Baroque Churches of the Philippines

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Baroque Churches of the Philippines *
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Country	Philippines
Type	Cultural
Criteria	ii, iv
Reference	677
Region **	Asia-Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription	1993 (17th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List ** Region as classified by UNESCO

The Baroque Churches of the Philippines is the official designation to a collection of five Spanish-era churches in the Philippines, upon its inscription to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2003. They are also one of the most treasured in the Country.

The collection is composed of the following:

• San Agustin Church in Manila
• Santa Maria Church in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur
• San Agustin Church in Paoay, Ilocos Norte
• Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Church in Miag-ao, Iloilo

These churches have been at the forefront of Philippine history, not just in furthering Christianity in the archipelago, but in serving as the political backbone of Spanish colonial rule, when Church and State were regarded as one. The unique architecture of the churches didn't just reflect the adaptation of Spanish/Latin American architecture to the local environment (including the fusion with Chinese motifs), but also of the Church's political influence. These churches had been subject to attacks by local revolts and rebellions, hence, most had the appearance of a fortress, rather than just serving as mere religious structures. This is especially noteworthy in the case of Santa Maria Church, located on top of a hill, serving as a citadel during times of crisis. Miag-ao Church also withstood the occasional attacks of Muslims from the south. Further, the location of the Philippines along the Pacific Ring of Fire called for the emphasis on the buttresses and foundations of these churches, with some being seriously damaged, but eventually rebuilt after an earthquake. The Malaueg Church still stands with its stone walls and it still can withstand earthquakes that hit the country after centuries. The most imposing of these buttresses could be found in Paoay Church, while the true testament of this architecture could be seen in San Agustin Church, Manila, the only structure in Intramuros to survive World War II. Hence, the unique architectural style became known as Earthquake Baroque.

Preservation

Aside from these five churches, another church which is inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List is the Vigan Cathedral under the inscription Historic Town of Vigan. 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).

1. Parish Church of San Agustin in Bacong, Negros Oriental
2. Parish Church of the Immaculate Conception in Balayan, Batangas
3. Parish Church of Santiago Apostol in Betis Guagua, Pampanga
4. Parish Church of Patrocinio de Maria in Boljoon, Cebu
5. Parish Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Calasiao, Pangasinan
6. Parish Church of San Vicente de Ferrer in Dupax del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya
7. Parish Church of the Immaculate Conception in Guiuan, Eastern Samar
8. Parish Church of the Immaculate Conception in Jasaan, Misamis Oriental
9. Parish Church of San Juan Bautista in Jimenez, Misamis Occidental
10. Parish Church of San Isidro Labrador in Lazi, Siquijor
11. Parish Church of San Pedro and San Pablo in Loboc, Bohol
12. Parish Church of Santa Catalina de Alejandria in Luna, La Union
13. Parish Church of San Carlos Borromeo in Mahatao, Batanes
14. Parish Church of San Guillermo de Aquitania in Magsingal, Ilocos Sur
15. Parish Church of San Gregorio Magno in Majayjay, Laguna
16. Parish Church of the Assumption of Our Lady in Maragondon, Cavite
17. Parish Church of San Andres in Masinloc, Zambales
18. Parish Church of Santa Monica in Panay, Capiz
19. Cathedral of San Jose in Romblon, Romblon
20. Parish Church of San Joaquin in San Joaquin, Iloilo
21. Parish Church of San Juan Bautista in Tabaco City, Albay
22. Parish Church of San Ildefonso in Tanay, Rizal
23. Basilica of St Michael the Archangel in Tayabas, Quezon
24. Parish Church of Santa Catalina de Alejandria in Tayum, Abra
25. Parish Church of San Matias in Tumauini, Isabela
26. Parish of The Most Holy Rosary, Nuestra Señora Virgen del Santissimo Rosario, Reina de Caracol in Rosario "Salinas", Cavite
27. Maribojoc Church (Bohol)
28. San Andres Apostol Church Bacarra, Ilocos Norte
29. Camarin de la Virgen, Parish Church of Nuestra Sra. De los Desamparados (Sta. Ana, Manila)
30. Our Lady of the Gate Church (Daraga, Albay) - Eastern & Western Facades, Belfry and Baptistry
31. Loon Church in Bohol (Bohol)
32. Parish Church of Santa Monica in Minalin, Pampanga
33. San Nicolas of Tolentino Parish Church in Dimiao, Bohol

