Manila Bulletin
Saturday, 20 October 2001
26 Colonial Churches Declared as National Cultural Treasures
In a recent declaration made by the National Museum, 26 churches built during the Spanish colonial period were named national cultural treasures. The declaration was made in support of the state policy to preserve and protect important cultural properties and safeguard their intrinsic value.
For a structure to be considered a national cultural treasure, it must be a unique object found locally, possessing outstanding historical, cultural, artistic and/or scientific value deemed significant and important.
Most of the colonial churches built in the 17th and 18th centuries boast of architectural designs that used indigenous materials such as corals, adobe, sawali and local hard wood.
These churches also served as centers for artistic development like liturgical music, sculpture (carving of retablo, pulpits, altars), painting, gilding, silver smithing and others.
The committee on monuments and sites of the NCCA has nominated these churches for restoration and adopted the same as their flagship project for the millennium.
The 26 churches are:
ABRA
Santa Catalina De Alejandria Church (Tayum)
ALBAY
San Juan Bautista Church (Tabaco)
BATANES
San Carlos Borromeo Church (Mahatao)
BATANGAS
Immaculate Conception Church (Balayan)
BOHOL
San Pedro Apostol Church (Loboc)
CAGAYAN
San Raymundo de Peņafort Church (Rizal)
CAPIZ
Santa Monica Church (Pan-ay)
CAVITE
Our Lady of Assumption Church (Maragondon)
CEBU
Patrocinio De Maria Church (Boljoon)
ILOCOS SUR
San Guillermo De Aquitania Church (Magsingal)
ILOILO
San Joaquin Church (San Joaquin)
ISABELA
San Matias Church (Tumauini)
LA UNION
Santa Catalina De Alejandria Church (Luna)
LAGUNA
San Gregorio Magno Church (Majayjay)
MISAMIS ORIENTAL
Immaculate Conception Church (Jasaan)
San Juan Bautista Church (Jimenez)
NEGROS ORIENTAL
San Agustin Church (Bacong)
NUEVA VISCAYA
San Vicente Ferrer Church (Dupax)
PAMPANGA
Santiago Apostol Church (Betis)
PANGASINAN
Saints Peter and Paul Church (Calasiao)
QUEZON
Basilica of St. Michael (Tayabas)
RIZAL
San Ildefonso Church (Tanay)
ROMBLON
Cathedral of San Jose (Romblon)
SAMAR
Immaculate Conception Church (Guiuan)
SIQUIJOR
San Isidro Labrador Church (Lazi)
ZAMBALES
San Andres Church (Masinloc)
Baptistry of the Betis Church
Guagua, Pampanga
San Gregorio Magno Church
Majayjay, Laguna