ƐxpLoƦe! (｡◕_◕｡) ♥: October 2013

Welcome to St. Augustine Parish Church Of Baliuag!

This church was built in the year 1733. Commonly known as Baliuag Church or Parokya ni San Agustin is a Roman Catholic church under the auspices of "The Order of St. Augustine", located in Plaza Naning, Poblacion, in the historic town of Baliuag, Bulacan, Philippines.

The Parokya of Baliuag is the mother church of the 3 other latter-day Roman Catholic parish churches in the municipality. It is the focus of the largest Philippine religious festival, the "Baliuag Lenten Procession" (“Prosisyon ng mga Santo”, every Good Friday, with more than 90 "karos" or floats) paraded.

The town's patronal feast is celebrated each May 26.

The "Baroque church of Baliuag" (Dioecesis Malolosina, Suffragan of Manila) is a vicariate of St. Augustine of Hippo and belongs to the "Our Lady of the Immaculate Concepcion"'s Roman Catholic Diocese of Malolos.

The parish church was built in 1733 and is devoted to its Patron, Saint Augustine of Hippo (13 November 354 – 28 August 430), who was bishop of Hippo Regius (present-day Annaba, Algeria). He was a Latin philosopher and theologian from the Africa Province of the Roman Empire and is generally considered as one of the greatest Christian thinkers of all time. His writings were very influential in the development of Western Christianity and translations remain in print.

History

Augustinian friar, Fr. Joaquín Martínez de Zúñiga, OSA, in his "1803 Historia de las Islas Filipinas",wrote that the Convent or Parochial house of San Agustin, in Baliuag, is the best in the whole Archipelago and that no edifice in Manila can be compared to it in symmetry and beauty amid its towering belfry, having been a viewing point of the town's panorama. The monk further stated that the convent was a repository of priceless parish records which dated to the founding of Baliuag as a "pueblo" or "parrochia" by the OSA or Augustinians in 1733. The first convent was at Barangay Sta. Barbara, Baliuag before the Parokya was formally established at the now Plaza Naning, Poblacion.

Facade of (Saint Augustine of Hippo Parish Church.

Fr. Joaquín Martínez de Zúñiga arrived in the Philippines on August 3, 1786 and visited Baliuag on February 17, 1802 with Ignacio Maria de Álava y Sáenz de Navarrete. Their host was Baliuag's parish priest, Fray Esteban Diez Hidalgo. Fr. Diez served as the longest cura parroco of Baliwag from 1789, having built the church and convent from 1790 to 1801.

Spanish records ("Apuntes históricos de la provincia augustiniana del Santísimo Nombre de Jesús de Filipinas", año 1909: Filipinas, by P. Bernardo Martinez) reveal that Fr. Juan de Albarran, OSA was assigned parish priest of Baliuag in 1733. The first baptism in Baliuag Church was ordered by Fr. Lector and Fr. Feliz Trillo, Provincial of the Province on June 7, 1733 while Baliuag was founded and began its official existence on May 26, 1733. The town or pueblo was created in the provincial Chapter on May 15, 1734, with the appointment of Fr. Manuel Bazeta or Baseta as first Kura Paroko.

In 1769-1774, the Church of Baliuag was built by Father Gregorio Giner. The present structure (the third church to be rebuilt, due to considerable damage during the 1880 Luzon earthquakes) was later rebuilt by Father Esteban Diaz using mortar and stone. The 1866 belfry was completed by Father Matias Novoa but the July 19, 1880 quake damaged the same which was later repaired by Father Thomas Gresa.

GROUP IV: ♥

Description

Constructed between 1769 to 1774, the heritage Church of Baliuag's architectural style is renaissance. The Baroque Church as evidenced by the facade and interiors has dramatic tension created by the interplay of volumes and openings. The imposing facade is however diminished in grandeur, since the Portico and canopy as the latest additions verily block the complete layout of style. These partial structures mar the front view and the majestic main door with its simple but elegant decorations. The stones and bricks are also in danger of pulverizing for lack of protective "paletada" indicated by the right niche's decorative carvings which have started to disintegrate amid the evident age of the edifice.

