Overview of Philippine Churches
Paoay Church
PAOAY, ILOCOS NORTE – The Paoay Church is one of the few surviving coral churches in the country that has withstood the test of time, in particular earthquakes.
Originally named Church of St. Augustine, the church was built in 1704 and was inaugurated in 1896, according to the Philippine Historical Commission plaque found here.
The Paoay Church is famous for its “earthquake baroque” design due to its 24 buttresses supporting the massive 1.67-meter thick walls. Having been located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, the buttresses and foundations are built as massive structures using local materials to withstand and avoid serious damage from earthquakes.
The bell tower was built away from the main building to save the sanctuary in case of collapse.
Over all, the church architecture was said to be inspired by gothic, baroque and oriental designs or simply put, the interpretation of European baroque style by Filipino and Chinese craftsmen using baked bricks, coral rocks, salbot (tree sap) and lumber as building materials.
The Paoay Church is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1993. It is one of four Philippine churches included in the list, hence the drive for its restoration and preservation.
Barasoain Church
Built in 1885, the Barasoain church belongs to the typical Church-Convento-Patio mission churches built by the Spanish friars in the Philippines. Strongly of the Eclectic architectural style (late 1800s), its builder selected to adopt elementary and well defined lines following the period’s trends. Various European historical styles, predominantly Baroque revival, were employed. The eclectic composition made use of the Early Renaissance technique of transfiguring the classical temple form into a new shape, in the case of Barasoain, into a Baroque oval-based design of the church facade. Then details and elements from Romanesque and Neo-classic styles were proportionally copied with delicate balance onto the basic façade outline.
PAOAY, ILOCOS NORTE – The Paoay Church is one of the few surviving coral churches in the country that has withstood the test of time, in particular earthquakes.
Originally named Church of St. Augustine, the church was built in 1704 and was inaugurated in 1896, according to the Philippine Historical Commission plaque found here.
The Paoay Church is famous for its “earthquake baroque” design due to its 24 buttresses supporting the massive 1.67-meter thick walls. Having been located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, the buttresses and foundations are built as massive structures using local materials to withstand and avoid serious damage from earthquakes.
The bell tower was built away from the main building to save the sanctuary in case of collapse.
Over all, the church architecture was said to be inspired by gothic, baroque and oriental designs or simply put, the interpretation of European baroque style by Filipino and Chinese craftsmen using baked bricks, coral rocks, salbot (tree sap) and lumber as building materials.
The Paoay Church is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1993. It is one of four Philippine churches included in the list, hence the drive for its restoration and preservation.
Barasoain Church
Built in 1885, the Barasoain church belongs to the typical Church-Convento-Patio mission churches built by the Spanish friars in the Philippines. Strongly of the Eclectic architectural style (late 1800s), its builder selected to adopt elementary and well defined lines following the period’s trends. Various European historical styles, predominantly Baroque revival, were employed. The eclectic composition made use of the Early Renaissance technique of transfiguring the classical temple form into a new shape, in the case of Barasoain, into a Baroque oval-based design of the church facade. Then details and elements from Romanesque and Neo-classic styles were proportionally copied with delicate balance onto the basic façade outline.