces.’ The desire to fill plain
spaces is evident in the decoration of the
churches, which are brimming with cultural
motifs from the western world along with
traditional Filipino elements.[7]

San Agustin Church in Manila …

San Agustin Church (Manila)

The San Agustin Church in Manila, also

known as The Church of the Immaculate
Conception of San Agustín was the first
church built on the island of Luzon in 1571,
immediately after the Spanish conquest of
Manila. A site within the district of
Intramuros was assigned to the
Augustinian Order, the first to evangelize in
the Philippines. In 1587 the impermanent
earliest building in wood and palm fronds
was replaced by a stone church and
monastery in stone, the latter becoming
the Augustinian mother house in the
Philippines.

Miag-ao became an independent parish in

1731, when a simple church and convento
were built. However, destruction of the
town by Muslim pirates in 1741 and 1754
led to the town being rebuilt in a more
secure location. The new church,
constructed in 1787–97, was built as a
fortress, to withstand further
incursions.as, however, damaged severely
by fire during the revolution against Spain
in 1898 and in the Second World War. Two
bell towers were added in 1854, but the
northern one cracked in the 1880
earthquake and had to be demolished.
Because of the danger of natural
disasters, much of the church's aesthetic
had to be sacrificed in favor of durability
and functionality.

The interior of the church featured artwork

dating back to the 19th century, with
trompe l’oeil paintings by Italian painters
Alberoni and Dibella, but they overlie the
original tempera murals. The church was
richly endowed, with a fine retablo, pulpit,
lectern and choir-stalls. The church also
includes oriental details in the form of
Chinese fu dogs that flank the entrance of
the building. Of special interest is the
series of crypto-collateral chapels lining
both sides of the nave. The walls
separating them act as buttresses. The
stone barrel vault, dome, and arched
vestibule are all unique in the Philippines,
as is the decor that often takes the shape
of local flora. A monastery complex was
formerly linked to the church by a series of
cloisters, arcades, courtyards and
gardens. The church was the only
structure in Intramuros to survive the
Liberation of Manila in 1945.
In the side chapel of the church rests the
remains of Spanish Miguel Lopez de
Legaspi, the founder of the city of Manila,
which is the capital city of the
Philippines.[8]

Santa Maria Church

Santa Maria Church …

The Santa Maria Church commonly known

as the Church of Our Lady of the
Assumption, is located in the municipality
of Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur. Unlike other
town churches in the Philippines, which
conform to the Spanish tradition of sitting
them on the central plaza, the Church of
Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion in Santa
Maria with its convento are on a hill
surrounded by a defensive wall. Also
unusual are the sitting of the convento
parallel to the facade of the church and
that of the separate bell tower
(characteristic of Philippine-Hispanic
architecture) at the midpoint of the nave
wall. This was dictated by the hill on which
it is located.
The brick church follows the standard
Philippine layout, with a monumental
facade masking a straight roof-line
covering a long rectangular building. It is
alleged to be built on a solid raft as a
precaution against earthquake damage.
The walls are devoid of ornament but have
delicately carved side entrances and
strong buttresses

Paoay Church
Paoay Church …

The Paoay Church, also known as the

Church of San Agustín, is located in Paoay,
Ilocos Norte. It is the most outstanding
example in the Philippines of an
Earthquake Baroque style architecture.
Fourteen buttresses are ranged along the
lines of a giant volute supporting a smaller
one and surmounted by pyramidal finials.
A pair of buttresses at the midpoint of
each nave wall have stairways for access
to the roof. The lower part of the apse and
most of the walls are constructed of coral
stone blocks, the upper levels being
finished in brick, but this order is reversed
on the facade. The massive coral stone
bell tower, which was added half a century
after the church was completed, stands at
some distance from the church, again as a
protection against damage during
earthquakes. The detached bell tower is of
notable interest as the tapering layers
emphasizes the oriental style, a unique
structure that reflects the design of a
pagoda. The church's exterior is made of
coral stone and brick, held together by a
mortar made from sugarcane juice, mango
leaves, and rice straw among other
ingredients. The facade of the church also
has hints of a Gothic flavor with pilasters
that extend from top to bottom, creating a
strong vertical movement. While the
exterior is decorated with rosettes and
floral motifs that are reminiscent of
Javanese temples, the interior is rather
bare and solemn in comparison. Originally
painted, the interior roof of the church
today only shows an echo of the grand
scenes that once graced the ceiling. [9]

