St. Joseph Parish Church
Baras, Rizal
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Baras, Rizal. The first structure was built by the Franciscan friars but was transferred by the Jesuits to Ibayo in 1636 but was later returned to its former location by the Franciscans. The present church was completed in 1686. It has a simple and and well preserved interiors.
Baras Church presents a very stark and simple facade that draws its character from the apparent gruffness it exudes. The dark adobe of which the church is made of heightens this impression of sparseness, bordering on intimidating. The decorations of the simple facade is drawn from the balustrade that trims the sharply triangular pediment, but a unique beauty can be drawn from the checkerboard pattern of stone, brick, and mortar that the paintless finish provides, a clear reminder of the era in which the church was made. The color of the upper pediment differs from the rest of the facade, reddening from the newer brick that was used there. The checkerboard pattern is also more regularly defined in the upper pediment and it presents a noticeable contrast between the original structure to the obvious more recent addition. Molded cornices divide the facade into horizontal levels and rectangular pilasters outline the church's vertical edges. The center of the facade shows the main portal with its plain wooden doors, a simple capiz window screen for the choir loft protected by a balustrade, and a saint's niche at the pediment. It is noticeable that the saint's niche was constructed along the line of newer brick. The belltower stands tot he left to the church, a three-tiered edifice with a rectangular base. The higher floors are octagonal, with campanile windows on each sides. A dome crowns the belfry, surrounded by a balustrade. (Source:
http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Baras_Church )
San Ildefonso Parish Church
Tanay, Rizal
Tanay is a first class municipality in the province of Rizal, Philippines. It is located 57 kilometres (35 mi) east of Manila, although a typical commute between Manila and Tanay will take between one to three hours depending upon traffic conditions. It contains portions of the Sierra Madre Mountains and is bordered by Antipolo City in the northwest, Baras, Morong and Teresa in the west, General Nakar (Quezon Province) in the east, and Pililla, Santa Maria (Laguna province) as well as the lake Laguna de Bay in the south.
San Ildefonso Church is a 405 years old church. From 1573 to 1582 two Franciscan missionaries, Fr. Juan de Plasencia and Fr. Diego de Oropesa traveled and established missions in lakeshore towns and villages along the north coast of Laguna de Bay, also known as Lake of Bai, as well as the nearby mountain villages of Sierra Madre. It was at this time that Pilang-Morong as Pililla was then called was made a “visita” or barrio of Morong town. Several communities of the un-baptized, called “rancherias” by the Spaniards, were placed under Pililla, among them Monte Tan-ay whose leader was Don Francisco Casag.
Pililla separated from Morong in 1583 and became an independent town and parish and Monte Tan-ay was made a “visita” under the jurisdiction of Pililla.
In turn, Monte Tan-ay separated from Pililla in 1606 and was made an independent parish, San Ildefonso de Toledo, by popular choice, became its patron saint with Fray Pedro de Talavera as first parish priest until 1608. It was also in 1606 that he founded the mission of San Antonio in Pantay.
The town was subsequently transferred to San Antonio (The second site of Tanay) in 1620 without changing its patron saint. Shortly after, its church made of wood and cogon grass for its roof was burned down by hostile Aetas by means of flaming arrows. According to church records, only a very old image of La Purisima Concepcion (painted by the Spanish painter, Murillo) was saved. It was believed to have been left in haste by the retreating Spanish forces of Captain Juan de Salcedo that were defeated and driven back by the natives of Monte Tan-ay that they came to subdue in 1572.
In 1639 a very serious Chinese uprising erupted in La Laguna and spread to Manila and Bulacan. When government forces subdued the uprising, a very big remnant of Chinese rebels in flight numbering around 13,700 arrived in the mountain of Tanay and established their camps in Monte Tan-ay (now called Inalsan) and Pantay (Tanay’s second site). Fearing that the Chinese might harm the image, the Franciscan parish priest, Fr. Geronimo de Frias, hid the La Purisima Concepcion inside the jungle nearby. When the combined Spanish-Filipino forces discovered where those Chinese were encamped, they made a very well-planned attack, had their first engagement with the Chinese on January 23, 1640, and Monte Tan-ay or Inalsan fell. The Chinese garrisoned at Pantay became so alarmed so that the following day, January 24, 1640 they left in haste after placing the town to the torch. The town people fled, then dispersed and most of them took refuge in Pililla. In the same year, Fr. Geronimo de Frias and Fr. Diego de San Yldefonso urged them to regroup and with their consent decided then and there to transfer the town of Tanay to its present site although some families opted to remain in Inalsan and Pantay to continue their livelihood there. So they came down in 1640 and established the town of Tanay and parish of San Ildefonso de Toledo in the present site.
Tradition has it that three of the fleeing Chinese soldiers unwittingly discovered the image of La Purisima Concepcion that was hidden in the jungle. Two of them threw their spears at the image but these miraculously turned around at the throwers and killed them both. The third soldier who witnessed this event became so terrified that he committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree, on account of which, the place is still called Binitinan or Pinagbigtihan (Place of Hanging) to this day. This story is attested to not only in tradition but is also recorded or accounted in the church annals of the Franciscans in the Philippines.
In memory of that event, a feast in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary was celebrated the following year on January 24, 1641, the day after the feast day of San Ildefonso de Toledo, the patron saint on January 23, and onwards up to the present, year after year, after year.
