03 November 2013
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| Paoay Church taken during Spanish - American War Photo Source: http://freepages.military.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~smokymtnman/spanish/saw4.jpg |
Aside from Vigan, the Paoay church, also known as San Agustin church, is another site that I cannot afford to miss whenever I travel to the Ilocos provinces. It is one of the four Baroque Churches in the Philippines inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Summary/Historical Context of UNESCO, The explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived in the Philippines in 1521. His name was Ferdinand Magellan, known for his voyage around the world. He claimed the islands of the Philippines as a Spanish colony. Missionary priests came to spread the Catholic faith.
Many churches were built throughout the country. Four of them were inscribed as World Heritage in 1993. The churches have survived several earthquakes and wars, and are known as "Earthquake Baroque" due to their strong quake-resistant structures.
This pyramid-like building is the Church of San Agustin in Paoay in the Northern Luzon. Construction started in 1694. It incorporates many architectural features from Latin America, which was also colonized by Spain at the time. Typical Latin American motifs such as the sun are used as decoration.
As The Philippines are affected by earthquakes, the buildings have some unique features to cope. These 2.5 meter-thick supporting buttresses were built around the church as protection. from the impact of an earthquake. The material used to make the wall is also unique. Pieces of coral were used along with regular brick for construction. Coral is said to be twice as strong as brick.
This church has been hit by two giant earthquakes in the last 300 years but owing to its quake-resistant structure has remained intact."Architectural techniques brought from Mexico and Spain bloomed in the Philippines, making great buildings like this church. By combining different techniques this church stood strong in the earthquake of Intensity 7."
According to UNESCO, this church is the most massive church of all churches in the Philippines with 24 massive buttresses measuring nearly 3-meters thick built around the church 2 meters thick walls as protection.
Summary/Historical Context of UNESCO, The explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived in the Philippines in 1521. His name was Ferdinand Magellan, known for his voyage around the world. He claimed the islands of the Philippines as a Spanish colony. Missionary priests came to spread the Catholic faith.
Many churches were built throughout the country. Four of them were inscribed as World Heritage in 1993. The churches have survived several earthquakes and wars, and are known as "Earthquake Baroque" due to their strong quake-resistant structures.
This pyramid-like building is the Church of San Agustin in Paoay in the Northern Luzon. Construction started in 1694. It incorporates many architectural features from Latin America, which was also colonized by Spain at the time. Typical Latin American motifs such as the sun are used as decoration.
As The Philippines are affected by earthquakes, the buildings have some unique features to cope. These 2.5 meter-thick supporting buttresses were built around the church as protection. from the impact of an earthquake. The material used to make the wall is also unique. Pieces of coral were used along with regular brick for construction. Coral is said to be twice as strong as brick.
This church has been hit by two giant earthquakes in the last 300 years but owing to its quake-resistant structure has remained intact."Architectural techniques brought from Mexico and Spain bloomed in the Philippines, making great buildings like this church. By combining different techniques this church stood strong in the earthquake of Intensity 7."
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Facade and Bell Tower of Paoay Church
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The materials used to build the walls and buttresses are made of coral stones cut into square blocks, bricks and adobe stones and then glued together using sugar cane and egg white.
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| Massive Church Facade |
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| 24 S-shape Massive Buttresses nearly 3 meters thick |
According to Wikipedia, the church facade also exudes Javanese architecture reminiscent of Borobudur of Java.
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| Javanese Architecture |
Building of the present church started in 1694, according to historians. This church has been hit by 2 giant earthquakes in the last 300 years but due to its quake resistive structure, it remained intact to date.
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| Third layer of the church facade bearing the old seal of Spain |
Furthermore, UNESCO said that this church is the best example of a Baroque church in the Philippines.
Watch Baroque Churches of the Philippines, according to UNESCO.
Just like the developments in the City of Vigan, there are many developments at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Paoay.
Facing the facade of the church at the right side of the Plaza, there is a new building, which was currently being constructed by the time of visit, that will house the tourism office of Paoay, Ilocos Norte.
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| Future Tourism Office at Paoay, Ilocos Norte |
The left side of the church has been developed and turned into a beautiful garden called "Jardin de San Agustin".
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| Jardin de San Agustin |
The parish residence is a new building constructed at least 20 meters away from the church to provide a buffer zone as required by UNESCO.
Inside the church, the altar was improved with the statue of San Agustin at the main altar and the altar table now dressed in gold-color with intricate designs.
More and more visitors are coming to Paoay to see the church and other tourist spots at the area.
To get a view of the church facade at night, I stayed late at the plaza and waited for the lamp posts and wall lamps to light up and even at night, the grandeur of the church can't be denied.
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| Paoay Church at night |
Truly, Paoay Pumaypayapay (Kumakaway)!
On the 23rd of December, I moved around the Paoay church and explored the old convent that used to be in ruins and currently being restored at the time. The PGIN is transforming the building ruins into another tourist site in Paoay.
Rediscovering Paoay
23 December 2015
I reached Paoay at 2010H from Laoag City. At that time, the church facade and side walls had been illuminated with warm light.
After fixing my things at my accommodation, I immediately moved to the plaza with my camera and tripod. Taking photos at night of old structures nicely lit is one of my favorite photo moments.
A lighted scroll mark at the plaza ground was lighted making it very visible at dark.
The building at the right side of the plaza (facing the church) that was under construction when I last visited the place is now a souvenir shop and a food court.
After fixing my things at my accommodation, I immediately moved to the plaza with my camera and tripod. Taking photos at night of old structures nicely lit is one of my favorite photo moments.
On the 23rd of December, I moved around the Paoay church and explored the old convent that used to be in ruins and currently being restored at the time. The PGIN is transforming the building ruins into another tourist site in Paoay.
By the time of my visit, half portion of the old building had already been covered with a metal roof supported by metal columns and trusses. I was so happy to learn that the old convent ruins will be resurrected soon and will no longer be just a ruin.
I left Paoay at 1700H and traveled back to Laoag City and then later traveled to my hometown in the province of Isabela.
Paoay Church Retrofitting
17 February 2012
The Paoay Church also know as San Agustin Church in Paoay Ilocos Norte is one of the only 4 ancient catholic churches in the Philippines listed in the UNESCO World Heritage list.
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| Church Facade with Scaffolding |
This church, according to the experts, was constructed in 1694 and made of massive coral blocks. Standing through war and earthquake for more than 300 years, the church finally require renovation.
According to Paoay officials, the renovation will restore the designs on the massive walls of the church. For the past hundreds of years since the colonial period, for many times many churches and old buildings have been destroyed by either natural calamities and wars and for many times, the Ilocoanos also rebuilt or restored them. This is a testimony of how the Ilocanos love and value their heritage.
I can't wait to see the church fully renovated and marvel at its grandeur.
-o0o-
