The Baroque Churches of the Philippines is the official designation to a collection of four Spanish-era churches in the Philippines, upon its inscription to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993. A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... Image File history File linksMetadata San_Agustin_2. ... As of 2006, there are a total of 830 World Heritage Sites located in 138 State Parties. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Philippines. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... This is a list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Asia, Australia and the Pacific (Australasia). ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... Org type Specialized Agency Acronyms UNESCO Head Director General of UNESCO Koïchiro Matsuura Japan Status Active Established 1945 Website www. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ...

The collection is composed of the following:

• San Agustin Church in Manila
• Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur
• San Agustin Church in Paoay, Ilocos Norte
• Sto. Tomas de Villanueva Church in Miag-ao, Iloilo

These churches have been at the forefront of Philippine history, not just in furthering Christianity in the archipelago, but in serving as the political backbone of Spanish colonial rule, when Church and State were regarded as one. The unique architecture of the churches didn't just reflect the adaptation of Spanish/Latin American architecture to the local environment (including the fusion with Chinese motifs), but also of the Church's political influence. These churches had been subject to attacks by local revolts and rebellions, hence, most had the appearance of a fortress, rather than just serving as mere religious structures. This is especially noteworthy in the case of Santa Maria Church, located on top of a hill, serving as a citadel during times of crisis. Miag-ao Church also withstood the occasional attacks of Muslims from the south. Further, the location of the Philippines along the Pacific Ring of Fire called for the emphasis on the buttresses and foundations of these churches, with some being seriously damaged, but eventually rebuilt after an earthquake. The most imposing of these buttresses could be found in Paoay Church, while the true testament of this architecture could be seen in San Agustin Church, Manila, the only structure in Intramuros to survive World War II. Hence, the unique architectural style became known as Earthquake Baroque. The interior of the San Agustín Church in Intramuros, with magnificent trompe loeil mural on its ceiling and walls San Agustín Church, built between 1587 and 1606, is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines, and the only building left intact after the destruction of Intramuros... For other meanings of the word, see Manila (disambiguation). ... Santa Maria is a 4th class municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. ... Paoay is a 4th class municipality in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. ... Miagao, or Miag-ao, while having the distinction of being the largest municipality in the Philippines with a total of 119 barangays, it is very remote, being approximately 40 km southwest of Iloilo City. ... Map of Iloilo showing the location of Miagao Miag-ao is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. ... Topics in Christianity Preaching Prayer Ecumenism Relation to other religions Movements Music Liturgy Calendar Symbols Art Criticism Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ... “The Ring of Fire” redirects here. ... Intramuros circa 1920s Walls of Intramuros, located along the southern bank of the Pasig River, is the oldest among the districts of the city of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Earthquake Baroque is a style of architecture found in places, such at the Philippines and Guatemala, which suffered earthquakes during the 17th century and 18th century and where large public buildings, such as churches were rebuilt in a Baroque style. ...

Greater protection

Site #677: The interior of the San Agustín Church in Intramuros (Manila).

Aside from these four churches, the Philippine National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has also designated the conservation and protection of 26 other Spanish-era churches to be of utmost importance. These were registered as National Cultural Treasures. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (450x640, 68 KB) Summary Joel Natividad http://natividads. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (450x640, 68 KB) Summary Joel Natividad http://natividads. ... The interior of the San Agustín Church in Intramuros, with magnificent trompe loeil mural on its ceiling and walls San Agustín Church, built between 1587 and 1606, is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines, and the only building left intact after the destruction of Intramuros... Intramuros circa 1920s Walls of Intramuros, located along the southern bank of the Pasig River, is the oldest among the districts of the city of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. ... For other meanings of the word, see Manila (disambiguation). ...

