San Agustin Church
Intramuros, Manila
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A church in Manila under the auspices of the Order
of Saint Augustine, the current San Agustin Church is
actually the third to be established on the site. The
first was built with bamboo and nipa in 1571, but
destroyed by fire in 1574. The second was wooden,
but similarly burned down in 1583. The third is the
one still standing today, and in 1993 it became one
of four local Spanish-era churches to be chosen by
UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, collectively known
as the Baroque Churches of the Philippines.
Manila Cathedral
Intramuros, Manila
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Formally known as the Kalakhang Katedral Basílika
ng Maynilà, the Manila Cathedral is a Roman
Catholic basilica dedicated to the Blessed Virgin
Mary as Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. It
also serves as the See of the Archbishop of Manila.
Originally established in 1571, the eighth and current
rendition of the cathedral was completed in 1958. It
was renovated and repaired for earthquake
retrofitting and subsidence prevention in 2012, and
re-opened to the public after a complete renovation
in 2014.
Calasiao Church
Calasiao, Pangasinan
Photo by Elbert Malzano via Flickr
Also known locally as Saints Peter and Paul Parish
Church, Calasiao Church is a baroque church that
was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the
National Museum of the Philippines and the National
Commission for Culture and the Arts. This Spanish-
colonial-era church’s main composition are massive
bricks or ladrillo with a fortress-like façade designed
to withstand revolts and rebellions. Beside it
stands Museo Calasiao, a mini-museum housing
vintage photos and historical pieces of the church.
Binondo Church
Binondo, Manila
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There are many churches in Manila and this one was
founded by Dominican priests in 1596. The Binondo
Church is also known as the Minor Basilica of Saint
Lorenzo Ruiz (the first Filipino saint) and Our Lady of
the Most Holy Rosary Parish, and has been rebuilt
numerous times over the centuries due to constant
damage by war and natural disasters. Sporting
historic Spanish and European baroque design
elements, the church has retained its original
character. However, only the western façade and
the octagon belfry, which suggests the Chinese
culture of the parishioners, are what remain from
the original structure.
Quiapo Church
Quiapo, Manila
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Quiapo Church is very popular because it is the
location of the reputedly miraculous Nuestro Señor
Jesús Nazareno, better known as the Black
Nazarene. Located in downtown Manila in Plaza
Miranda, the baroque church was expanded in 1984
to accommodate more devotees. Only its façade
with twisted columns and the dome at the transept
were retained from its classic design. The church was
officially declared a Minor Basilica in 1988.
Santa Cruz Church
Santa Cruz, Manila
Photo by Elmer Domingo via Wikimedia Commons
Consecrated in 1619, the Santa Cruz Church was
initially built to serve as a parish for the increasing
number of Chinese migrants moving to Manila and
converting to Catholicism. Through time, the church
sustained damage from natural occurrences, and
was eventually destroyed completely by the end of
World War II. Reconstruction was completed in
1957, and it continues to stand now in its baroque
style design that is reminiscent of the Mission
Churches of Western Mexico and Southern
California.
Malate Church
Malate, Manila
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Another of the baroque churches in the Philippines
fronted by Plaza Rajah Sulayman and the Manila Bay,
Malate Church is dedicated to Nuestra Señora de los
Remedios, or “Our Lady of Remedies,” the patroness
of childbirth. One of only two churches with a
twisted column and a retablo-type façade, Malate
Church’s look is said to be a blend of Muslim design
and Mexican baroque. Inside is an image of Our Lady
of Remedies enshrined on the main altar, bought by
Augustinian Fathers from Spain in the 1600s.
Guadalupe Church
Guadalupe Viejo, Makati

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Formally known as Nuestra Señora de Gracia church,
Guadalupe Church is a parish presently administered
by the Augustinian friars of the Province of Santo
Niño de Cebu. Stemming from the first sanctuary
and monastery in Guadalupe built by Fray Simon
Dantes in 1601, the popular Metro Manila wedding
venue features different architectural styles with a
façade that is neo-Romanesque-gothic, and sets of
Doric columns supporting the church’s cornice and
the triangular pediment.
Paoay Church
Ilocos Norte
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A UNESCO World Heritage Site (under the inscription
Baroque Churches of the Philippines), the Saint
Augustine Church in the municipality of Paoay, Ilocos
Norte, is widely recognized for its distinct
architecture characterized by 24 massive buttresses
on the sides and back of the structure. Also declared
as a National Cultural Treasure by the Philippine
government in 1973, it also has three-story coral bell
tower that resembles a pagoda, which was built
separately from the church for earthquake safety.
Miag-ao Church
Miag-ao, Iloilo
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Also known as the Santo Tomas de Villanueva Parish
Church, Miag-ao Church was also called the Miag-ao
Fortress Church as its two uneven bell towers served
as a tactical location for the town’s defense against
Muslim raids. It is one of the Baroque Churches of
the Philippines declared by UNESCO as a World
Heritage Site, and contains the limestone image of
the Birhen ng Barangay, traditional Filipino clothing
recovered from the 1982 excavations, and the
original late 1790s images of Saint Thomas of
Villanova.