Miagao Church …

Miagao Church
The Miagao Church, also known as the
Church of Santo Tomas de Villanueva,
stands on the highest point in the town of
Miagao, Iloilo. The church's towers served
as lookouts against Muslim raids and it is
said to be the finest surviving example of
'Fortress Baroque'. The sumptuous facade
epitomizes the Filipino transfiguration of
western decorative elements, with the
figure of St Christopher on the pediment
dressed in native clothes, carrying the
Christ Child on his back, and holding on to
a coconut palm for support. The entire
riotously decorated facade is flanked by
massive tapering bell towers of unequal
heights. The two bell towers are
asymmetrical on account of them being
designed by two different priests on two
separate occasions. The interior of the
church features a grand altar, thought to
be the original 1700s altar that was lost in
a fire, but recovered in 1982. The altar is
gilded with Baroque motifs, and composed
of three alcoves that hold effigies of St.
Thomas of Villanova and St. Joseph, with
the crucifixion in the center.[10]

Other sites, nominations and

programs
Nuestra Señora de Gracia Church

Aside from the churches included in World

Heritage Site 677, another church which is
inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage
List is the Vigan Cathedral, included in
Historic City of Vigan (WHS 502rev).[11]

The Philippines, a country with hundreds

of historical churches, is promoted to be
more active in the engagement of the
National Government and concerned
private and public entities to establish
more UNESCO designated Church
Heritage Sites in the Philippines to
safeguard national treasures more
effectively and to promote the country's
booming tourism further.

Extensions proposed for World

Heritage Site 677
…

Tentative sites …

Loboc Church
The current official tentative sites for
extension are the following:

Loboc Church of Loboc, Bohol (was also

a part of the former Jesuit Churches of
the Philippines nomination)
Boljoon Church of Baljoon, Cebu
Guiuan Church of Guiuan, Eastern
Samar (was also part of the former
Jesuit Churches of the Philippines
nomination)
Tumauini Church of Tumauini, Isabela
Lazi Church of Lazi, Siquijor
Former tentative sites …
The following churches used to be in the
tentative list of the Philippines but were
removed in 2015 by recommendation of
UNESCO due to the current status of the
churches. Once rehabilitation is completed
for all of the churches, they may again be
included in the tentative list. Currently, the
San Sebastian Church has ongoing
renovations.

Baclayon Church of Baclayon, Bohol (as

a part of the former Jesuit Churches of
the Philippines nomination)
 Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church (Calasiao)

Maragondon Church of Maragondon,

Cavite (as a part of the former Jesuit
Churches of the Philippines nomination)
San Sebastian Church in Manila (as a
single nomination)

National Cultural Treasures …

The Philippine National Commission for

Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has also
designated the conservation and
protection of more than 30 other Spanish-
era churches to be of utmost importance.
These were registered as National Cultural
Treasures.
These churches were given priority status
not just due to their historical value, but
also based on the geographic
representation of various regions across
the nation:

The interior of the San Agustín Church in Intramuros

(Manila).
Manila Cathedral

1. Parish Church of San Agustin in

Bacong, Negros Oriental
2. Parish Church of the Immaculate
Conception in Balayan, Batangas
3. Santiago Apostol Parish Church in
Betis, Guagua, Pampanga
4. Parish Church of Patrocinio de Maria
in Boljoon, Cebu 2
5. Parish Church of Saint Rose of Lima
in Gamu, Isabela
 6. Parish Church of Saints Peter and
Paul in Calasiao, Pangasinan
7. Parish Church of San Vicente de
Ferrer in Dupax del Sur, Nueva
Vizcaya
8. Parish Church of the Immaculate
Conception in Guiuan, Eastern Samar
1,2

