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San Agustin Church
Intramuros, Manila
A church in Manila under the auspices of the Order of Saint Augustine, the current San Agustin Church is actually
the third to be established on the site. The first was built with bamboo and nipa in 1571, but destroyed by fire in
1574. The second was wooden, but similarly burned down in 1583. The third is the one still standing today, and in
1993 it became one of four local Spanish-era churches to be chosen by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site,
Formally known as the Kalakhang Katedral Basílika ng Maynilà, the Manila Cathedral is a Roman Catholic basilica
dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. It also serves as the See of the
Archbishop of Manila. Originally established in 1571, the eighth and current rendition of the cathedral was
completed in 1958. It was renovated and repaired for earthquake retrofitting and subsidence prevention in 2012,
Also known locally as Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church, Calasiao Church is a baroque church that was declared a
National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines and the National Commission for Culture
and the Arts. This Spanish-colonial-era church’s main composition are massive bricks or ladrillo with a fortress-like
façade designed to withstand revolts and rebellions. Beside it stands Museo Calasiao, a mini-museum housing
There are many churches in Manila and this one was founded by Dominican priests in 1596. The Binondo Church is
also known as the Minor Basilica of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz (the first Filipino saint) and Our Lady of the Most Holy
Rosary Parish, and has been rebuilt numerous times over the centuries due to constant damage by war and natural
disasters. Sporting historic Spanish and European baroque design elements, the church has retained its original
character. However, only the western façade and the octagon belfry, which suggests the Chinese culture of the
Quiapo Church is very popular because it is the location of the reputedly miraculous Nuestro Señor Jesús Nazareno,
better known as the Black Nazarene. Located in downtown Manila in Plaza Miranda, the baroque church was
expanded in 1984 to accommodate more devotees. Only its façade with twisted columns and the dome at the
transept were retained from its classic design. The church was officially declared a Minor Basilica in 1988.
Santa Cruz Church
Santa Cruz, Manila
Consecrated in 1619, the Santa Cruz Church was initially built to serve as a parish for the increasing number of
Chinese migrants moving to Manila and converting to Catholicism. Through time, the church sustained damage
from natural occurrences, and was eventually destroyed completely by the end of World War II. Reconstruction
was completed in 1957, and it continues to stand now in its baroque style design that is reminiscent of the Mission
Another of the baroque churches in the Philippines fronted by Plaza Rajah Sulayman and the Manila Bay, Malate
Church is dedicated to Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, or “Our Lady of Remedies,” the patroness of childbirth.
One of only two churches with a twisted column and a retablo-type façade, Malate Church’s look is said to be a
blend of Muslim design and Mexican baroque. Inside is an image of Our Lady of Remedies enshrined on the main
Formally known as Nuestra Señora de Gracia church, Guadalupe Church is a parish presently administered by the
Augustinian friars of the Province of Santo Niño de Cebu. Stemming from the first sanctuary and monastery
in Guadalupe built by Fray Simon Dantes in 1601, the popular Metro Manila wedding venue features different
architectural styles with a façade that is neo-Romanesque-gothic, and sets of Doric columns supporting the
A UNESCO World Heritage Site (under the inscription Baroque Churches of the Philippines), the Saint Augustine
Church in the municipality of Paoay, Ilocos Norte, is widely recognized for its distinct architecture characterized by
24 massive buttresses on the sides and back of the structure. Also declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the
Philippine government in 1973, it also has three-story coral bell tower that resembles a pagoda, which was built
Also known as the Santo Tomas de Villanueva Parish Church, Miag-ao Church was also called the Miag-ao Fortress
Church as its two uneven bell towers served as a tactical location for the town’s defense against Muslim raids. It is
one of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, and contains the
limestone image of the Birhen ng Barangay, traditional Filipino clothing recovered from the 1982 excavations, and
Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, this structure that is also known as the Church of Our Lady of the
Assumption was built on top of a hill to serve as lookout, citadel, and religious center during the early
administration of the region by friars and soldier of the Spanish colonial era. The church and convent are
surrounded by a defensive wall on all sides like a fortress, and is reached by way of an 85-step stairway made of
granite rock.
