FACADE OF THE INTRAMUROS PHILIPPINES

Intramuros (Spanish for "within the walls") is the 0.67 square kilometres (0.26 sq mi) historic walled area
within the modern city of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. It is administered by the Intramuros
Administration (IA), which was created through the Presidential Decree No. 1616 signed on April 10,
1979.[2] IA is tasked to rebuild, redevelop, administer and preserve the remaining pre-war buildings,
structures and fortifications of Intramuros.

Intramuros is also called the Walled City, and at the time of the Spanish Empire was synonymous to the
City of Manila. Other towns and arrabales (suburbs) located beyond the walls are referred to as
"extramuros", the Spanish for "outside the walls".[3][4] It was the seat of government and political
power when the Philippines was a component realm of the Spanish Empire. It was also the center of
religion, education and economy. The standard way of life in Intramuros became the standard way of life
throughout the Philippines. The Manila Galleons which sailed the Pacific for 250 years, carried goods to
and from Intramuros (Manila) and Acapulco, Mexico.

Construction of the defensive walls was started by the Spanish imperial government in the late 16th
century to protect the city from foreign invasions. The Walled City was originally located along the
shores of the Manila Bay, south of the entrance to Pasig River. Guarding the old city is Fort Santiago, its
citadel located at the mouth of the river. Land reclamations during the early 20th century subsequently
obscured the walls and fort from the bay. The Battle of Manila in 1945 devastated Intramuros. It is the
place where the occupying Japanese Imperial Army made their last stand against Allied soldiers and
Filipino guerrillas. The battle destroyed its churches, universities, houses, and government buildings,
most of which dated back to the Spanish Colonial Period.

Entrance of Fort Santiago, Intramuros in 2011

Intramuros, particularly the Fort Santiago, was designated as a National Historical Landmark in 1951. The
fortifications of Intramuros, collectively called "Fortifications of Manila", were declared as National
Cultural Treasures, by the National Museum of the Philippines, owing to its architectural, scientific and
archaeological significance.[5] San Agustin Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the Baroque
Churches of the Philippines, is located within Intramuros.
SAN AGUSTIN CHURCH MANILA
San Agustin Church (Filipino: Simbahan ng San Agustin, Spanish: Iglesia de San Agustín), also known as
the Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Consolacion y Correa or the Immaculate Conception
Parish, is a Roman Catholic church under the auspices of The Order of St. Augustine, located inside the
historic walled city of Intramuros in Manila. Completed in 1607, it is the oldest church in the country.[1]

San Agustin Church is located in General Luna St, Manila, Metro Manila. The present structure is actually
the third Augustinian church erected on the site.[4] The first San Agustin Church was the first religious
structure constructed by the Spaniards on the island of Luzon.[5] Made of bamboo and nipa, it was
completed in 1571, but destroyed by fire in December 1574 during the attempted invasion of Manila by
the forces of Limahong.[6][7] A second wooden structure built on the same site[7] was destroyed in
February 1583 by a fire that started when a candle ignited drapery on the funeral bier during services for
Spanish Governor-General Gonzalo Ronquillo de Peñalosa.[6]

The Augustinians decided to rebuild the church using stone, and to construct an adjacent monastery.
Construction began in 1586, based on a design by Juan Macías.[5][7] The structure was built using hewn
adobe stones quarried from Meycauayan, Binangonan and San Mateo, Rizal.[3] The work proceeded
slowly due to the lack of funds and materials, as well as the relative scarcity of stone artisans.[7] The
monastery was operational by 1604, and the church was formally declared complete on 19 January 1607
and named Church of St. Paul of Manila.[7] Macías, who had died before the completion of the church,
was officially acknowledged by the Augustinians as the builder of the edifice.[8]

