San Agustin Church (Manila)

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Heritage threats

UNESCO World Heritage Site plaque SanAgustinjf5065 04.JPG
UNESCO World Heritage Site plaque

Although about 550 meters (1,800 ft) away from San Agustin Church, [20] the Binondo–Intramuros Bridge (which opened in 2022) [21] is believed to have encroached on the buffer zone prescribed for church, which includes the walls of Intramuros and the immediate areas outside. [20] [22] However, the national government argues that the bridge will have no direct physical or visual impact to the San Agustin Church, owing to its remote distance and the number of taller structures between the bridge and the church. [23]

So far, the World Heritage Convention (WHC) has identified several potential indirect and long-term impacts to the church. WHC noted that the church could be impacted by more ground vibration due to vehicular traffic, and air and noise pollution. Moreover, the bridge would have a direct visual impact on the overall setting and sense of place of the property, including Intramuros' fortified wall, as well as the Maestranza strip and Plaza México, the visual corridor of the Pasig River, and the underlying remains of Baluarte de Santo Domingo. To mitigate the situation, it was recommended to the national government to reconsider the bridge's and location, convert the surrounding roads of the church into pedestrian areas, conduct structural assessment of the church, and adapt the design of the bridge to the character of Intramuros. [23] [20]

San Agustin Church was collectively declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, together with Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte, Santa Maria Church in Ilocos Sur, and Miag-ao Church in Iloilo. [24] In April 2019, before the bridge construction, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts allayed fears that the three other churches will also be removed from the World Heritage Site list if San Agustin Church is delisted. [25]

See also

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References

Notes

  1. Originally comprising two bell towers, a second bell tower was destroyed in 1880.

Citations

  1. "The History of the San Agustin Church". Artes De Las Filipinas. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  2. "Vicariate of Nuestra Senora de Guia". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  3. Galende, Pedro G.; Javellana, René B. (1993). Great Churches of the Philippines. Bookmark. pp. 34–35. ISBN   9789715690638.
  4. "Baroque Churches of the Philippines". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved on January 20, 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 Layug, p. 84
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Layug, p. 83
  7. 1 2 3 Heritage Conservation Society (July 29, 2006). "San Agustin Church (Intramuros, Manila)" . Retrieved March 24, 2008.
  8. 1 2 Torres, p. 62
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Aluit, p. 40
  10. Aluit, p. 41
  11. 1 2 3 Torres, p. 63
  12. Fernandez, p. 216
  13. Hannaford, p. 21
  14. Laya and Gatbonton, p. 102.
  15. Olbés, p.11.
  16. "Church Sustains Losses in Manila Atrocities". The Canadian Register. The Canadian Register. April 28, 1945. p. 1. Retrieved September 20, 2024 via Google News Archive.
  17. Panganiban, Kendrick Ivan B. (May 6, 2023). "Intramuros' San Agustin Church launches Our Lady of Consolation pilgrim image". CBCPNews. Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. Archived from the original on May 6, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  18. de la Torre, Visitacion (1981). Landmarks of Manila: 1571–1930. Makati: Filipinas Foundation, Inc. pp. 63–64.
  19. Purnell, Kristofer (December 18, 2022). "San Agustin Church is the most beautiful building in the Philippines — study". The Philippine Star . Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  20. 1 2 3 "Unesco lauds PH on Baroque churches but . . ". Lifestyle.INQ. September 13, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  21. "Duterte inaugurates China-donated Binondo-Intramuros Bridge" . Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  22. "China-funded bridge risks Unesco World Heritage status of San Agustin church, 3 others". Lifestyle.INQ. November 18, 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  23. 1 2 Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "UNESCO World Heritage Centre - State of Conservation (SOC 2021) Baroque Churches of the Philippines (Philippines)". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  24. Esguerra, Darryl John (November 22, 2018). "Palace assures China-funded bridge won't affect World Heritage status of San Agustin Church". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  25. Corrales, Nestor (April 25, 2019). "NCCA won't allow delisting of 4 PH churches from World Heritage Sites". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved February 22, 2023.

Cited sources

  • Layug, Benjamin Locsin (2007). A Tourist Guide to Notable Philippine Churches. Pasig, Philippines: New Day Publishers. pp. 39–41. ISBN   978-971-8521-10-6.
  • Aluit, Alfonso (1994). By Sword and Fire: The Destruction of Manila in World War II 3 February – 3 March 1945. Philippines: National Commission for Culture and the Arts. pp. 83–85. ISBN   971-8521-10-0.
  • Torres, Jose Victor Z. (2005). Ciudad Murada: A Walk Through Historic Intramuros. Manila: Intramuros Administration & Vibal Publishing House, Inc. pp. 62–63. ISBN   971-07-2276-X.
  • Olbés, Rene (2000). The Philippines:A Century Hence. Makati, Philippines: Rene Olbés and Associates. pp. 10–11. ISBN   971-92288-0-6.
  • Hannaford, Adjutant E. (1899). History and of our Philippine Wonderland. Springfield, Ohio: The Crowell & Kirkpatrick Co. p. 21.
  • Fernandez, Leandro H. (1919). A Brief History of the Philippines. Boston: Ginn and Company. p. 216.
  • Laya, Jaime; Gatbonton, Esperanza (1983). Intramuros of Memory. Manila: Ministry of Human Settlements, Intramuros Administration. p. 102.
San Agustin Church
Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation and Cincture
Immaculate Conception Parish
  • Simbahan ng San Agustin, Pang-Arkidiyosesis na Dambana ng Mahal na Birhen ng La Consolación y Correa (Filipino)
  • Iglesia de San Agustín, Santuario Arquidiocesano de Nuestra Señora de la Consolación y Correa (Spanish)
San Agustin Church 2024-05-19.jpg
Church façade in May 2024
San Agustin Church (Manila)
14°35′20″N120°58′31″E / 14.58889°N 120.97528°E / 14.58889; 120.97528
Location Intramuros, Manila
CountryPhilippines
Denomination Catholic Church
Sui iuris church Latin Church
Religious order Order of St. Augustine
History
Former name(s)Iglesia de San Pablo de Manila (Spanish)
Founded1571;453 years ago (1571)
Founder(s) Augustinians
Dedication Paul the Apostle
Consecrated 1607;417 years ago (1607)
Cult(s) present Our Lady of Consolation and Cincture
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designation World Heritage Site
Designated1993
Architect(s) Juan Macías
Architectural type Church and convent
Style Baroque
Years built
  • c. 1571 (dst. 1574)
  • c. 1575 [1] (dst. 1583)
  • 1586–1607
Groundbreaking 1586;438 years ago (1586)
CompletedJanuary 19, 1607;417 years ago (1607-01-19)
Specifications
Length67.15 m (220.3 ft)
Width24.93 m (81.8 ft)
Other dimensionsFaçade facing northwest
Number of towers 1 [a]
Materials Adobe stones
Administration
Archdiocese Manila
Deanery Nuestra Señora de Guia [2]
Parish Immaculate Conception
Clergy
Prior Rev. Fr. James Gubat Uy, O.S.A. (convent)
Rector Fray Edwin Escobanas Hari, O.S.A.
Priest(s) Fray Reynante Bansale Balilo, O.S.A.
Official nameImmaculate Conception Parish - San Agustin Church
Part of Baroque Churches of the Philippines
Criteria Cultural: (ii)(iv)
Reference 677bis-001
Inscription2037 (59th Session)
Extensions2013
Area2.43 ha (262,000 sq ft)
Buffer zone106.13 ha (11,424,000 sq ft)