Other declared churches include:

Important Cultural Properties

1. Chapel of the Holy Sacrifice (UP Diliman, Quezon City)

National Historical Landmarks

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

¹ On August 15, 1993, these churches, along with the one in Baclayon, Bohol were nominated for World Heritage Site status as part of the Jesuit Churches of the Philippines.
² On May 16, 2006, the NCCA nominated a new set of churches as part of the extension of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines World Heritage Site. With the inclusion of two churches from the Jesuit Churches nomination, these two proposals will likely be combined.

External links

• World Heritage profile
• NCCA's 26 Churches' profile
• Baroque Churches on Tourism Philippines
• Nomination of Jesuit Churches of the Philippines as a World Heritage Site
• Nomination for the Extension of the Baroque Churches World Heritage Site
• Baroque Churches of the Philippines

v t e World Heritage Sites in the Philippines World Heritage Sites Baroque Churches of the Philippines (San Agustin Church  · Paoay Church  · Santa Maria Church  · Miag-ao Church)  · Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park · Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras ( Batad Rice Terraces  · Bangaan Rice Terraces  · Hungduan Rice Terraces  · Mayoyao Central Rice Terraces  · Nagacadan Rice Terraces)  · Tubbataha Reef · Historic Town of Vigan Tentative List Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary  · Angono Triglyphs  · Apo Reef Natural Park  · Baroque Churches of the Philippines Extension (Boljoon Church  · Guiuan Church  · Loboc Church  · Lazi Church  · Tumauini Church) · Batanes Protected Landscapes and Seascapes  · Butuan Archeological Sites  · Chocolate Hills Natural Monument  · Coron Island Natural Biotic Area  · El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area  · Jesuit Churches of the Philippines (Guiuan Church  · Baclayon Church  · Loboc Church ) · Kabayan Mummy Burial Caves  · Liguasan Marsh  · Mount Apo Natural Park  · Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary  · Mount Iglit-Baco National Park  · Mount Malindang Range Natural Park  · Mount Matutum Protected Landscape  · Mount Pulag National Park  · Neolithic Shell Midden Sites in Lal-lo and Gattaran Municipalities  · Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park and outlying areas inclusive of the buffer zone  · Paleolithic Archaeological Sites in Cagayan Valley  · Panglao Island, Bohol  · Petroglyphs and Petrographs of the Philippines  · San Sebastian Church  · Spanish Colonial Fortifications of the Philippines (Fuerza de Capul  · Dauis Watchtower  · Punta Cruz Fortification  · Fuerza de San Andres  · Fuerza de Sta. Isabel)  · Taal Volcano Protected Landscape, Batangas  · The Maranao Settlement of Tugaya  · The Tabon Cave Complex and all of Lipuun  · Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary Previous Nomination Historic Centre of Manila Intramuros  · Town of Taal

Coordinates: 14°35′24″N 120°58′12″E / 14.59°N 120.97°E / 14.59; 120.97

v t e Philippine Registry of Cultural Property (PRECUP) Government cultural agencies National Commission for Culture and the Arts National Historical Commission of the Philippines National Museum National Library National Archives Cultural Center of the Philippines Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino Sentro Rizal Categories of cultural properties UNESCO World Heritage Sites National Cultural Treasures Important Cultural Properties National Historical Landmarks National Shrines National Monuments National Heritage Houses Works of National Artists Marked Structures Other Cultural Properties