Insights: Paoay Church: Ilocos Norte

I didn't know how beautiful Paoay Church is until I finally see it in person. Like what I said to my friends many times, this is now my favorite church, I so love the exterior and by just looking at this you'll have a flashback of what happened from the old times. Former President Marcos declared this church as a National Treasure and is now included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Church. Although the interiors didn't impress me that much maybe because I saw some wood support in the ceiling but this is understandable since this Church has been standing for more than a hundred years now.

The real name of the church is St. Augustine Church but it is famously known as Paoay Church because it is located in the town of Paoay in the province of Ilocos Norte. The location allows convenient commuting from the boundaries of Batac, San Nicholas and Laoag City.

The Church Isle

Closer shot of the Altar

Thick walls and posts with buttresses to support the walls.

Some more facts about this church:

(Ref: Wikipilipinas)

Paoay Church (also known as the St. Augustine Church in Paoay) is a historical church located in Paoay, Ilocos Norte. During the Philippine Revolution in 1898, its coral stone bell tower was used by the Katipuneros as an observation post. Construction of Paoay Church was started by the Augustinian friars in 1694. It was completed in 1894 led by Fr. Antonio Estavillo and was re-dedicated in 1894.

Kinda confusing on when was this built, it says in this picture from Paoay it's built in 1593..hmm.. discrepancy huh...

A three-storey coral stone bell tower stands a few meters away from the church. The bell tower served as an observation post in 1896 for the Katipuneros during the Philippine revolution against the Spaniards, and again by the Filipino guerillas during the Japanese occupation in World War II.

According to historians, the bell tower also served as a status symbol for the locals. The bell would ring more loudly and more times during the wedding of a prominent clan that it would during the wedding of the poor.

Portions of the church was damaged during the earthquakes in 1865 and 1885. During an excavation inside the church in 2000, a prehistoric human skeleton and fragmented ceramics were discovered and are now in display at the National Museum.