San Pablo Church Ruins

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San Pablo Church
San Pablo Church Facade January 2025.jpg
The church in 2026
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San Pablo Church
Location in Luzon
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Red pog.svg
San Pablo Church
Location in the Philippines
17°26′54″N121°47′37″E / 17.44833°N 121.79361°E / 17.44833; 121.79361
Location San Pablo, Isabela
Country Philippines
Denomination Roman Catholic
History
StatusRuins
Architecture
Functional statusInactive
Heritage designationNational Cultural Treasure
Architectural type Church building
Style Baroque
Completed1624;402 years ago (1624)

San Pablo Church is a ruined Roman Catholic church located in San Pablo, Isabela, Philippines. The church was built in 1624, making it the oldest in Isabela. [1]

Contents

History

The church was damaged during World War II. [2] In 1949, it was destroyed by the 7-magnitude earthquake that hit the Cagayan Valley, and its roof was burned down in the 1950s. [3] Unable to renovate, a smaller church, one-third the size of San Pablo Church, was built inside the walls. [4]

Present situation

Fronting the church is a patio overgrown with grass. [5] Still standing is the church's facade, with visible bas-relief and religious icons on each side. [3] The church's arched main entrance, vigil room, support for the choir loft, and buttresses, which continue to support the structure, are still visible. [5]

Restoration

The National Museum of the Philippines declared the church as a national cultural treasure, which by law makes it a priority for future restoration and government funding. No restoration program has yet to be initiated by the government's main cultural agencies. Parish and local government officials have also not yet requested restoration programs towards the national government's cultural agencies. [6]

Architecture

The Baroque-styled church was constructed using bricks mixed with riverstones, adobe and coral stones. [1] [7] Its belfry of six layers, including the circular apex made of adobe, was the tallest in the Cagayan Valley. [8]

References

  1. 1 2 "San Pablo Church: Weathering the test of time at 300". The Northern Forum. November 5, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  2. ↑ Begas, Billy (July 2, 2021). "For DOT's priority: House panels OK declaration of San Pablo Church as tourist site". Politiko. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  3. 1 2 "7 Churches to Visit in Cagayan Valley During Holy Week". 7641 Islands of the Philippines. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  4. ↑ Layug, Benjamin (February 13, 2020). "Discover Bella Isabela". BusinessMirror . Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  5. 1 2 Tejero, Constantino (March 18, 2015). "Tumauini Church of Isabela stands proud amid fragile heritage scene". Philippine Daily Inquirer . p. C1. Retrieved February 14, 2024– via PressReader.com.
  6. ↑ Sembrano, Edgar Allan M. (May 29, 2022). "Philippine patrimony: National cultural treasures list revealed". Lifestyle.INQ. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  7. ↑ Tejero, Constantino (October 19, 2014). "Isabela uncovered". Philippine Daily Inquirer . p. E1. Retrieved February 14, 2024– via PressReader.com.
  8. ↑ Isabela Tourism Office (March 23, 2001). "Historical Development of the Province of Isabela" (PDF). Retrieved February 14, 2024– via provinceofisabela.ph.
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