Masinloc Church

Masinloc Church
San Andres Apostol Parish Church Iglesia Parroquial de San Andrés Apóstol
Facade of the San Andres Church in Masinloc, Zambales
Masinloc Church Location in the Philippines
15°32′16″N 119°56′56″E / 15.537684°N 119.948892°E / 15.537684; 119.948892Coordinates: 15°32′16″N 119°56′56″E / 15.537684°N 119.948892°E / 15.537684; 119.948892
Location	Zambales
Country	Philippines
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Status	Parish church
Founded	1607
Founder(s)	Father Andrés del Espíritu Santo (Augustinian Recollects)
Dedication	Saint Andrew the Apostle
Dedicated	1607, 2007
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	National Cultural treasure
Designated	2001
Architectural type	Church building
Style	Earthquake Baroque
Specifications
Length	55 m (180 ft)
Width	20 m (66 ft)
Materials	Coral stone, cement, steel
Administration
Archdiocese	San Fernando
Diocese	Iba
Clergy
Archbishop	Florentino G. Lavarias
Bishop(s)	Bartolome G. Santos Jr.
Vicar(s)	Tejay Samson
Priest(s)	John Remel Mara, Virgilio Monje

The San Andres Apostol Parish Church (Tagalog: Simbahan ng Parokya ni San Andres Apostol; Spanish: Iglesia Parroquial de San Andrés Apóstol), popularly known as Masinloc Church, is an 18th-century Baroque church located at Brgy. South Poblacion, Masinloc, Zambales, Philippines. The parish church, dedicated to Saint Andrew the Apostle, is under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Iba. The church structure, a standout among Spanish-era churches in the Central Luzon region for having been built with coral stone instead of adobe stone, was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines along with 25 other Spanish-era churches in 2001.^[1]

Parish history[]

The parish of Masinloc had its beginnings as a mission founded by the Augustinian Recollects in 1607. It was founded by Father Andres de Espiritu with the guidance of Father Rodrigo de San Miguel, then vicar of the mission in Mariveles, Bataan, who urged the head of the religious group to set up a mission in the present-day site location of the town which was then abundant with plants locally referred to as hinloc.^[2] The original commune established by the Spanish friars is now barrios Bani and Tugui. Throughout the Spanish occupation of the Philippines, the parish of Masinloc was administered by the Augustinian Recollects (1607-1679; 1713–1902) and the Dominicans (1679-1713).^[2] In the 1980s, the parish was also administered by the Columban Fathers.^[3]

Architecture[]

Architectural history[]

The exact date of construction of the present coral stone church cannot be accurately traced, although some records tell that a certain Father Francisco de San Guillermo requested the construction of a church and convent in 1616 using materials that were also used in the construction of a fortification. Some sources suggest the date of the construction of the present structure to be as early as 1713, when the Augustinian Recollects returned to Zambales, from their mission in Mindoro. Another, more reliable source, suggests that the construction likely began around 1745.^[2] By the mid-18th century, major earthquakes brought damage to the church structure, leaving it unused for a couple of decades. In 1825, during the administration of Father Gregorio Miguel Jiménez, the church and convent were rehabilitated.^[2] By 1836, repair works done by Father Jiménez were continued by Father José de Aranguren; (later on, Father Aranguren would be installed as the Archbishop of Manila in 1846).^[4] From 1875 to 1877, major repairs on the church roof were executed. Father Juan Ortíz commissioned Architect Felipe Vera to replace the tile roof with nipa. Later on, Father Agustín Pérez had the thatched roof replaced with galvanized iron sheets. Father Pérez also built the bell tower in 1882 to 1883. A strong earthquake damaged the church during the administration of the Columban missionaries in 1970. A year after, Father Donald Dudea made major repairs to the damaged structure including the addition of the new belfry and several repairs on the façade. A magnitude 6.8 earthquake on December 12, 1999, damaged the church, particularly cracking a part of the façade. Restoration efforts were established soon after in time for the 400th jubilee of the parish.^[3]

Architectural description[]

The façade of the church is predominantly an Earthquake Baroque style with Neo-classic features. The front is divided into the triangular pediment, two horizontal sections and three vertical ones with an extended left portion forming the bell tower. It features saints’ niches on the first level, rectangular windows on the second, and an elaborately carved niche of the town's patron saint and carving of geometric shapes and medallions on the pediment. Triglyphs decorate the architrave between the second level and the pediment, giving the church a classical appearance. The belfry is designed like a circular template surmounted with a lantern and a cross.^[5]

Restoration and declaration as a National Cultural Treasure[]

National Cultural treasure marker

The church was officially declared by the National Museum of the Philippines as a National Cultural Treasure on July 31, 2001. A church or structure can be declared a National Cultural Treasure if most of its features (both exterior and interior) from pre-1898 are still intact and if it showcases examples of local artistic style and technique. By 2003, various cultural and historical institutions in the Philippines like the National Commission on Culture and the Arts spearheaded the restoration of 26 churches declared as National Cultural Treasures.^[1]

References[]

External links[]

• Media related to The Parish Church of San Andres of Masinloc at Wikimedia Commons