Bantay Church
Bantay, Ilocos Sur
Known as Saint Augustine Parish Church as well as Saint Augustine Parish Church, Bantay Church’s more common
name comes from its old historic belfry, the Bantay tower, which is also the source of the town’s name. While
there are many old churches in the Philippines, this one was established in 1590. It is one of the oldest churches in
the region. Like most, however, it was damaged extensively during World War II, and rebuilt in the 1950s. Its
façade is neo-gothic with pseudo-Romanesque elements, and meant to be grandiose and reminiscent of Spanish
architecture.
Taal Basilica
Taal, Batangas
Measuring 88.6 meters long and 48 meters wide, the Taal Basilica is said to be the largest church in the Philippines
and in Asia. Canonically known as the Minor Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours, the first rendition of the church
began being built in 1575, 3 years after the founding of the town of Taal. The present church began its
construction in 1856, and has undergone restorations in 1953, 1972, and 2011. Its belfry was rebuilt in 1990.
Tayabas Basilica
Tayabas, Quezon Province
Canonically known as the Minor Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel, the Tayabas Basilica is the largest Roman
Catholic Church in the province of Quezon. It is famous for its key-shaped architecture, which has garnered it the
name Susi ng Tayabas among locals. The church is also widely recognized for the clock located inside its belfry,
which is regarded as one of the oldest, if not the actual oldest, clocks of its kind in Asia.
Bacarra Church
Bacarra, Ilocos Norte
Widely recognized for its centuries-old, dome-less, leaning bell tower, Bacarra Church is arguably one of the most
visited in the Philippines. Apart from the “beheaded” belfry known as Torres di Bacarra, there is also Museo di
Bacarra, a church museum housed in the former convent. The two-story convent dates back to the Spanish
colonial era, and presently houses religious and cultural artifacts, as well as archival photos and documents.
Our Lady of Piat Church
Piat, Cagayan
Dubbed as the Pilgrimage Center of the North, the Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Piat is one of twelve Minor
Basilicas in the Philippines, and is home to a 407-year-old black image of the Virgin Mary, which the church is
named after and is dedicated to. The church is made of red bricks, which is common in Cagayan Valley, but
different from the limestone and coral sported by other churches in the Philippines. Enshrined at its altar is the
Blessed Virgin Mary with verandas that makes the shrine more elegant.
Betis Church
Guagua, Pampanga
Declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum and the National Commission for Culture and Arts,
the baroque-inspired Betis Church has a bevy of artistic features. The main attraction of what is canonically known
as the Saint James the Apostle Parish Church is its ceiling mural done by painter Simón Flores (1839–1904). His
painting of the Holy Family is also another feature of the church, as well as an artesian well in the church patio that
Also known as Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Barasoain Church has also earned the titles of the Cradle of
Democracy in the East, the most important religious building in the Philippines, and the site of the First Philippine
Republic, thanks to its being the setting of key events in Philippine history. The three major occurrences were the
convening of the First Philippine Congress, the drafting of the Malolos Constitution in 1898, and the inauguration
La Purisima Concepcion de la Virgen Maria Parish Church, or Baclayon Church, is considered as one of the oldest
churches in the Philippines. Built out of coral stones common on the island of Bohol, the church sports a cruciform
layout with its juncture surmounted by a pyramidal wall. It was up for addition to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites
of the Philippines, but unfortunately sustained extensive damage during the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck
Bohol and other parts of Central Visayas in 2013. It is still undergoing restoration.
