|
|
|
BEACH
I DIVING I SNORKELING I WILDLIFE
I
HERITAGE
I
GOLF
I
ACTIVITIES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 The
Baroque
Churches
of
the
Philippines
is
the
official
designation
to a
collection
of
four
Spanish-era
churches
in
the
Philippines,
upon
its
inscription
to
the
UNESCO
World
Heritage
List
in
1993. |
|
|
|
The
collection
is
composed
of
the
following: |
|
|
|
•
San
Agustin
Church
in
Manila
•
Nuestra
Señora
de
la
Asuncion
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
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. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
