These
four churches, the first of which was built by the Spanish in the late 16th
century, are located in Manila, Santa Maria, Paoay and Miag-ao. Their unique
architectural style is a reinterpretation of European Baroque by Chinese and
Philippine craftsmen.
Outstanding
Universal Value
Brief
synthesis
The
Baroque Churches of the Philippines is a serial inscription consisting of four
Roman Catholic churches constructed between the 16thand the18th centuries in
the Spanish period of the Philippines. They are located in separate areas of
the Philippine archipelago, two at the northern island of Luzon, one at the
heart of Intramuros, Manila, and the other in the central Visayas island of
Iloilo.
This
group of churches established a style of building and design that was adapted
to the physical conditions in the Philippines and had an important influence on
later church architecture in the region. The four churches are outstanding
examples of the Philippine interpretation of the Baroque style, and represent
the fusion of European church design and construction with local materials and
decorative motifs to form a new church-building tradition.
The
common and specific attributes of the churches are their squat, monumental and
massive appearance, which illustrates a fortress/protective-like character in
response to pirates, marauders and to the geologic conditions of a country that
is prone to seismic activities. The churches are made either of stone (tuff or
coralline limestone), or brick, and consolidated with lime. They display specific features such as
retablos (altars) of high Baroque style – (particularly seen in San Agustin
Church, Intramuros), in the volutes of contrafuertes (buttresses) and in the
pyramidal finials of wall facades – (particularly seen in Paoay Church), in
wall buttresses separating criptocollateral chapels –(particularly seen in San
Agustin Church, Intramuros) and in the iconography of the ornately decorated
naïf/folk pediment expressing the local understanding of the life of Christ and
demonstrated by the use of local elements (papaya, coconut and palm tree
reliefs), and the depiction of Catholic
Patron Saints (St. Christopher) dressed in local and traditional clothing
(particularly seen in the Miagao Church).
The fusion of styles is also seen in the construction of bell towers
that are either attached to the main church structure (particularly seen in San
Agustin, Intramuros and in Miagao churches) or detached from the main church
(particularly seen in Paoay and Sta Maria churches) and lastly, in ceiling
paintings in the tromp l’oeil style (particularly seen in San Agustin Church,
Intramuros). The Baroque churches reflect excellent site planning principles
following the Ley de las Indias (Laws of the Indies) enacted by Philip II in
1563 for all newly-discovered settlements within Spanish colonial territories.
Criterion
(ii): The group of churches established a style of building and design that was
adapted to the physical conditions in the Philippines which had an important
influence on later church architecture in the region.
Criterion
(iv): The Baroque Churches of the Philippines represent the fusion of European
church design and construction using local materials and decorative motifs to
form a new church-building tradition.
Integrity
The
churches’ important attributes comprising its architectural ensemble and
manifesting the uniqueness of their style, are all within the boundaries of the
property. All elements of significance identified at the time of inscription
are still very much present and none are eroded, with their dynamic functions
associated with religious significance intact and well-maintained.
The
churches’ fabric, to a considerable degree is well preserved, although some
parts may have deteriorated due to environmental conditions and the passage of
time.
Although
areas covered by the churches and their surrounding complex have been
recognized during inscription, buffer zones in some of them were
undefined. The recent delineation of
buffer areas provides an added layer of protection to the core initially
identified.
Authenticity
The
Baroque Churches of the Philippines of the ‘Peripheral Baroque Style’ have
maintained its authentic features and admirable building technology that is
reflective of church architecture of 16th-18th centuries Spanish colonial
period Philippines A potential threat to the property is the possible
reconstruction of portions of some of the churches’ original ensemble which
were not present during inscription, in the effort to ensure that the churches
continue to function to best serve their congregations.
The
efforts by the government geared towards responsible restoration and
conservation have resulted in the retention of the original materials and
substantial features of the baroque churches.
The
use of the Baroque churches as permanent sacred places devoted to acts of
divine worship of the Catholic faith continues.