San Jose de Ivana Church
Ivana, Batanes
Dedicated to Saint Joseph under the jurisdiction of the Prelature of Batanes, San Jose de Ivana Church was first
established as a chapel by Dominicans in 1787. The present stone church was built in 1795 with the bell tower
following in 1817. One of the better preserved churches in the country, it has only undergone renovation in 1869
and in 2001 after an earthquake partially destroyed it in 2000. The church features an old convent and a small
Originally known as the San Miguel Church, this church in the Philippines is now the Santa Monica Parish Church or
Sarrat Church. It was originally built in 1779 and is a complex that includes the associated convent that connects to
the church via an elevated three-level brick stairway. Declared an Important Cultural Property by the National
Museum of the Philippines in 2009, the church is famous for being the largest of its kind in Ilocos Norte,
Formally called Nuestra Señora de la Porteria Parish Church, Daraga Church was built in 1772, after the then-
settlement of Daraga was established a year earlier by those fleeing the town of Cagsawa for fear of another
architectural style in its façade. Its walls are made of volcanic rock that is common in the Daraga locale.
Paete Church
Paete, Laguna
Paete Church is identified by several names, all of which are centered on its patron saint, Saint James the Apostle.
The church has the distinction of being the only Roman Catholic church in the municipality. It is widely popular for
its extensive collection of images depicting the Passion of Christ, as well as century-old paintings and wooden
images of saints. With its storied past of being lost to earthquakes, the current church features large buttresses on
Also known as Saint John the Baptist Parish Church and Lilio Church, Liliw Church was initially established as
a reduccion, particularly an annexed vista of the then-town of Nagcarlan that became independent in 1605.
Adorned with red bricks, the feel of the church’s interior is what makes it a must-visit for many. The inside is said
to be comfortably cool with the only source of natural light being the weak rays that filter through the church’s
Designated as the Diocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Turumba and as Saint Peter of Alcantara
Parish Church, Pakil Church is the home of the Our Lady of Turumba painting. Constructed in the Corinthian and
ionic architectural orders, the church takes on the shape of a cruciform, and sports a façade with classical
Corinthian columns and cornices across a floral stone relief. Typical of Laguna churches, its side entrance is
elaborately designed, and it also has a belfry housing one huge bell and four smaller bells.
Church of San Juan del Monte
San Juan, Metro Manila
Built at the onset of the 1600s, the church more formally known as Santuario del Santo Cristo and its convent has
undergone numerous destructions and subsequent renovations throughout San Juan’s history. The current church
was built in 1774, and was used as a shelter by the Katipuneros during the 1898 Philippine Revolution. It serves as
the seat of the Cofradia del Santísimo Cristo de San Juan del Monte or the “Confraternity of the Holy Christ of Saint
Also known as the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, the Pasig Cathedral is one of the oldest structures in Pasig
City. Its establishment in 1573 coincided with the foundation of the then-town of Pasig, and was initially
consecrated to the Visitation of Our Lady and changed to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception 14 years later. It
previously belonged to the Archdiocese of Manila, but became the seat of the Diocese of Pasig in 2003. Its status
Officially called the Cathedral Parish of Saint Andrew, Paranaque Cathedral was founded by Augustinian friars in
1580, making it one of the oldest and most historical churches in the Philippines. It is also the seat of the Roman
Catholic Diocese of Parañaque, which is the church that comprises the cities of Parañaque, Muntinlupa, and Las
Piñas. The cathedral is the home of the Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso, which was canonically crowned as the
Officially called Basilica Menore del Santo Niño, the Santo Niño Basilica is recognized as the oldest church in the
Philippines, and is the location of where a statue depicting the Child Jesus, known as the Santo Niño de Cebú, was
discovered by Spanish explorers in 1565. The present church is part of a larger complex that also includes the
open-air theater-like Pilgrim Center, a museum containing antique relics and religious exhibits, and an extensive
library.
San Sebastian Cathedral
Bacolod City
A late 19th-century Church, San Sebastian Cathedral serves as the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bacolod.
The church began the construction to its current form in 1876 with coral stone source from the island of Guimaras
being the material it was primarily built upon. About nine years since its initial construction, the church’s two bell
towers were built to accommodate two different sized bells as well as a large clock. The bells are now seen in a
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