Ilocos Norte - Arts and Spiritual Enrichment

My faith in the Almighty has always been intact and without question. And I had always been fascinated by old architecture, particularly of Churches and places of worship dating back from the 16th century. I have 'combed' the North for Churches where I can go to every time I am in the are and found a few that are very special.

Paoay Church

The Church of Saint Augustine, commonly known as the Paoay Church, is the Roman Catholic parish church of 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. In 1993, the church was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as one best examples of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines.

Paoay church is prime example of Earthquake Baroque architecture, which is the Philippine interpretation of the European Baroque adapted to the seismic condition of the country. Destructive earthquakes are common and have destroyed earlier churches all throughout the country.^[1] Aside from Baroque, the church facade also exudes Javanese architecture reminiscent of Borobudur of Java.

The Church in 2007

And the Church today.

Sarrat Church

Sta. Monica Parish Church, commonly known as the Sarrat Church, is a Catholic parish church in the poblacion (Brgy. San Leandro) of the town of Sarrat, Ilocos Norte in the Philippines, about 7 kilometers (4.3 mi) east of Laoag City, the capital of the province. It was built in 1779 and was originally known as San Miguel Church. The Sta. Monica Church complex includes the convent connected to the church by an elevated three-level brick stairway. The parish church of Sta. Monica is renowned as the largest church in the whole Ilocos Norte province, most especially the length of the nave.A devastatingearthquake hit the province of Ilocos Norte on August 17, 1983, which recorded a magnitude of 5.3 (MI) on the Richter scale and an intensity 7 on the Rossi-Forel scale. The tremor sustained a major structural damage on the church's facade as well as toppling down the bell tower.

The church is made from red bricks built in Earthquake Baroque and Neoclassical architecture. Inside the sanctuary, the ceiling is a magnificent framework of wooden roof trusses, which number to around 480 logs of hardwood molave, 75% of which dates back to the 18th century.

And I was told, really, that at the time the Church was undergoing renovation, the First Lady Imelda Marcos would go to the Church, making sure at every time she claps her hand in any corner of the church, she hears an echo. For whatever purpose that is, I'm not sure but I can only think of two words: authenticity and solemnity.

Bacarra Church

The St. Andrew Church dates back to the 16th century. Construction was supervised by Fray Felipe Fernandez of the Order of Saint Augustine. When the first building was destroyed, it was rebuilt in 1700 and was finished by 1706 headed by Fray Diego de Mendrosqueta, Fray Miguel Abiol and Fray Antonio de Villanueva. The church was damaged by an earthquake the following year and later by yet another one. The present church was rebuilt by Fray Juan Martin that was dated around the middle of the 19th century. Indigenous materials were used for the construction. Coral bricks made of sticky clay and molasses mixed with leaves and tree trunks of a tree soaked in water or “sablot” were used instead of cement, granite or adobe stones. The mixture resulted in a sticky fluid which was then combined with lime from ashes of burnt shells. The bricks were pieced together with stucco, the mixture beaten to paste. All the labor was manual. 

Its bell tower, more popularly known as “Torre Ti Bacarra” or “torre”, was the town's most prized heritage. It was constructed by Fr. Bergier, OSA in 1828. It stood 50 meters high with three storeys. It has a 16 x 16 meter base that gradually narrows at the top. Topping it is a heavy bronze bell.

On 19 March 1931, the feast of Saint Joseph, the bell tower suffered its first major destruction. An earthquake caused the tower to have a leaning posture from the earthquake for more than half a century. The locals called it the “Bowing Belltower of Bacarra” while the tourists referred to it as the “Leaning Tower of the North.” In 1971, another earthquake further deformed the tower, yet the ruins attracted even more tourists. After the earthquake, the tower was preserved by placing support on the walls of the remaining structure. In 1981 and on 17 August 1983, another earthquake occurred and the tower finally gave way and was left with its present flattened top. 

In 1973, the tower became a national cultural treasure according to Presidential Decree 260.

Source: Wikipedia

More on my Ilocos Journeys later;-)