8 Fascinating Architectural Church Designs in Metro Manila

The Philippines is blessed with churches that have been at the forefront of Philippine history. One does not need to look far because there are churches here in Metro Manila which stand out for their rich history and beautiful architecture. They not only serve the purpose of furthering Christianity but they reflect the adaptation of Spanish and Latin-American architecture as well. Today, they still continue to play a key role in the spiritual development of the country’s 75 million Catholics.

Since Metro Manila is relaxed and at ease without its hellish traffic during holy week, many Filipinos take the opportunity to observe the traditional activity of Visita Iglesia. This involves going around to visit multiple churches as a form of pilgrimage while reciting the Stations of the Cross at each church. So whether you’re a devotee of history and architecture or simply a devout Catholic, here are eight churches within Metro Manila worth visiting.

1. San Sebastian Church

The Basílica Menor de San Sebastián, more popularly known as San Sebastian Church, is one for the books with regards to engineering and architecture. A combination of modern technology and Gothic Revival architecture, it is the only all-steel church in Asia and the only pre-fabricated steel church in the world due to the church’s steel structure was fabricated in Belgium and sent to the Philippines. The church was assembled and completed by 1891.The church also sports stained glass windows built in Germany and metalwork by local craftsmen. An image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, dating back to 1617, is placed above the main altar of the San Sebastian Church.

It has long been rumored that Gustave Eiffel, the French engineer behind the Eiffel Tower and the steel structure within the Statue of Liberty, participated in the design and construction of the San Sebastián Church. In 1973, the San Sebastian Church was declared National Historical Landmark by President Ferdinand Marcos and on August 15, 2011, was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines.

San Sebastian Church is located at Plaza Carmen, Quiapo, Manila.

2. San Agustin Church Manila

San Agustin Church is Roman Catholic Church under the auspices of The Order of St. Augustine and is the last Spanish-built church standing in Intramuros today. Built by the Augustinian order in 1586, it still stands today as a masterpiece of Spanish baroque architecture and a testament to the structural brilliance of its builders. It’s the only structure to survive not only the great earthquake of 1863 but the bombing of Manila in 1945 as well.

It boasts of trompe l’oeil paintings on its walls and ceiling. Trompe l’oeil is an art technique which deceives the eye into thinking that objects depicted are in three dimensions. The optical illusion is so good, that you would need to take a second glance in order to find out that the walls of the church are actually flat and not carved.

The San Agustin Church houses the remains of many prominent people in Philippine history, namely Juan Luna, one of the Philippines’ most prominent painters and Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, conquistador of the Philippines. It is also one of four Philippine churches constructed during the Spanish colonial period to be designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993, under the collective title Baroque Churches of the Philippines. It was named a National Historical Landmark by the Philippine government in 1976.

San Agustin Church is located at General Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila.

3. Parish of the Holy Sacrifice

The Parish of the Holy Sacrifice, also the Church of the Holy Sacrifice, is a landmark Catholic chapel in the University of the Philippines Diliman. It belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cubao and is more popularly known as the UP Chapel. It’s the first circular and thin-shell domed chapel in the Philippines. The construction was spearheaded by UP Chaplain Fr. John Delanney (SJ) in 1955 following the design of National Artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin. The chapel is a treasure pile of art work contributed by the following famous Filipino artists: the murals of the Stations of the Cross by Vicente S. Manansal with Ang Kiukok, the crucifix and the altar by Napoleon V. Abueva, and the floor mural on the River of Life by Arturo R. Luz and the most recent addition is the monument to the GOMBURZA martyrs.

On January 12, 2005, the church was recognized as a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Institute and a Cultural Treasure by the the National Museum.

The Parish of the Holy Sacrifice is located at J P Laurel cor, Apacible Street, Diliman, Quezon City.

4. Manila Cathedral

Also called the Manila Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica, the Manila Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Manila. It features Neo-Romanesque architecture and is considered to be the foremost church in the Philippines. Being the mother church of the entire Philippines, the cathedral has been witness to many historical events, including three papal Masses, including the recent one held by Pope Francis, and the funerals of Philippine presidents and also serves as a resting place for the remains of former archbishops in Manila.

