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Visita IglesiaP R e - w a RI n t R a m u R o sTexT by

estan CabIgasSimbahan.neTeSTancabigaS.com

©ESTAN CABIGAS ESTANCABIGAS.COM SIMBAHAN.NET +639189456962 [email protected]

Visita Iglesia

cover: archival phoTo of manila caTheDral

I ntramuros in Manila have been the seat of Spanish

colonial Philippines, a city within a city, and where

the mother churches of the different orders: the

Augustinians, Recollects, Franciscans, Jesuits, the

Dominicans and later, the Capuchins were found. The

seat of the Archbishop of Manila was also here.

During World War II, the Japanese bombed and burned

some of these structures but it was the Americans who

destroyed the rest. Only San Agustin survived.

This segment of the visita iglesia series features the

eight churches that, except for two, used to be found

in Intramuros: Manila Cathedral, San Agustin, Sto.

Domingo, Lourdes, the Recoletos, the Franciscans and

the two churches of San Ignacio.

P R e - w a RI n t R a m u R o sTexT by

estan CabIgasSimbahan.neTeSTancabigaS.com


Manila Cathedral

Where else can you find a city in the world where its cathedral was built on the same site seven times?

From its beginnings in the 16th century made of light materials to lofty structures over the centuries destroyed by typhoons, a fire, earthquakes and the last world war, the Manila Cathedral, seat of the Archbishop of

Manila (Secular) is like a phoenix that has many times risen from its ashes. The current structure was rebuilt in 1958.


San Agustin Church

Testament to its solidity and strength of structure, it was only San Agustin that was left standing in the aftermath of World War II.

Considered the Mother of all Churches, construction started in 1587 and was finished in 1607. It is the mother church of the

Augustinians and the oldest stone church in the country.

Together with three other baroque style churches, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.


Recollect Church

The pre-war Church and Convent of San Nicolas Tolentino, built in 1881, was the third church to be built by the Recollects on the same site. The second was destroyed in the earthquake of 1863. It has a five tiered belltower and elaborately carved facade.

The Recollects relocated to San Sebastian in Quiapo and the current lot was bought in 1976 by the Manila Bulletin where it built its offices and printing plant.


Franciscan Church

The Franciscans occupied this site as early as 1577 and dedicated the Franciscan Church to the Nuestra Senora de los Angeles. Perpendicular to it, the Chapel of the Venerable

Orden Tercera (VOT or the Venerable Third Order).

The Franciscans relocated in Quezon City while the VOT relocated in Sampaloc. The current lot is now occupied by Mapua Institute of Technology. The statue of St. Anthony of Padua was transferred to Forbes Park church.


Sto. Domingo Church

The Sto. Domingo Church was the fifth to be built on the same site after the fourth was destroyed by the 1863 earthquake, including the Manila Cathedral. Its in the Neo-Gothic/Gothic Revival style and is said to be a literal imitation of the facade of the York Cathedral in England (13th and 14th centuries). It also has one of the beautiful carved main church portal in the country.

The famous image of the Nuestra Senora del Rosario or what is popularly known as the La Naval de Manila is venerated in this church, so named because of the miraculous aide that the Blessed Virgin Mary extended to the Spanish fleet who was victorious over the Dutch in the 17th century.

After the war, the Dominicans relocated in Quezon City along Quezon Avenue where the current Sto. Domingo church now stands. The current lot is now occupied by a bank (BPI).


San Ignacio Church

The Jesuits before their expulsion in 1768 had their first San Ignacio Church of what is now the location of the Pamantasan Lungsod ng Maynila (photo of ruins, below).

In 1859, they returned to the country but it was only in 1878 that the last San Ignacio Church was started. It was finished in 1889. Done in the Neo-Classical style, it had two flanking towers and an impressive interior done by Filipino artisans. The woodwork done by Isabelo Tampinco is considered to be the height of woodcarving ever achieved in the country. Unfortunately, it was burned by the Japanese during World War II.

The Jesuits relocated in Quezon City and what remained in its present site are the ruins of the church.


Lourdes Church

The Franciscan Capuchins were the last major religious Order to arrive in Intramuros in 1886 and they constructed the Church and Convent of Our Lady of Lourdes in 1891. The church was popular for weddings and first communions but during the war, it sustained heavy damage. Instead of rebuilding it, the Capuchin Fathers relocated in Quezon City.

The site is now occupied by the El Amanecer Building, a shop for arts and crafts.


Visita Iglesia Pre-War Intramuros Map

San Agustin Church

Manila Cathedral

Recollect Church San Ignacio Church

Sto. Domingo Church

Franciscan Church San Ignacio Church Lourdes Church


Simbahan.netp h i l i p p i n e r e l i g i o u S c o l o n i a l h e r i Ta g e a r c h i T e c T u r e

Simbahan.net is devoted to Philippine Catholic

religious colonial architecture and related

structures like heritage churches, cemeteries,

fortif ications and parochial houses or what is

colloquially known as kumbento. As much as possible,

I highlight these as detailed as I can. The posts that

you can read in the blog are based on actual field work,

documentation and research.

Background and history, however, all depend on the

references that I can find. All photographs, unless

stated otherwise are personally taken in situ.

Check simbahan.net for additional downloadable PDF

files.

Simbahan.net covers the following:

Spanish colonial era churchesConventos

FortificationsCemeteries


Estan Cabigasp h o To g r a p h e r a n D b l o g g e r+ 6 3 9 1 8 9 4 5 6 9 6 2

Estan Cabigas is a multiawarded blogger and

freelance photographer based in Makati City, the

Philippines. A true blue Cebuano, he makes stunning

images and meaningful photo stories. He has writtten

for CNN Go and an image published in the May 2010

issue of the National Geographic Magazine and Geo

(Germany) January 2011.

His photography work has been exhibited locally and in

several international photography festivals and events.

He is available for photo projects, assignments and

talks on Photography as well as contributes articles and

images to magazines both online and on print.

Estan Cabigas’s websites:

EstanCabigas.comSimbahan.netLangyaw.com

Salagubang.netFitandRun.Info

Aninag.org

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