Santa Maria Church
Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur
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Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, this structure
that is also known as the Church of Our Lady of the
Assumption was built on top of a hill to serve as
lookout, citadel, and religious center during the early
administration of the region by friars and soldier of
the Spanish colonial era. The church and convent are
surrounded by a defensive wall on all sides like a
fortress, and is reached by way of an 85-step
stairway made of granite rock.
Bantay Church
Bantay, Ilocos Sur
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Known as Saint Augustine Parish Church as well as
Saint Augustine Parish Church, Bantay Church’s more
common name comes from its old historic belfry, the
Bantay tower, which is also the source of the town’s
name. While there are many old churches in the
Philippines, this one was established in 1590. It is
one of the oldest churches in the region. Like most,
however, it was damaged extensively during World
War II, and rebuilt in the 1950s. Its façade is neo-
gothic with pseudo-Romanesque elements, and
meant to be grandiose and reminiscent of Spanish
architecture.
Taal Basilica
Taal, Batangas
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Measuring 88.6 meters long and 48 meters wide, the
Taal Basilica is said to be the largest church in the
Philippines and in Asia. Canonically known as the
Minor Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours, the first
rendition of the church began being built in 1575, 3
years after the founding of the town of Taal. The
present church began its construction in 1856, and
has undergone restorations in 1953, 1972, and 2011.
Its belfry was rebuilt in 1990.
Tayabas Basilica
Tayabas, Quezon Province
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Canonically known as the Minor Basilica of Saint
Michael the Archangel, the Tayabas Basilica is the
largest Roman Catholic Church in the province of
Quezon. It is famous for its key-shaped architecture,
which has garnered it the name Susi ng
Tayabas among locals. The church is also widely
recognized for the clock located inside its belfry,
which is regarded as one of the oldest, if not the
actual oldest, clocks of its kind in Asia.
Bacarra Church
Bacarra, Ilocos Norte
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Widely recognized for its centuries-old, dome-less,
leaning bell tower, Bacarra Church is arguably one of
the most visited in the Philippines. Apart from the
“beheaded” belfry known as Torres di Bacarra, there
is also Museo di Bacarra, a church museum housed
in the former convent. The two-story convent dates
back to the Spanish colonial era, and presently
houses religious and cultural artifacts, as well as
archival photos and documents.
Our Lady of Piat Church
Piat, Cagayan
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Dubbed as the Pilgrimage Center of the North, the
Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Piat is one of twelve
Minor Basilicas in the Philippines, and is home to a
407-year-old black image of the Virgin Mary, which
the church is named after and is dedicated to. The
church is made of red bricks, which is common in
Cagayan Valley, but different from the limestone and
coral sported by other churches in the Philippines.
Enshrined at its altar is the Blessed Virgin Mary with
verandas that makes the shrine more elegant.
Betis Church
Guagua, Pampanga
Photo by Rhonaramos via Wikimedia Commons
Declared a National Cultural Treasure by the
National Museum and the National Commission for
Culture and Arts, the baroque-inspired Betis Church
has a bevy of artistic features. The main attraction of
what is canonically known as the Saint James the
Apostle Parish Church is its ceiling mural done by
painter Simón Flores (1839–1904). His painting of
the Holy Family is also another feature of the church,
as well as an artesian well in the church patio that
was dug in the 1800s.
Barasoain Church
Malolos, Bulacan
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Also known as Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish,
Barasoain Church has also earned the titles of the
Cradle of Democracy in the East, the most important
religious building in the Philippines, and the site of
the First Philippine Republic, thanks to its being the
setting of key events in Philippine history. The three
major occurrences were the convening of the First
Philippine Congress, the drafting of the Malolos
Constitution in 1898, and the inauguration of the
First Philippine Republic in 1899.
Baclayon Church
Baclayon, Bohol
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La Purisima Concepcion de la Virgen Maria Parish
Church, or Baclayon Church, is considered as one of
the oldest churches in the Philippines. Built out of
coral stones common on the island of Bohol, the
church sports a cruciform layout with its juncture
surmounted by a pyramidal wall. It was up for
addition to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the
Philippines, but unfortunately sustained extensive
damage during the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that
struck Bohol and other parts of Central Visayas in
2013. It is still undergoing restoration.
San Jose de Ivana Church
Ivana, Batanes
Photo by MON MD via Wikimedia Commons
Dedicated to Saint Joseph under the jurisdiction of
the Prelature of Batanes, San Jose de Ivana Church
was first established as a chapel by Dominicans in
1787. The present stone church was built in 1795
with the bell tower following in 1817. One of the
better preserved churches in the country, it has only
undergone renovation in 1869 and in 2001 after an
earthquake partially destroyed it in 2000. The church
features an old convent and a small museum
housing centuries old relics.
