PHILIPPINE ARCHITECTURE: CHURCHES

1. BARASOAIN CHURCH, Bulacan

Also known as the "Cradle of Democracy in the East, the most important
religious building in the Philippines", and the site of the First Philippine
Republic, the church is proverbial for its historical importance among Filipinos.

2. BINONDO CHURCH, Manila

Also known as the Minor Basilica of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Our Lady of the Most
Holy Rosary Parish. This church was founded by Dominican priests in 1596 to
serve their Chinese converts to Christianity.

3. LAS PINAS CHURCH, Rizal

Also known as the Bamboo Organ Church.
4. MALATE CHURCH, Manila
Also known as Our Lady of Remedies Parish. This Baroque-style church is
overlooking Plaza Rajah Sulayman and ultimately, Manila Bay.
5. MANILA CATHEDRAL, Manila
Also known as the Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate
Conception. The cathedral serves as the episcopal see of the Archbishop of
Manila. The cathedral was damaged and destroyed several times since the
original structure was built in 1581 while the eighth and current structure of the
cathedral was completed in 1958.
6. QUIAPO CHURCH, Manila by Juan nakpil
Also known as the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene. The basilica is famous
home for the Black Nazarene, a dark statue of Jesus Christ said to be miraculous.
7. SAN AGUSTIN CHURCH, Manila
Completed in 1607, it is the oldest church in the country.
8. SAN SEBASTIAN CHURCH, Manila
An example of the Gothic Revival architecture in the Philippines, it is the
only steel building church in the Philippines.
9. SANTA CRUZ CHURCH, Manila
Also known as the Archdiocesan Shrine of The Blessed Sacrament. It is the first
Mission and Mother house of Filipino Sacramentinos, making it as the center of
Congregation Activities and events. The church façade is topped with an statue
of Our Lady of the Pillar, the patroness of the church, whose feast is held every
3rd Sunday of October.
10. SANTO DOMINGO CHURCH, Quezon City by Ar. Jose Ma. Zaragosa
Also known as National Shrine of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of La Naval de
Manila. It is the largest church in Metro Manila and one of the biggest churches
in Asia.
In the nave of the church there are eight colorful murals by National Artist Carlos
Francisco depicting the life and times of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, the Spaniard
who founded the Order of Preachers.
11. SANTA ANA CHURCH, Manila
Also known as the Parish of Our Lady of the Abandoned. The church houses
two National Cultural Treasures declared by the National Museum of the
Philippines; the Santa Ana Site Museum located in the convent patio and
the Camarín de la Virgen  (or the Dressing Room of the Virgin).
12. CALASIAO CHURCH, Pangasinan
Also known as Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church. Its unique architectural
design reflects the Spanish and Latin American architecture integration of
indigenous Philippines works of art with Chinese style fusion. Its massive bricks or
ladrillo had been designed to withstand revolts and rebellions, due to its
fortresses facade.
13. PAOAY CHURCH, Ilocos Norte
Completed in 1710, the church is famous for its distinct architecture highlighted
by the enormous buttresses on the sides and back of the building.
Javanese architecture reminiscent of Borobudur of Java can also be seen on the
church walls and facade.
14. BACARRA CHURCH, Ilocos Norte
It is known for its centuries-old, domeless, leaning bell tower.
15. NAMACPACAN CHURCH, La Union
Namacpacan Church is classified as an Earthquake Baroque church with thick
walls and buttresses connected to a brick exterior stairway of different designs
and shapes. A ceremonial archway or capilla possa can be found at the church's
entrance.
16. TUMAUINI CHURCH, Isabela
Tumauini is an ultra-baroque church known for its extensive use of red bricks on
its exterior and interior ornamentations. Brick was used due to lack of good
quality stones in the area. The façade is flanked by two pseudo-
Corinthian columns and niches, one located above the entrance and the two
remaining larger niches on each side of the columns. The church's circular
pediment is unique relative to all other churches built during the Spanish Era.
17. DARAGA CHURCH, Albay
Also known as the Nuestra Señora de la Porteria Parish Church. The church is
known for its Churrigueresque architectural style in its façade. The façade and its
walls are made out of volcanic rocks, which are rich in the area.
It is one of the few churches in the country that has four spiral columns known
as Solomonic columns or salomónicas. The four columns bear round medallions,
each with carved images of the four Evangelists.
Another characteristic of the façade, which is unique to the church, is the absence
of either vertical columns or horizontal cornices.
18. TABACO CHURCH, Albay
The church is built out of dark volcanic soil and stones found in the area. One
unusual characteristic of the church is the presence of mason's marks on stones
used for the construction of the church building, a rare feature in the
Philippines. Its unusual floor plan contains compartments for which there is
currently no explanation. It is known for its beautiful and bell tower embedded
with rococo designs.
19. BACLAYON CHURCH, Bohol
Baclayon was founded by the Jesuit priest Juan de Torres and Gabriel Sánchez in
1596, and became the oldest Christian settlement in Bohol.
20. DAUIS CHURCH, Bohol
One of the most beautiful churches of Bohol
21. LOBOC CHURCH, Loboc
2nd oldest church in Bohol
22. LOON CHURCH, Loon
Crowning glory of the recollect churches in Bohol
22. BAGUIO CATHEDRAL, Baguio
Its distinctive pink exterior, twin spires and stained glass windows make it a
popular tourist attraction in Baguio. It served as an evacuation centre under
the Japanese Occupation during Second World War.
 MILITARY BUILDINGS
1. FORT SANTIAGO, Manila
A citadel first built by Spanish conquistador, Miguel López de Legazpi for the new
established city of Manila in the Philippines. The defense fortress is part of the
structures of the walled city of Manila referred to as Intramuros.
2. FORT PILAR, Zamboanga
Fort Pilar is now an outdoor Roman Catholic Marian shrine and a regional branch
of the National Museum of the Philippines. Inside the fort, only the southern
structure is still in ruins; inside and outside the fort are well maintained gardens.
The Paseo del Mar, a reclaimed esplanade, protects the fort from the ravages of
the sea.
 SCHOOLS
1. COLLEGIO DE STO. TOMAS
It has the oldest extant university charter in the Philippines and in Asia, and is one
of the world's largest Catholic universities in terms of enrollment found on one
campus.
2. SAN AGUSTIN COLLEGE, Iloilo
The first University in Western Visayas. San Agustin is the first and
only Augustinian university in the Asia-Pacific region.
3. SAN JUAN DE LETRAN
The college was founded in 1620. Colegio de San Juan de Letran has the
distinction of being the oldest college in the Philippines and the oldest secondary
institution in Asia.