Protection
and management requirements
Three
churches and their land properties are legally owned, administered, and managed
by their respective corporations sole while one church (San Agustin,
Intramuros) is owned and managed by the Agustinian Order. The churches have
been traditionally administered by church authorities and parishioners.
Specific church Management Plans were not prepared at the time of inscription
but the San Agustin Church in Intramuros is covered by the Management Plan of
the Intramuros Administration. There is an overall management system where the National
Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is the overall site manager. The
NCCA works with its culturally affiliated agencies – the National Museum (NM)
and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) who are the
implementers of conservation and restoration projects. Altogether the three agencies collaborate
closely with the church authorities-owner of the property and with the
stakeholders as well who are made aware of projects on the churches. The day to
day management of the church is undertaken by the church authorities. There is
a tri-partite agreement for the conservation and management of the World
Heritage property as well as other nationally designated heritage sites. The
main actors of the tri-partite agreement are the NCCA, the NM, the NHCP and the
church authorities.
At
the time of inscription, the properties had already been strongly protected by
national legislation declaring them as National Cultural Treasures and as
National Historical Landmarks through Presidential Decrees 260 and 375. The
National Commission of Culture and the Arts provides for resources (funds) for
its conservation, protection and regular maintenance.
The
churches are presently covered and protected through RA 10066 (National
Heritage Law) and RA 10086 (National Historical Commission of the Philippines
Law). These legislations ensure their proper safeguarding, protection,
conservation, management and use as religious structures, as declared National
Cultural Treasures, National Historical Landmarks, and as World Heritage
properties. A strong administrative protection system is in place through a
Tripartite Agreement between the different national cultural government
agencies while agreements between Church authorities and the Government have
been entered into, especially the Accordo between the Holy See and the Republic
of the Philippines on the Cultural Heritage of the Catholic Church in the
Philippines, which was ratified on 29 May 2008. The Implementing Rules and
regulations (IRR) of the 2009 Cultural Heritage Act of the Philippines, which
is still in the process of being approved, states that the highest standards of
conservation shall be applied to World Heritage properties and that its authenticity, integrity and OUV shall not be
allowed to be compromised.
Conservation
and restoration are undertaken through offices under implementing national
cultural agencies which ensure the regular monitoring of its state of
conservation including its many concerns, threats and problems. The Canon Law
on the pastoral care of the cultural heritage resources of the Church is
likewise being applied by the Catholic authorities. The site manager of the
Baroque Churches (NCCA) works with the NM and NHCP in ensuring that work is
done according to World Heritage standards and in order to improve the
conservation management processes so that the Outstanding Universal Value of
the properties are maintained and properly managed. If in case repairs are done
that involve the replacement of deteriorated parts, these are undertaken with
care so that the replaced areas are differentiated from the original.
Both
affiliated cultural agencies sit at the National Commission for Monuments and
Sites (NCMS) as ex-officio members. A Technical Working Committee (TWC) has
also been established within the NCCA composed of experts on conservation and
its members ensure that the highest standards of conservation are afforded to
World Heritage properties. Both the NM
and the NHCP are the implementers of projects in the Baroque Churches and they
too sit as members of the NCCA, NCMS and TWC.
Involvement
of local communities is strongly encouraged and they are considered important
stakeholders where their views are listened to in consultative processes.
Church authorities’ involvement in all aspects is vital and they also form an
essential part of agreements to ensure that conservation is undertaken at their
level, being owners of the properties.
Source: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/677/
The following are some important description of these churches:
Miag-ao Church – Santo Tomas de Villanueva Parish (Miag-ao, Iloilo)
Before the construction of its present church, the town of Miag-ao experienced church burnings and lootings twice in the mid-1700s. In December 1786, the present Miag-ao Church’s construction was started with the provision that it would be “built like a fortress” under the pastoral leadership of Fray Francisco Maximo Gonzales.