Sarrat Church
Sarrat, Ilocos Norte
Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Originally known as the San Miguel Church, this
church in the Philippines is now the Santa Monica
Parish Church or Sarrat Church. It was originally built
in 1779 and is a complex that includes the associated
convent that connects to the church via an elevated
three-level brick stairway. Declared an Important
Cultural Property by the National Museum of the
Philippines in 2009, the church is famous for being
the largest of its kind in Ilocos Norte, particularly
because of the length of its nave.
Daraga Church
Daraga, Albay
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Formally called Nuestra Señora de la Porteria Parish
Church, Daraga Church was built in 1772, after the
then-settlement of Daraga was established a year
earlier by those fleeing the town of Cagsawa for fear
of another eruption of Mayon Volcano. It is a fine
representation of baroque architecture with a
Churrigueresque architectural style in its façade. Its
walls are made of volcanic rock that is common in
the Daraga locale.
Paete Church
Paete, Laguna
Photo by Carlo Joseph M. Moskito via Wikimedia
Commons
Paete Church is identified by several names, all of
which are centered on its patron saint, Saint James
the Apostle. The church has the distinction of being
the only Roman Catholic church in the municipality.
It is widely popular for its extensive collection of
images depicting the Passion of Christ, as well as
century-old paintings and wooden images of saints.
With its storied past of being lost to earthquakes,
the current church features large buttresses on each
side to be more resistant to the calamity.
Liliw Church
Liliw, Laguna
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Also known as Saint John the Baptist Parish Church
and Lilio Church, Liliw Church was initially
established as a reduccion, particularly an annexed
vista of the then-town of Nagcarlan that became
independent in 1605. Adorned with red bricks, the
feel of the church’s interior is what makes it a must-
visit for many. The inside is said to be comfortably
cool with the only source of natural light being the
weak rays that filter through the church’s unique
stained glass windows.
Pakil Church
Pakil, Laguna
Photo by Richard Eusebio via Wikimedia
Commons
Designated as the Diocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora
de los Dolores de Turumba and as Saint Peter of
Alcantara Parish Church, Pakil Church is the home of
the Our Lady of Turumba painting. Constructed in
the Corinthian and ionic architectural orders, the
church takes on the shape of a cruciform, and sports
a façade with classical Corinthian columns and
cornices across a floral stone relief. Typical of Laguna
churches, its side entrance is elaborately designed,
and it also has a belfry housing one huge bell and
four smaller bells.
Church of San Juan del Monte
San Juan, Metro Manila
Photo by Shubert Ciencia via Flickr
Built at the onset of the 1600s, the church more
formally known as Santuario del Santo Cristo and its
convent has undergone numerous destructions and
subsequent renovations throughout San Juan’s
history. The current church was built in 1774, and
was used as a shelter by the Katipuneros during the
1898 Philippine Revolution. It serves as the seat of
the Cofradia del Santísimo Cristo de San Juan del
Monte or the “Confraternity of the Holy Christ of
Saint John of the Mountain.”
Pasig Cathedral
Malinao, Pasig City
Photo by Joymdngo via Wikimedia Commons
Also known as the Immaculate Conception
Cathedral, the Pasig Cathedral is one of the oldest
structures in Pasig City. Its establishment in 1573
coincided with the foundation of the then-town of
Pasig, and was initially consecrated to the Visitation
of Our Lady and changed to Our Lady of the
Immaculate Conception 14 years later. It previously
belonged to the Archdiocese of Manila, but became
the seat of the Diocese of Pasig in 2003. Its status
was elevated to cathedral on the same year.
Paranaque Cathedral
La Huerta, Paranaque
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Officially called the Cathedral Parish of Saint
Andrew, Paranaque Cathedral was founded by
Augustinian friars in 1580, making it one of the
oldest and most historical churches in
the Philippines. It is also the seat of the Roman
Catholic Diocese of Parañaque, which is the church
that comprises the cities of Parañaque, Muntinlupa,
and Las Piñas. The cathedral is the home of
the Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso, which was
canonically crowned as the Patroness of the City of
Parañaque in 2000.
Santo Niño Basilica
Cebu City
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Officially called Basilica Menore del Santo Niño, the
Santo Niño Basilica is recognized as the oldest
church in the Philippines, and is the location of
where a statue depicting the Child Jesus, known as
the Santo Niño de Cebú, was discovered by Spanish
explorers in 1565. The present church is part of a
larger complex that also includes the open-air
theater-like Pilgrim Center, a museum containing
antique relics and religious exhibits, and an
extensive library.
San Sebastian Cathedral
Bacolod City
Photo by Ninya Regalado via Wikimedia Commons
A late 19th-century Church, San Sebastian Cathedral
serves as the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of
Bacolod. The church began the construction to its
current form in 1876 with coral stone source from
the island of Guimaras being the material it was
primarily built upon. About nine years since its initial
construction, the church’s two bell towers were built
to accommodate two different sized bells as well as
a large clock. The bells are now seen in a special
belfry situated in the church’s courtyard.