For 38 years or so, the people of Tanay suffered their church to be made of bamboo and cogon grass for roofing. But in 1678 at their insistence, Fr. Pedro de Espallargas initiated the building of a stone church like the one in Pililla which was built in 1673 and is still in use. This first stone church in Tanay faced east, occupying a large part of what is now Tanay Park. This was completed in 1680 largely through the donations by the people so deeply devoted to the Purisima Concepcion and the first mass was celebrated on April 20, 1680.
The present church was started in 1773 through the initiative of Fr. Alonso de Fentanes and the people of Tanay because the old church which was completed in 1680 was already greatly damaged due to natural calamities such as typhoons and strong earthquakes. It was completed in 1783 while the 6 retablos in honor of Nuestra Señora de las Angustias, of La Purisima Concepcion, of San Josef, of San Pedro de Alcantara, of the Baptism of our Lord and of San Ildefonso de Toledo, more popularly called the retablo mayor were finished in 1785 and installed the following year, 1786.
The 14 Stations of the Cross inside our church has an anomaly that can hardly be missed, The first twelve bear marks and features revealing the Malayan or native characteristics incorporated such as the somewhat squat appearance of the figures, including Jesus, the use of “Tambuli” made from carabao horn and of the “tabak” or native bolo instead of the usual Roman sword, while the last two bears features that are unmistakably Caucasian. Although the construction of the Stations of the Cross were not recorded in the books of the church, it is widely believed that the first twelve were done by a native artist of Tanay. Another anomaly is usually noticed in the 7 th station by visitors where Caiaphas, the High Priest wears a sunglass. All told, it is considered to be one of the most beautiful Stations of the Cross in all of Asia.
Towards the end of 1999 our church was declared as one of the five Jubilee Churches in the Diocese of Antipolo. It was honored us such when the Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, Most Rev. Antonio Franco visited and prayed inside the church on June 22, of the Jubilee Year 2000.
Another great honor was endowed our church when, on July 31, 2001 it was declared a National Cultural Heritage by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts along with 25 other churches all over the Philippines.
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanay,_Riza)
St. Mary Magdalene Parish Church
Pililla, Rizal
The St. Mary Magdalene Parish of Pililla, Rizal is classified as a Historical Structure by the National Historical Institute of the Philippines and bears the Seal of the Republic of the Philippines in its Cast Iron Marker presently installed on the Church Facade.
The first missionaries arrived in this locality in 1572. The first church made of Bamboo and Cogon Grass were built by Franciscan Priests in 1583 with its patroness as St. Mary Magdalene. In 1599, it became a church made of wood and "Pawid" (a variety of local leaves). The church burned in 1632 and later a stone church was built from 1670 to 1673. The Altar and the convent was made in 1848 and later on renovated by its Parish Priest in 1962-1978.
St. Clement Parish Church
Angono, Rizal
Angono is a first class urban municipality in the province of Rizal, Philippines. It is known as "Arts Capital of the Philippines", and located 30 kilometres (19 mi) east of Manila. According to the latest census of August 1, 2007, it has a population of 97,209 inhabitants (or 4.26% of Rizal province's total population of 2,284,046) in 15,740 households.
First created as a pueblo in 1766, Angono was a barrio of its neighboring town Taytay and Binangonan before being legally proclaimed an independent municipality in 1935 by then President Manuel L. Quezon. It is home to the Angono Petroglyphs, the oldest known work of art in the Philippines.
Viva Cristo Rey
The feast of Christ the King which was held on the Sunday before the 1st Sunday of Advent usually coincides with the feast of St. Clement. The Viva San Clemente! celebration banners usually includes “Mabuhay ang Kristong Hari !” slogans to remind the people that Christ is the Lord and to proclaim Christ as the King of all nations. This is also a reminder that St. Clement is only a servant of God which somehow does not need adoration of the people because our Lord has already given him the highest honor – a blessing of a Saint – Angono’s patron and inspiration. Viva San Clemente
Pope St. Clement I was the fourth Pope after St. Peter. He faithfully proclaim Christ during his time and till he was martyred by being thrown into the sea with an iron anchor. The people of Angono celebrate St. Clement’s feast day with a fluvial procession in the waters of Laguna de Bay as a reminder and inspiration of his faith in God. Higantes of Angono. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angono,_Rizal)
Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage
Antipolo City
The Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje or famously known as Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage was the title given to theBlessed Virgin Mary on the basis of the Spanish galleon's successful eight ocean crossings. On several occasions, it was believed that she saved the galleon by warning the people about an imminent catastrophe.
The image of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage was sculptured by Mexican craftsmen. It was carved from dark hard wood similar to theBlack Nazarene in Quiapo. One would note the presence of her famous "plancha de oro. It was an exquisite, 18th century rococo-style frontal dress of solid 18 karat gold with a design of various flowers and birds. Her crown which was made of solid 18 karat gold is completely studded with rose-cut diamonds, large natural Sulu pearls, Burmese rubies, Colombian emeralds, and Indian blue sapphires. Her aureola" halo, also made of solid 18 karat gold is studded with precious gems like diamonds, pearls, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. Her 18 karat gold hair pins or "atochas" and rings are all studded with rose-cut diamonds and Sulu pearls. Her cape has a magnificent and heavy silver-gilt thread embroidery. She also seems to be wearing a wig made of human hair. Unfortunately, all of the magnificent jewels of the "Nuestra Senora de la Paz y Buen Viaje" disappeared at the turn of the 20th century. It was said that a caretaker had absconded with the entire lot to Hong Kong.
She was canonically on November 26, 1926 by Archbishop Michael J. O'Doherty in Luneta Park.