The cathedral, in its eighth iteration, has recently gone through a renovation, strengthening it against earthquakes and structural decline. It has reopened last April 9, 2014 and now features modern amenities, such as flat screen televisions for the Mass, improved lighting and sound systems which are digitally operated.

The Manila Cathedral is located in front of Plaza Roma, at Cabildo corner Beaterio streets, Intramuros, Manila.

5. Malate Church

The Malate Church, formally known as Our Lady of Remedies Parish Church, is a Baroque-style church originally built by the Augustinian (OSA) friars in 1588 and is considered one of the oldest churches in Manila. It has been damaged by war, typhoons and earthquakes, and rebuilt several times over the past four centuries. The church is dedicated to the Nuestra Señora de Remedios, or Our Lady of Remedies. The statue brought from Andalucia, Spain in 1624 still stands at its altar. The Nuestra Señora de Remedios, whose feast day is celebrated on October 8, is the patroness of childbirth. It goes without saying, the church is perfect for those eager to get started with their families.

The Malate Church is only one of two, the other being the Franciscan church in Daraga, that has a twisted column and has in effect a retablo type facade. The central rectangular body of the three-storey facade is flanked by two projecting cylindrical buttresses and the design of the church facade is unusual with the use of trefoil blind arches which clearly indicate an influence of the Moorish art.

The Malate Church is located at 2000 M.H. Del Pilar St., Malate, Manila.

6.  Binondo Church

Binondo Church was founded by Dominican priests in 1596 to serve their Chinese converts to Christianity. It is also known as Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, following the name of their sacristan, who was the first Filipino to be canonized. The architectural style is Spanish or European Baroque and moreover it is notable for its octagonal five-tier Chinese-style bell tower which reflects the culture and art of the surround Chinatown. The original design of this church came from the talented Spanish architect, Domingo de la Cruz González. The current granite church was completed on the same site in 1852.It is said that the altar of the church is loosely based from the St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

The Binondo Church is located at Paredes St,. Plaza Calderon de la Barca, Binondo, Manila.

7. Santa Cruz Parish Church

Santa Cruz Church is a Baroque church that was built when the suburb of Santa Cruz was established by the Jesuits in the early 1600s. Today, the church architecture employs a California Spanish Mission façade silhouette with the usual Filipino (Asian-Hispanic) baroque ornamentation. The church facade is topped with an effigy statue of Our Lady of the Pillar, the patroness of the church whose feast happens during the second week of October.

The main feature of the Plaza is its beautiful fountain. It is called the Carriedo Fountain so named after Don Francisco Carriedo y Peredo, Manila’s greatest benefactor. It was through his will that a piped water system was installed in Manila.

The Santa Cruz Parish Church is located in 1664 Santa Cruz, Manila.

8. Quiapo Church

Quiapo Church, officially known as Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, is a Roman Catholic church considered to be one of the most popular churches in the country. It is home to the Black Nazarene, a much venerated statue of Jesus Christ which many people believe has miraculous attributes. The church was painted cream after the original Mexican Baroque edifice was burned down in 1928. It is expanded to its current form in 1984 for accommodation of thousands of devotees. Also known as St. John the Baptist Parish, the church at present belongs to the Archdiocese of Manila. The current rector is Rev. Msgr. Jose Clemente Ignacio.

A Baroque church, the facade is distinctive with twisted columns on both levels. The Corinthian columns of the second level has 1/3 of the shaft near the base in twisted form while the upper portion has a smooth surface. The topmost portion of the four-storey bell towers are supported. and decorated with huge scrolls. The tympanum of the pediment has a pair of chalice-like decoration and towards the end of the raking cornice urn-like vases the pediment terminates. With its recent renovation, only the facade and the dome at the transept retained the classic design.

Quiapo Church is located at 910 Plaza Miranda, Quiapo, Manila.

You need not wait for Holy Week to visit these enthralling churches and the hundreds all over the country that are part of our architectural heritage. Rather than head for the beach (which can be done on any other long weekend) why not take the opportunity of putting attention to our spiritual nourishment. Furthermore, it will give you the courage and strength to face your own sufferings and feel renewed.

Did we miss any architectural church in Metro Manila? Share your experience about the ones you’ve visited in our comments section below.