The striking facade due to massiveness of its lofty and airy bell tower makes it, no doubt, baroque. Its two levels is topped by a triangle pediment. The belfry's huge, un-harmonized relief at the lower portion was only a latter addition that entailed covering up the circular window.

Baroque Church

As one of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines, the heritage Baliuag Church had been at the forefront of Philippine history (Spanish colonial rule). Its unique architectural design reflects the Spanish and Latin American architecture integration of indigenous Philippines works of art. Its massive limestone, gravel and sand, steel and bricks or ladrillo structure had been designed to withstand revolts and rebellions, due to its fortresses facade.

Its massive retablo mayor is massive and complex work of art is seen at the back. Within the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippine Church of Baliuag has powerful and most imposing buttresses and foundations. In front of the church and renovated Convento are spacious parking areas for vehicles tightly guarded by a solid iron entrance gate and the entire Church is surrounded by concrete fences.

In 1769-1774, the Church of Baliuag was built by Father Gregorio Giner. The present structure (the third church to be rebuilt, due to considerable damage during the 1880 Luzon earthquakes) was later rebuilt by Father Esteban Diaz using mortar and stone. The 1866 Belfry was also completed by Father Matias Novoa but the July 19, 1880 quake damaged the same which was later repaired by Father Thomas Gresa.

The earthquake of June 3, 1863, one of the strongest to ever hit Manila, destroyed the Governor's Palace in Intramuros. Malacañang then, became the permanent residence of the head of the country. The massive quake also damaged the Baliuag Church. In 1870, the reconstruction began when a temporary house of worship, the “Provincial”, along Año 1733 street, emerged as a narrow, and simple edifice which later used by the RVM Sisters of the Colegio de la Sagrada Familia (now St. Mary's College of Baliuag) as classroom. Antonio de Mesa, “Maestrong Tonio" fabricated the parts to have finished the Spanish-era Baliuag Church.

Facade of (Saint Augustine of Hippo Parish Church.

Annabel posing at the Galeria San Agustin .. Haha :P

Annabel, Arnold & Marc is praying ..

Maybe to pass the exam? Hahaha kidding! XD

GROUP IV: Posing with a cute beggar kid :)

Let's give a smile away & Share your blessings!!! ALWAYS! :)

♥

Now, back to exploring the Town of Baliuag with Us! :D

Baliuag (or Baliwag in Filipino) is a first class highly urban municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 143,565 inhabitants in 25,050 households.

Baliuag was founded on 1732 by Augustinian friars and was incorporated by the Spanish Governor-General on 1733.The town was a part of Quingwa (now Plaridel) before.

Baliuag is famous for its Semana Santa (Holy Week) processions. As of 2012, Boasting 95 carros or carrozas (floats) with life-size Santos (statues) showcasing events from the life and passion of Christ.

Another famous in Baliuag is its Buntal Hat Festival that is simultaneously celebrated with Mother's Day annually. Colorful and grandiose decorations and street dancing are the highlights of this celebration.

At the Glorietta Park/Plaza ..

(shot from above)

GROUP IV: Hanging by a moment at the Glorietta Park after our exam! :D

In the town plaza of the poblacion of Baliuag, Bulacan stands the Clock Tower, reputedly the only self-supporting clock tower in Bulacan.

The clock tower is one of the popular Heritage tourist attractions in this town, and one of the most pictured landmarks in Baliuag. A stone’s throw to the north is the equally-picturesque baroque Church of San Agustin, and to the west is the circular Glorietta Park, established in 1905.

The tower stands three stories tall and it’s supposedly the clock the church adheres to. When the clock strikes 6 in the evening, the church bells start ringing for the Angelus. Apart from that, I have found very little information on the web regarding the Clock Tower, like when it was erected and whether it replaced some other tower before. I suppose a trip to the municipal hall will provide some answers.