San Agustin Church was looted by the British forces who occupied Manila in 1762 during the Seven
Years' War.[9] In 1854, the church was renovated under the supervision of architect Luciano Oliver.[5] On
3 June 1863, the strongest earthquake at that time hit Manila leaving widespread destruction to the city,
with San Agustin Church the only public building left undamaged.[10] A series of strong earthquakes
struck Manila again on 18–20 July 1880. This time, the tremors left a large crack in the east bell tower.
[11] The crack was eventually repaired, but the left tower was permanently removed with only the base
remaining today.[12] The church withstood the other major earthquakes that struck Manila before in
1645, 1699, 1754, 1796, 1825, 1852, 1863 and 1880 and served as a hospital for several of those injured
during the earthquake in 1863.[13]

On 18 August 1898, the church was the site where Spanish Governor-General Fermin Jaudenes prepared
the terms for the surrender of Manila to the United States of America following the Spanish–American
War.[4][9]

During the Japanese occupation of World War II, San Agustin Church became a concentration camp.[4] In
the final days of the Battle of Manila, hundreds of Intramuros residents and clergy were held hostage in
the church by Japanese soldiers with many hostages killed during the three-week-long battle.[4] It was
the only one among seven churches of Intramuros to survive a leveling by combined American and
Filipino ground forces in May 1945.[4] While the church sustained damage to its roof, the adjacent
monastery was completely destroyed. In the 1970s the monastery was rebuilt as a museum under the
design of architect Angel Nakpil.[3][9] The church was renovated in 2013, with its colorful facade
replaced by a sedate stone-colored one.[citation needed]
SAN AGUSTIN CHURCH, PAOAY, ILOCOS NORTE
The Saint Augustine Church (Spanish: Iglesia de San Agustín de Paoay), commonly known as the Paoay
Church, is a Roman Catholic church in the Municipality of Paoay, Ilocos Norte in the Philippines.
Completed in 1710, the church is famous for its distinct architecture highlighted by the enormous
buttresses on the sides and back of the building. It is declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the
Philippine government in 1973 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the collective group of Baroque
Churches of the Philippines in 1993.

The earliest historical record of the area dates back to 1593, becoming an independent Augustinian
parish in 1686.[1] Building of the present church was started in 1694 by Augustinian friar Father Antonio
Estavillo, completed in 1710 and rededicated in 1896.[2][3] Some portions of the church was damaged in
the 1865 and 1885 earthquakes but was later restored under the initiative of former First Lady Imelda
Marcos.[4]
STO. TOMAS DE VILLANUEVA CHURCH, MIAG-AO, ILO-ILO
Iloilo Province, in the Visayan Island of Panay, is home to some of the oldest Catholic Churches in the
Philippines. It is one of the most important provinces during the Spanish colonization of the country.
South of the province, in its largest town of Miag-ao, is the pride of the town – the Sto. Tomas de
Villanueva Church or popularly know as Miag-ao Church.

Miag-ao Church is one of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines, a collection of Catholic Churches
across the archipelago that were inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993. Other Baroque
Churches in the list include San Agustin Church in Manila; Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion in Santa Maria,
Ilocos Sur; and San Agustin Church in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.

Based on the UNESCO World Heritage Convention historical description, “the Church of Santo Tomas de
Villanueva stands on the highest point of Miag-ao, its towers serving as lookouts against Muslim raids. It
is the finest surviving example of ‘Fortress Baroque’. The sumptuous facade epitomizes the Filipino
transfiguration of western decorative elements, with the figure of St Christopher on the pediment
dressed in native clothes, carrying the Christ Child on his back, and holding on to a coconut palm for
support. The entire riotously decorated facade is flanked by massive tapering bell towers of unequal
heights.

The Augustinian mission station of Miag-ao became an independent parish in 1731, when a simple
church and convento (parish house) were built. However, destruction of the town by Moslem pirates in
1741 and 1754 led to the town being rebuilt in a more secure location. The new church, constructed in
1787-97, was built as a fortress, to withstand further incursions. It was, however, damaged severely by
fire on two occasions – during the revolution against Spain in 1898 and in World War II.”

