Explore the Cradle of Democracy in the East - Historic Barasoain Church

Province of Bulacan

City of Malolos

Whenever I had a free-time, I see to it that I spend it  doing the things I love the most - if not trekking, exploring or discovering historical landmarks - that incude old churches, museums and houses.

I have stayed in Manila for at least 15 years already but never thought of visiting old churches in Manila or nearby provinces eversince. On a Saturday morning, I thought of visiting the Barasoain church after looking at a post card. After all, I had never seen this church in person yet. I can recall that this church was once printed on the old 10-peso bill.

From Manila, I traveled to Cubao Baliwag bus station. I met a fellow traveler Cristy Okamoto at the terminal. We took the bus bound for Malolos. We asked the bus driver to drop us at the Malolos crossing.

It was a 45-minute bus drive from Cubao to Malolos crossing. Our landmark was the Jollibee store. At the other side of the road, we took a jeepney bound for Malolos market (bayan). The Barasoain church is 10-minute jeepney ride away from the Malolos crossing.

Barasoain Church and Old Convent

Barasoain Church Background: Barasoain Church (also known as Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish) is a Roman Catholic church built in 1630 in Malolos City, Bulacan. Having earned the title 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.

Founded by Augustinian Missionaries in 1859, the church is also renowned for its architectural design and internal adornments. The original church was burned during the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution however, it was renovated. It is about 42 kilometers away from Manila.

Statue of Emilio Aguinaldo

The church recorded some of the important events occurred in the country. While it has been a temporary residence of General Aguinaldo, three major events in Philippine History happened in this church: the convening of the First Philippine Congress (September 15, 1898), the drafting of the Malolos Constitution (September 29, 1898 to January 21, 1899), and the inauguration of the First Philippine Republic (January 23, 1899). By Presidential Decree No. 260, the church was proclaimed as a National Shrine by President Ferdinand Marcos on August 1, 1973. Unusual for newly elected presidents in the Philippines, the church has been a venue in an inaugural affairs. General Emilio Aguinaldo and former president Joseph Estrada were the only two who have been inaugurated in the place.

Historic Barasoain started as a village of Malolos in 16th century and created as an independent town in 1859 and reannexed in Malolos in 1903 and this explains the presence of a stone church here. Barasoain had its first stone edifice in 1871 to replace a temporary one but was burned in May 1884 during the Santacruzan. In 1885, the current structure was started while the belfry was constructed in 1889. The church became the most historic church in 1898 and in 1998 President Joseph Estrada took his oath of office. The facade has Neo-Classic touches and its rounded pediment is echoed by the arches and rose window at the lower part (Wikipedia).

I had been looking at the pictures of the Barasoain church from books, magazines and websites but this was my first time to come face-to-face with the historic monument. 

Church Interior

We alighted at the plaza just beside the road and there we saw the grandiose facade of the Barasoain church and the old convent attached to it on the right side stretching all throughout the length of the plaza.

Pulpit

We were completely amazed by the grandeur of the church facade. We took photos and read the historical markings attached to the church wall. The church main entrance door was closed at that time but thanks to an old lady who showed us the way inside the church through the side entrance.

Main Altar

The interior design of the church is well-maintained. The color, the paintings and the ceiling still looks exactly the same as the original design. The old pulpit stands near one of the columns at the right side of the church naive facing the main altar.

With the main door closed, the interior is quite dark but thanks to my camera tripod. I was able to take the correct exposure of the church interior.

After exploring the interior of the church, we moved on to the old convent. The old convent had been converted into a two-story museum. The lower part housed more than a hundred Sto. Nino statues in different costumes - baker, doctor, nurse, policemen, and others. The statues were so colorful.

At the second floor are the old furniture (muebles) and few old paintings. The windows are made of thinly polished capiz shells sliding from one quadrant of the window to another. Looking out of the window you'll see the wide plaza with the statue of Emilio Aguinaldo and the flags previously used during the Philippine revolution against the Spaniards.

Ancestral Home

From Barasoian church, we walked along Paseo del Congreso St. There are still few ancestral houses lined up along the road. We explored also the old "Imprenta" also know as "Casa Real" where we saw several printed newspapers during the revolutionary period with the old printing machine.

Malolos Cathedral Background: Malolos Cathedral, also known as the Basilica Minore de la Nuestra Señora de Inmaculada Concepcion (in Spanish) or Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception (in English), is the ecclesiastical seat of the Diocese of Malolos in the Philippines. Note: Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception or the Manila Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Manila.

Malolos Cathedral

The Spaniards and Augustinians arrived in Malolos in November 14,1571 (Blair and Robertson,The Philippine Islands,volume 34,page 304-310,paragraph 3) they built a small chapel near Canalate River, a bigger church was built which was recognized as a Parish Church in the records of the Augustinian chapter of June 11, 1580.Malolos Convent have its jurisdiction to the Clerial and Christianization Mission in Binto (became Encomienda in 1590 and Quingua Town in 1602).Due to the frequent submerging of its first location,they moved the church to another location facing Malolos River in 1591 (the present location of the church).

 Augustinians placed under the mantle of the Immaculate Conception.Malolos Church was initially parish of Encomienda de Malolos made as the town parish in 1580.Initially built from light materials in 1580-1591,later the church and convent were enlarged by Fr. Roque Barrionuevo in 1691. In 1734, the church was built with stronger materials by Fr. Fernando Sanchez. Fr. Juan Meseguer finished this project in 1740 and Fr. Jose de Vivar applied the finishing touches in 1753.

 However, both the church and the convent were destroyed by fire in 1813. The construction of the present church begun in 1819 with Fr. Melchor Fernandez. This prolific builder was also responsible for the addition of arches to the convent; the fortification of the belfry (to accommodate the installation of a clock); and the construction of the bridge connecting Malolos with Barasoain. However, the buildings were destroyed by a strong earthquake in 1863. Fr. Ezekiel Merino undertook the reconstruction of the collapsed structures which lasted until 1872.

Another severe earthquake took place in 1880 which destroyed the convent. Fr. Juan Tombo began the restoration of the convent in 1883. It was completed in 1884 by Fr. Felipe Garcia (Wikipedia).

From Casa Real, we continued walking towards the Malolos City Hall and then at the left side is the Malolos Cathedral. The Cathedral looked like a new building at first though historians said that the construction of the present building started in 1819. The Immaculate Conception School for Boys is just beside the Cathedral.

After taking photos at the facade of the Malolos Cathedral, we had a quick refreshment at a nearby food court and then left Malolos back to Manila via an FX van bound for Cubao.

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Photo gallery

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