The Philippines is one of only two Catholic countries in Southeast Asia.
Catholicism in the Philippines is hardly skin deep—thanks to the nearly
400-year presence of Spanish missionaries in the country, religion is
deeply embedded in the local culture.
Filipino religious belief most colourfully comes to life during fiesta season, where every church celebrates its local patron saint—during the rest of the year, you'll find Filipinos celebrating their religions in one of the thousands of churches around the country.
The oldest surviving churches—like the five listed here—are where you'll find Filipino religious culture at its most ancient, most picturesque, and most deeply-felt.
Filipino religious belief most colourfully comes to life during fiesta season, where every church celebrates its local patron saint—during the rest of the year, you'll find Filipinos celebrating their religions in one of the thousands of churches around the country.
The oldest surviving churches—like the five listed here—are where you'll find Filipino religious culture at its most ancient, most picturesque, and most deeply-felt.
San Agustin Church
A hardy survivor of Philippine history, the 400-year-old San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila is one of the oldest houses of worship in the Philippines. The stone structure dates back to 1607, a baroque pile constructed on top of a former wood church that was incinerated by an errant candle lit for a Governor-General's funeral.
A British invasion, several massive earthquakes, and World War II bombs failed to topple the building. Today, thousands of visitors walk past the Chinese-style dogs guarding the entrance to view the expansive interiors and trompe l'oeil ceilings (art that imitates life, i.e. painted ceilings that look like carvings and reliefs).
The Philippine government named San Agustin Church a National Historical Landmark in 1976, and in 1993, the United Nations awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status to the church, as one of the Philippines' four major Baroque Churches. (Photo by Harvey Tapan)
A hardy survivor of Philippine history, the 400-year-old San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila is one of the oldest houses of worship in the Philippines. The stone structure dates back to 1607, a baroque pile constructed on top of a former wood church that was incinerated by an errant candle lit for a Governor-General's funeral.
A British invasion, several massive earthquakes, and World War II bombs failed to topple the building. Today, thousands of visitors walk past the Chinese-style dogs guarding the entrance to view the expansive interiors and trompe l'oeil ceilings (art that imitates life, i.e. painted ceilings that look like carvings and reliefs).
The Philippine government named San Agustin Church a National Historical Landmark in 1976, and in 1993, the United Nations awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status to the church, as one of the Philippines' four major Baroque Churches. (Photo by Harvey Tapan)
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