TECHNNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES

1338 ARLEGUI ST. QUIAPO MANILA

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE
AR 311-ARCH31S5

ASSIGNMENT NO. 6
DOCUMENTING HERITAGE

SUBMITTED BY:
APILADO, ROSE ANNE R.

SUBMITTED TO:
ARCH. BERNARD DONES

DATE:
SEPTEMBER 23, 2022
 Cagsawa Ruins

The heritage in Bicol region is known as the Cagsawa ruins. According to folklore the name
of Cagsawa was derived from the word “Kag” which means owner and “sawa” for python.
They said it could also mean too much or excesses. It is located in Barangay Busay, Daraga,
Albay, Bicol Region, Philippines. It was built by the Franciscans and it was rebuilt by Fr.
Francisco Blanco.
this is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Bicol region. Albay is home to some of the
oldest churches in the Philippines since Bicol is regarded as a bastion of catholic evangelization
during the Spanish occupation. the Cagsawa ruins is not just the place that attract travelers but
the colorful history of the place.

The Cagsawa Ruins is a baroque style because of the characteristics of the façade. The
Cagsawa Church was created to fortify buildings against natural disasters, particularly
earthquakes.

The Cagsawa ruins goes through a lot

of adaptation and innovation from the
colonizers. The Cagsawa ruins battle
the passage of time, calamities and
colonization. As a result of Mayon
Volcano's most violent eruption in
recorded history, Cagsawa Ruins were
created. The Cagsawa church was
made by the stones. The
construction process of Cagsawa
Church was stone masonry
construction.
HISTORY

According to my research Cagsawa Church was constructed in 1587 in the small town of
Cagsawa. However, on July 25, 1636, Dutch pirates burned down the church of
cagsawa. In 1724, the church was reconstructed by Franciscan friars led by Father Francisco
Blanco.

the Cagsawa church was built two centuries ago, the Mayon volcano erupted over the years,
only the church's bell tower remains. the church served as an evacuation center because people
believe that the Cagsawa church is strong and durable architecture, and possibly because of
religious beliefs, this is the place they evacuated when the Mayon volcano erupted. Over 1,200
people were buried near Cagsawa town, including those who took refuge within the Cagsawa
Church. due to the eruption of the Mayon volcano the Cagsawa ruin was formed.

this government marker placed on the belfry in 1954 briefly narrates how the church was
supposedly destroyed. The story of how it was destroyed by Mayon volcano’s eruption was
told in generation after generation but now a cultural consultant claims the church is not buried
under a volcanic soil, this version of Cagsawa ruins was rather mysterious past is now being
challenged.

A Bicolano language commissioner and a cultural

consultant to the Albay government recently posted
a photo on Facebook showing the Cagsawa church
at it looked several decades ago, aside from the
belfry the church's, the facade was almost intact, this
debunks the long running belief that the church is
very deep under the volcanic soil and that only the
belfry is tall enough to breach the surface. Since the
front of the church is still intact in the shot, he
claimed that neither the church nor any of the people
within did not sink as a result of the volcanic
explosion.

the Albay government has yet to decide whether

there is need to alter the history of Daraga town's
most famous tourist spot
The picture of my parents above shows that they were still able to enter the Cagsawa ruins.
When we went back in Cagsawa ruins few years later, it was closed due to the accident happen
there according to the locals there and to protect everyone to the accident they closed the belfry
to prevent everyone from entering. The stones inside the belfry are already collapsing, possibly
as a result of how long it has been standing there. it has become dangerous to go inside the
belfry because the heritage architecture is fragile because of the age and status of the
architecture. I think the special part of the Cagsawa Ruins was the Belfry. I can say that
the belfry is really sturdy. After so many years, after the colonization, and calamities, the
church's bell tower remains.

According to the experts, there are two

methods to maintain the historical
significance of monuments such as the
Cagsawa ruins, either restore it to its original
construction, which may be costly, or leave it
as is but communicate the narrative behind
it. The history of the Cagsawa ruins is
significant, particularly to the people of Bicol.
The Cagsawa church is considered as a
heritage because of the history and culture of
the church. It is significant because it
represents the past, history, and culture,
survival in calamities in Bicol region. the
Filipino heritage architecture is significant because
this architecture reflects the past, the history and the
culture in the Philippines. the Cagsawa Ruins is part
of our culture and history. the tangible and intangible
part of the heritage is both important.
there are two ways to preserve the historical relevance of sites like the Cagsawa ruins:
either restore it to its original structure, which may be costly, or leave it as is while
communicating the story behind it.

The Cagsawa Ruins is so beautiful, I can say that it is beautiful not only because of its façade. The
Cagsawa Ruins are more beautiful because of the story behind this structure. The architecture of this
heritage is really sturdy. I've seen how natural disasters have damaged and affected our cultural
structures, as well as the issues of heritage preservation in our country.
Reference/s:

Photo by Silverbackpacker, Cagsawa Church, Destroyed by a Volcano Destroyed but Not

Buried Silverbackpacker. Retrieved September 23,2022. From
https://www.silverbackpacker.com/cagsawa-church-destroyed-by-a-volcano/

Photo by: Atlas Obscura,December 6, 2018 , This belfry is all that remains of the town that
was buried by a violent volcano eruption. From
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/cagsawa-ruins

Silverbackpacker. Retrieved September 23,2022.from

https://www.silverbackpacker.com/cagsawa-church-destroyed-by-a-volcano/

Photo by : TRAVEL AND LIFESTYLE BLOG, 2021 March, The Ruins of Cagsawa Church
in Daraga [Architectural Heritage in Albay]. From https://www.yodisphere.com/2021/03/the-
ruins-of-cagsawa-church-in-daraga.html

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