The Miag-ao Church features a baroque-romanesque style. Decorated with carvings of shrubs, the church’s facade displays Saint Christopher carrying the Child Jesus. At its center dominates a large stone sculpture of the parish’s patron saint, Saint Thomas of Villanova. Life-sized statues of the Pope and Saint Henry flank the facade’s entrance. Two belfries support the facade on both sides with one being two-storeys high and the other towering in three-storeys high. The church was finished in 1797 and in 1830, the left belfry was constructed with an additional structure to equal the height of the right belfry.
Paoay Church – Saint Augustine Church (Paoay, Ilocos Norte)
With its construction started by Augustinian friar Father Antonio Estavillo in 1694, Paoay Church was completed in 1710. The church featuring European baroque style is adaptively constructed with enormous buttresses to increase structural integrity against destructive earthquakes.
Structured with 24 huge buttresses situated at the sides and back of the church, Paoay Church survived historical huge earthquakes. The church, detailed with coral stone blocks and brick walls, features not only baroque architecture but as well Javanese architectural style. In its facade, a carving of the Augustinian coat of arms can be seen.
At the side of Paoay Church stands a few meters away a bell tower that serves also as support against earthquake damage.
San Agustin Church – Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de la Consolación y Correa (Intramuros, Manila)
Starting its building in 1571, the San Agustin Church then named Iglesia y Convento de San Pablo was first built with nipa and bamboo. After it was burnt in 1574 due to the invasion of the Chinese Pirate Limahong in Manila, the church was reconstructed with wooden materials. With its low structural integrity against fire accidents, the church was again destroyed in 1583.
The design of San Agustin Church and its construction using adobe stones started in 1586. Since then, the church has been the oldest stone church in the Philippines. The church survived major earthquakes as well as the Battle of Manila during World War II.
Pedro Galende noted in his book Philippine Church Facades that the facade of the church was “built along neoclassic lines” with column sets in Ionic and Corinthian styles. Inside the church, vaulted ceiling displays frescoes of “intricate trompe l’oeil”. The church used to have two bell towers situated at its sides. After a series of strong earthquakes hitting Manila in 1880, its left bell tower was permanently removed.
Santa Maria Church – Nuestra Señora dela Asuncion Church (Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur)
Photo by Harrybalais – Wikimedia Commons
The Santa Maria Church in Ilocos Sur built by Augustinian Friars around 1765 situates on the top of a hill in the town of the same name. From the town’s edge, a stairway of 85 steps made in granite rock leads to the church.
Enforced with thick buttresses, the Santa Maria Church stands protected against earthquakes. The church served as a fortress during the Spanish era. Two cylindrical columns flank the church’s brick facade. The colossal bell tower standing nearby the church was situated in 1810.
WORLD HERITAGE SITES
In 1973, these four historical churches were declared National Cultural Treasures. Twenty years later, in 1993, UNESCO inscribed these four Baroque Churches in their list of world heritage sites.
REFERENCES:
Baroque Churches of the Philippines: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/677/
Baroque Architecture: https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Baroque_architecture#:~:text=Baroque%20architecture%20is%20a%20style,features%2C%20sometimes%20leaving%20them%20incomplete.
History of Miag-ao Church https://www.miagao.gov.ph/about-miagao/history-of-miagao-church/
Paoay Church: https://app.philippines.travel/experiences/paoay-church
The History of the San Agustin Church: http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/archives/119/the-history-of-the-san-agustin-church
The Architecture of San Agustin: https://simbahan.net/2007/12/26/the-architecture-of-san-agustin/
San Agustin Church: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/philippines/manila/attractions/san-agustin-church/a/poi-sig/391173/357305
Santa Maria Church: https://app.philippines.travel/experiences/santa-maria-church
Nuestra Señora de la Asunción: https://www.wmf.org/project/nuestra-se%C3%B1ora-de-la-asunci%C3%B3n
Church La Nuestra Señora de La Asuncion, UNESCO SITE, Ilocos Sur, Philippines: https://heroesofadventure.com/listing/church-la-nuestra-senora-de-la-asuncion-unesco-site-ilocos-sur-philippines/
Source: https://catholink.ph/2022/03/baroque-churches-in-the-philippines-world-heritage-churches/
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