Today, the Church of Sto. Tomas de Villanueva stands proud as a legacy of Miag-ao’s vibrant past. A
testament of the town’s devotion and artistic talent. An eternal reminder Miag-ao’s creativity. A treasure
the world regard now as a heritage.
BACLAYON CHURCH, BOHOL
La Purisima Concepcion de la Virgen Maria Parish Church (also The Immaculate Conception of the Virgin
Mary Parish Church), commonly known as Baclayon Church, is a Roman Catholic Church in the
municipality of Baclayon, Bohol, Philippines within the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of
Tagbilaran. Baclayon was founded by the Jesuit priest Juan de Torres and Gabriel Sánchez in 1596, and
became the oldest Christian settlement in Bohol. It was elevated as a parish in 1717 and the present
coral stone church was completed in 1737. The Augustinian Recollects succeeded the Jesuits in 1768 and
heavily renovated the church since then.

The Jesuits, the first evangelizers of the Baclayon, planted the first seed of Christianity in Bohol upon the
request of Doña Catalina de Bolaños, mother of the encomendero of Bohol island, Pedro de Gamboa to
Father Antonio Sedeno, mission superior of Leyte and Samar.[1][2] In November 17, 1596, the first
Jesuits, Father Juan de Torres, SJ and Father Gabriel Sánchez, SJ , came to Baclayon.[1][3] At that time, a
Catholic chapel is already existing inside the encomienda.[1]

In 1717, Baclayon was elevated as a parish. The present stone church constructed under the Jesuits was
finished in 1727. When the Jesuits were expelled in the country in 1768, the Augustinian Recollects
immediately succeeded them in the late part of the same year in administering the spiritual needs of the
people of Baclayon.[1][3] Renovations on the church was done during the administration of Father Pedro
de la Encarnación, OAR (1839–1854), Father Antonio Úbeda, OAR (1856–1859, 1861–1868) and Father
José María Cabañas, OAR (1870–1898).[1] The church was saved from destruction that might be brought
by American soldiers in exchange for food and water in 1901.[4] During the Second World War, the
church suffered damages but was later restored.[5] From being part of Baclayon, Balilihan,
Alburquerque, Corella and Sikatuna became independent parishes in 1829, 1869, 1884 and 1914
respectively.[1] Although it survived damages and was eventually restored, the church of Baclayon was
heavily damaged when an earthquake struck Bohol on October 15, 2013.[6]
THE SANTA MARIA CHURCH IN SANTA MARIA, ILOCOS SUR
History and Facade

Baroque Churches in the Philippines was first built during the Spanish Colonial Period. Spanish
missionaries, along with Filipinos and Chinese migrants, were some of the people who influenced the
design of the baroque churches highlighting Spanish structures.

One of the four baroque churches in the country is the Santa Maria Church that was built by the
Augustinian friars as a chapel for the town of Narvacan back in 1769. 40 years later, the bell tower beside
the church was built in 1810, as a home for missionaries going to Abra.

While most churches around the country are situated just across the town square or the municipality,
Santa Maria Church is situated on top of a hill, overlooking the town and can be accessed through an
almost 80 concrete steps going up.

Today, the church is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage as part of the Baroque Churches of the
Philippines as it embodies Spanish-era characteristics, such as stone bricks, massive buttresses on the
sides that serve as protection to the wall, and a hexagonal bell tower separated from the church.

CHURCH OF THE GESÚ

II Gesú was built with small chapels instead of aisles, designed specially so that the members of the
church are all facing the main altar.

One of the most striking part of the temple is the ceiling fresco painted by baciccia (Giovanni Battista
Gauli).The fresco manages to look three dimensional thanks to the wooden figures and stuccos added to
the fresco.

Located in the chapel of the Modonna della Strada there is small icon of the Modonna della Strada. The
icon was built on the same site of II Gesú and dates from the fifteenth century. It had originally been part
of the church, which has the same name.

II Gesú is not one of the most impressive churches in Rome, but is decoration and chapels are interesting
to see. Another advantage is that is located in the heart of the city, near Piazza Venezia