These churches were given priority status not just due to their historical value, but also based on the geographic representation of various regions across the nation:

1. Parish Church of San Agustin in Bacong, Negros Oriental
2. Parish Church of the Immaculate Conception in Balayan, Batangas
3. Parish Church of Santiago Apostol in Betis Guagua, Pampanga
4. Parish Church of Patrocinio de Maria in Boljoon, Cebu²
5. Parish Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Calasiao, Pangasinan
6. Parish Church of San Vicente de Ferrer in Dupax del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya
7. Parish Church of the Immaculate Conception in Guiuan, Eastern Samar^{1 2}
8. Parish Church of the Immaculate Conception in Jasaan, Misamis Oriental
9. Parish Church of San Juan Bautista in Jimenez, Misamis Occidental
10. Parish Church of San Isidro Labrador in Lazi, Siquijor²
11. Parish Church of San Pedro and San Pablo in Loboc, Bohol^{1 2}
12. Parish Church of Santa Catalina de Alejandria in Luna, La Union
13. Parish Church of San Carlos Borromeo in Mahatao, Batanes
14. Parish Church of San Guillermo de Aquitania in Magsingal, Ilocos Sur
15. Parish Church of San Gregorio Magno in Majayjay, Laguna
16. Parish Church of the Assumption of Our Lady in Maragondon, Cavite¹
17. Parish Church of San Andres in Masinloc, Zambales
18. Parish Church of Santa Monica in Panay, Capiz
19. Cathedral of San Jose in Romblon, Romblon
20. Parish Church of San Raymundo de Peñafort in Rizal, Cagayan
21. Parish Church of San Joaquin in San Joaquin, Iloilo
22. Parish Church of San Juan Bautista in Tabaco City, Albay
23. Parish Church of San Ildefonso in Tanay, Rizal
24. Basilica of St. Michael Archangel in Tayabas, Quezon
25. Parish Church of Santa Catalina de Alejandria in Tayum, Abra
26. Parish Church of San Matias in Tumauini, Isabela
27. Parish Church of Santa Maria Magdalena in Kawit, Cavite
28. Parich Church of Nuestra Señora Virgen del Rosario de Caracol Rosario, Cavite

¹ On August 15, 1993, these churches, along with the one in Baclayon, Bohol were nominated for World Heritage Site status as part of the Jesuit Churches of the Philippines.
² On May 16, 2006, the NCCA nominated a new set of churches as part of the extension of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines World Heritage Site. With the inclusion of two churches from the Jesuit Churches nomination, these two proposals will likely be combined. Bacong is a 4th class municipality in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. ... Balayan is a 1st class municipality in the province of Batangas, Philippines. ... Guagua is a municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. ... Boljoon is a 5th class municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. ... Calasiao is a municipality in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. ... Dupax Del Sur is a 4th class municipality in the province of Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines. ... Guiuan is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Eastern Samar, Philippines. ... Jasaan is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Misamis Oriental, Philippines. ... Jimenez is a 4th class municipality in the province of Misamis Occidental, Philippines. ... Lazi is a 5th class municipality in the province of Siquijor, Philippines. ... Loboc is a 5th class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. ... Luna is a 4th class municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. ... Mahatao is a 6th class municipality in the province of Batanes, Philippines. ... Magsingal is a 4th class municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. ... Majayjay is a municipality in the province of Laguna in the Philippines. ... The Municipality of Maragondon (Filipino: Bayan ng Maragondon) is a 4th class municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines. ... Masinloc is a 1st class municipality in the province of Zambales, Philippines. ... Panay is a 4th class municipality in the province of Capiz, Philippines. ... Romblon is a 4th class municipality in the province of Romblon, Philippines. ... Rizal is a 5th class municipality in the province of Cagayan, Philippines. ... San Joaquin is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Iloilo, Philippines. ... Tabaco City is a 4th class city in the province of Albay, Philippines. ... Albay is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. ... Tanay is a 1st class municipality in the province of Rizal, Philippines. ... Tayabas is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Quezon, Philippines. ... Tayum is a 5th class municipality in the province of Abra, Philippines. ... Tumauini is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Isabela, Philippines. ... Kawit (formerly Cavite El Viejo) is a 1st class urban municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines. ... Rosario is a 1st class urban municipality in the province of Cavite, Philippines. ... Baclayon is a 5th class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. ... The Society of Jesus (Latin: Societas Iesu), commonly known as the Jesuits, is a Roman Catholic religious order. ... The Society of Jesus (Latin: Societas Iesu), commonly known as the Jesuits, is a Roman Catholic religious order. ...

External links

• World Heritage profile
• NCCA's 26 Churches' profile
• Nomination of Jesuit Churches of the Philippines as a World Heritage Site
• Nomination for the Extension of the Baroque Churches World Heritage Site