9. Parish Church of Saints Peter and

Paul in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan
10. Parish Church of the Immaculate
Conception in Jasaan, Misamis
Oriental
11. Parish Church of San Juan Bautista in
Jimenez, Misamis Occidental
12. Parish Church of San Isidro Labrador
in Lazi, Siquijor 2
13. Parish Church of San Pedro and San
Pablo in Loboc, Bohol 1,2
14. Parish Church of Santa Catalina de
Alejandria in Luna, La Union
15. Parish Church of San Carlos
Borromeo in Mahatao, Batanes
16. Parish Church of San Guillermo de
Aquitania in Magsingal, Ilocos Sur
17. Parish Church of San Gregorio Magno
in Majayjay, Laguna
18. Parish Church of the Assumption of
Our Lady in Maragondon, Cavite 1
19. Parish Church of San Andres in
Masinloc, Zambales
20. Parish Church of Santa Monica in
Panay, Capiz
21. Cathedral of San Jose in Romblon,
Romblon
22. Parish Church of San Joaquin in San
Joaquin, Iloilo
23. Parish Church of San Juan Bautista in
Tabaco City, Albay
24. Parish Church of San Ildefonso in
Tanay, Rizal
25. Parish Church of San Pablo in San
Pablo, Isabela
26. Basilica of St Michael the Archangel
in Tayabas, Quezon
27. Parish Church of Santa Catalina de
Alejandria in Tayum, Abra
28. Parish Church of San Matias in
Tumauini, Isabela 2
29. Parish Church of Santa Cruz in
Maribojoc, Bohol
30. Parish Church of San Andres Apostol
in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte
31. Camarin de la Virgen, Parish Church
of Nuestra Sra. De los Desamparados
in Sta. Ana, Manila
32. Parish Church of Our Lady of the Gate
(Eastern & Western Facades, Belfry
 and Baptistry) in Daraga, Albay
33. Parish Church of Our Lady of Light in
Loon, Bohol
34. Parish Church of Santa Monica in
Minalin, Pampanga
35. Parish Church of San Nicolas de
Tolentino in Dimiao, Bohol

Important Cultural Properties …

1. Parish of the Holy Sacrifice in UP

Diliman, Quezon City
 Oton Iloilo Old Cathedral destroyed by
earthquake in 1948 and demolished after.

Oton church interior

2. San Agustin Church (Lubao) in Lubao,

Pampanga
3. Our Lady of Assumption Church
(Bulakan) in Bulakan, Bulacan

National Historical Landmarks …

1. Abucay Church Historical Landmark
in Abucay, Bataan
2. Barasoain Church Historical
Landmark in Malolos, Bulacan
3. Church of Baler Historical Landmark
in Baler, Aurora
4. Lubao Church Historical Landmark in
Lubao, Pampanga
5. Chapel of the Holy Sacrifice in UP
Diliman, Quezon City
6. San Sebastian Church Historical
Landmark (Quiapo, Manila)
7. Calamba Church Historical Landmark
in Calamba City, Laguna
8. Church of Paete in Paete, Laguna
 9. Taal Church Historical Landmark in
Taal, Batangas
10. Cathedral of Boac Historical
Landmark in Boac, Marinduque
11. Quipayo Church Historical Landmark
in Calabanga, Camarines Sur
12. Barotac Nuevo Church, Convent and
Cemetery Historical Landmark in
Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo
13. Dumangas Church Historical
Landmark in Dumangas, Iloilo
14. Ermita Chapel Historical Landmark in
Dumangas, Iloilo
15. Jaro Belfry Historical Landmark in
Jaro, Iloilo City
16. Molo Church Historical Landmark in
Molo, Iloilo City
17. Baclayon Church Historical Landmark
in Baclayon, Bohol 1
18. Church and Convent of Santo Niño in
Cebu City
19. Church of Nuestra Señora de la
Concepcion Historical Landmark in
Argao, Cebu
20. Church of San Guillermo de Aquitania
Historical Landmark in Dalaguete,
Cebu
21. Church of the Most Holy Trinity
Historical Landmark in Loay, Bohol