This church, whose construction started in 1587 and was completed in 1604, has been described as a permanent miracle in stone since it withstood the strong earth tremors that shook Manila after it was built. Manila was hit by strong earthquakes in 1645, 1863 and 1880 and this was among the only ones left standing.
This church follows the severe baroque style, but incorporates Herrera and Vignolesque influences which reached the archipelago from the Viceroyalty of Mexico. It was the only building left intact in Intramuros during the Liberation of Manila in 1945.
It was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993.
4 comments:
San Agustin Church?
Its San Agustin. Also the oldest church in the Philippines (not Baclayon)
Nina and Estan, you're both correct! :-)
Estan, you got your facts right, bai! The DOT's website made a major blunder by declaring Baclayon as the oldest STONE church in the Philippines, but it was built only in 1595 while San Sebastian was built in 1571.
In fact, a historian based in Bohol, Regalado Trota Jose, claims that the stone structure was built in 1727, and that on the year 1595, Baclayon church was built using wood and bamboo.
While doing my reading, I came across this head-scratcher: the oldest bells in the Philippines were those found in the ruins of the church in Calaminuigan, Cagayan Valley.
Paano kaya nangyari yun?!
I am correcting my entry above: "San Sebastian" should have read as "San Agustin" and the right date is 1587, not 1571 as written in the DOT website.
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