Paoay Church: A Historical Icon In Ilocos Norte

We went on a month-long vacation to the Philippines mainly to see family, friends, and extended families and also to visit and re-discover places in our country that we have not seen in years. Or never have. Our journey started with a nostalgic trip back to our hometown of Ilocos Sur, about 225 miles north of the capital. Eighteen of us all together-seniors, adults, and minors made this trip to where Grandma was born. For a week, Ilocos would be our home base as we explored nearby towns and their treasured gems.

Ilocos is home to some of the old churches in the country. Saint Augustine or simply Paoay Church is one of the most famous in the region and in the country. It was designated as a National Cultural Treasure by the Philippine government in 1973 and inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site’s collective group of Baroque Churches of the Philippines in 1993.

The Philippines was colonized by Spain and ruled for 300 years which is why it is one of the most Christianized countries in the world. This is clearly seen in many of the colonial churches built during the Spanish era.

Built from 1694 to 1710 Paoay church’s thick walls and large buttresses are an example of the earthquake baroque style of architecture. The pyramid-like structure, green surroundings, the blue skies as background, and its historical significance make the church a one-of-a-kind attraction.

The Walls

The walls are 3 feet thick and made of coral stones (instead of adobe) on the lower part and bricks on the upper section. Sand, lime, and sugar cane juice boiled with mango leaves and rice straw were added to the mortar to strengthen the church against calamities.

A closer look of the Paoay Church walls

The Buttresses

The best attraction of Paoay church is the 24 massive buttresses on each side and on the back. While the anti-earthquake engineers then were not as sophisticated as they are at present times, they thought of the huge buttresses to strengthen the church against natural disasters such as earthquakes. The church was damaged by earthquakes in 1706 and 1927, but it still remains strong and holds services for over three centuries now.

This is one of the 24 buttresses, 1.67 meters thick. It is stair-like perhaps to provide an easy climb to the roof

The Bell Tower

Bell Towers are an element in the built or structure of colonial churches. They are used as a communication tool with the townspeople.

The Paoay church's bell tower is a three-story towering structure, built after the church itself was completed. It stands about two meters away from the church to avoid any possible damage to the church in the event of an earthquake.

This was once used by the Katipuneros (members of Katipunan, a secret patriotic anti-Spanish organization in the Philippines) as a monitoring post during the Spanish revolution and by the Filipino Guerillas during the second World War.

According to historians, it also served as a status symbol. The bell would ring louder and more times during the wedding of a prominent clan and less than it would with the wedding of a poor couple.Source

Jardin de San Agustin

On the right side of the church is a small sanctuary or prayer garden. It is a quiet place away from the prying tourists visiting the church and is surrounded by greeneries.

A visit to Paoay church is truly a nice experience as it allowed us a glimpse into the past. It has withstood the test of time and continues to awe with its majestic beauty.

Many thanks to @storiesoferne for creating this community.
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