Front of the church.
An up-close photo of the entrance of the structure.
Interior after restoration.
Our kids inside the church.
Facts about Paoay Church.
Happy Wednesday, Hivers!
It's time of the week again to share our interesting walk.
This time, I'll take you with me to Paoay Church, or Saint Augustine Church of Paoay, located in Paoay, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. The centuries-old church is a Roman Catholic church built during the Spanish colonial era. The church was founded by Augustinian missionaries way back in 1593. It was completed in 1710. It is also one of the oldest churches in the country.
Paoay Church has an interesting design and history. A few of the known assets of the church are its pyramid design and the more than 20 huge buttresses at the side of the church that stretch and support the wall of the structure. Just like most of the churches built during the Spanish colonial period, the church was made of mostly coral stones and bricks.
During our quick tour of the church, it also came to our knowledge that the mixture or paste used to bind the bricks in order to build the wall of the church was made of sugarcane juice, mango leaves, rice straw, lime, sand, and a few other materials. Awesome right?! Imagine our awe when we heard about it. I can't imagine how those simple materials, when mixed together, can bind bricks to build a sturdy, long-lasting concrete structure. I can't even begin to fathom how much sugarcane juice was utilized to make such a huge church!
The bell tower of the church was constructed at a distance from the main structure of the church to actually protect it during earthquakes. But the force of nature cannot be stopped. Multiple earthquakes caused damage to the church, which forced people in charge to put the church in major restoration to make sure the credibility of the building was still safe to use. And that explains why the interior of the church looks freshly painted compared to the church exterior.
Another interesting fact that was shared with us during the tour about the Church Bell Tower is that it used to be an observation spot for Filipino revolutionaries against the Spaniards in 1898 and another one by Filipino guerrillas against Japanese soldiers during the World War II. Yes, you read it right! This church was part of important events in history.
The Paoay Church was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the Philippine government in 1973 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the collective group of Baroque Churches of the Philippines in 1993.
Though the church is no longer what it originally looks like centuries ago, Im glad they are able to conserve it for the next generation to see.
It was a quick visit but an interesting one!
This is my entry for #Wednesdaywalk initiated by @tattoodjay!
If you want to read more about our trip in Ilocos, the links below are the blogs I made about our tour.
| Title | Location | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Expect the Unexpected When Traveling with Family and Friends. | Paoay Ilocos Norte | ATV Ride and Sand boarding |
| Exploring the Malacañang of the North | Paoay Ilocos Norte | Museum |
| Wandering the Heritage City of Vigan. | Vigan Ilocos Sur | Heritage Site |
| Sunset by the Beach. | Saud Beach Pagudpud Ilocos Norte | White Sand Beach |
| Sightseeing at the Patapat Bridge and Bantay Abot Cave. | Pagudpud Ilocos Norte | Coastal Bridge and Cave |
| Fine White Sand Beach at the Blue Lagoon | Pagudpud Ilocos Norte | White Sand Beach/ Windmill |
| A Glimpse of the Past at Cape Bojeador Lighthouse | Burgos Ilocos Norte | Old Lighthouse |
Thank you for reading!
All photos are my own, unless stated otherwise.
For the best experience view this post on Liketu