Famous and Historical Churches in the Philippines

The lists of churches included below were famous and historical either due to religious reasons or political reasons.

Quiapo Church

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The Quiapo Church in Manila is probably the most popular church in the Philippine archipelago. This church is officially known as Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene.

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This religious edifice houses the Black Nazarene; a much venerated statue of Jesus Christ which many people believe has miraculous attributes.

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The Feast of the Black Nazarene is regarded as one of the most spectacular religious events that take place in the Philippine history. Every 9th of January, thousands of devotees from all walks of life come to the district of Quiapo to take part in the procession as a way of strengthening their faith or fulfilling their vow to Lord.

Barasoain Church

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The Barasoain Church which was built in 1630 is located in Malolos City, Bulacan. It is also known as Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, a Roman Catholic Church. The church has earned the title “Cradle of Democracy in the East”. It is the most important religious building in the Philippines and the site of the First Philippine Republic and is famous for its historical importance among Filipinos. The church is also renowned for its architectural design and internal adornments.

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A session of the Malolos Congress in the Barasoain Church.

Some of the most important events in the country that occurred in this church include convening of the First Philippine Congress in September 1898, drafting of the Malolos Constitution from September 1898 to January 1899 and inauguration of the First Philippine Republic on January 23, 1899. It was proclaimed as a National Shrine in 1973. Two Philippine presidents were inaugurated in Barasoain Church – Emilio Aguinaldo and Joseph Estrada.

EDSA Shrine

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The EDSA Shrine which was built in 1989 is also known with the names Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace and Our Lady of EDSA. It is a small church located at the intersection of Ortigas Avenue and Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Quezon City.

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The historical EDSA Shrine is where Filipino people gathered to topple down the dictatorial regime of the late President Marcos in 1986 and President Joseph Estrada in 2001.

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The EDSA Shrine is part of the Ortigas Center and is officially called the “Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace” or ‘Our Lady of Peace Quasi-Parish”.

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Obando Church

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Another historically famous church which was founded by Franciscan missionaries is located in Bulacan is Obando Church. The Church of Obando is one of the oldest and most historic churches in the Philippines. It is also known as the San Pascual de Baylon Parish Church.

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The church is popular because of the three-day Obando Fertility Rites that is held annually during the month of May in honor of three patron saints, namely: St. Pascual Baylon, St Claire of Assisi and the Our Lady of Salambao.

Manaoag Church

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One of the most widely visited Roman Catholic Pilgrimage sites is the Manaoag Church which is located in Pangasinan. It is home to the Our Lady of Manaoag, famous for its long history of miraculous and pious events. These events are duplicated in the murals all over the church. This is done so that the events will never be forgotten.

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Our Lady of Manaoag is formally called Nuestra Señora del Santissimo Rosario de Manaoag. She is the patroness of the sick, the helpless and the needy. Devotees, coming from all over the globe, have various reasons for visiting the place among of which are pleads for health restoration, good voyage and better fate.

Chapel of the Most Blessed Sacrament

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The Chapel of the Most Blessed Sacrament is the main and largest chapel of De La Salle University in Manila, Philippines. It was built in 1930. In February 1945, during the liberation of Manila at the peak of World War II, retreating Japanese troops massacred 41 civilians inside the chapel as they seek refuge from the ongoing battle.

The Japanese soldiers herded these people into the chapel where they were subsequently shot, slashed, or bayoneted. Those who did not die in the attack would be later being left to bleed to death and the Japanese attempted to violate the women who were dying from their wounds. The chapel was then set on fire and only ten of the victims would survive.

Church of Saint Joseph

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The bamboo organ church is located in Las Piñas, Philippines. It is popular because it is home to the world-famous bamboo organ. The church is officially called as Church of St Joseph.

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The popular Las Piñas Bamboo Organ is a nineteenth-century church organ made almost entirely from bamboo: only the trumpet stops are made from metal. The builder of both the church and its organ was the Spanish priest -Fr. Diego Cera de la Virgen del Carmen.

San Agustin Church

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San Agustin Church which was completed in 1607 is famous and historical because it is the oldest church in the Philippines. It is located inside the historic walled city of Intramuros in Manila. This edifice is the oldest church currently standing in the Philippines and no other surviving building in the country has been claimed to pre-date San Agustin Church.

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It was named a National Historical Landmark by the Philippine government in 1976. It was designated by the UNESCO as a world Heritage Site in 1993.

See also

Architecturally Unique Churches in the Philippines

Bizarre and Unique Architectural Designs of Houses of Worship

20 World’s Most Brilliantly Colored Religious Edifices

Amazingly Unique Architectural Designs of Houses of Worships

Famous Historic Shrines and Monuments in the Philippines

Fascinating Temples: World’s Architectural Wonders