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One of the most accessible book on Philippine Churches is the earlier landmark work of Pedro G. Galende, OSA, Director of the San Agustin Musuem, entitled Angels in Stone: Augustinian Churches in the Philippines. It has been dubbed as the first comprehensive documentation of Augustinian churches in the Philippines and the most authoratitative piece of literature in its class. Here the author documents the 162 churches that the Augustinians have erected in the …

The beautiful and ancient church of San Agustin San Agustin, the oldest stone church in the country has the distinction of being made entirely of stone and the first earthquake-proof structure to be erected on Philippine soil. It is solid, compact and well executed that it has survived earthquakes, bombings and both natural and man-made disasters in its 400 years of existence. Its building blocks are adobe stones that have been sourced at the quarries of Guadalupe in present day Makati, San Mateo in Rizal and Meycauayan in Bulacan. However …

A handy reference and guide
to the San Agustin
monastery complex. San Agustin: Art and History, 1571 - 2000 by Pedro Galende, OSA and Regalado Trota Jose, both noted and respected figures of Philippine colonial church history and its ardent supporters and proponents, is a wonderful book on the oldest stone church in the country. It is a follow-up to the first author’s work, San Agustin: Noble Stone Shrine, which was published 10 years before this title.
The book is divided into two parts: first, a history of the Augustinian Order in the …

Chinese fu dogs/lions guard the portals and the patio of San Agustin: four located at the facade with one (not shown) have a broken part of the head, and two at the front entrance of the low fence around the patio. One figure is holding its baby while two other figures seem to be playing and holding a ball. These are interesting since these are clearly Chinese in origin but is part of a Christian religious structure.
There are only a few churches left in the country that still have …

Just before one enters San Agustin, one is already introduced to the massive and richly carved portal bearing the symbols of the Augustinian order as well as the carvings of the order’s founder and his mother. It awes. Its rocaille embellishments, said to be a characteristic of Rococo, a successor to the Baroque style, are highly stylized forms of leaves, rocks and shells.
It is said to be made during the mid-17th century owing to its Rococo style. This portal is 20 feet high by 16 feet wide. One …

The trompe l’oeil paintings found inside of San Agustin is just impressive and awe inspiring. However because of the height of the ceiling and the often unlighted interior especially if there are no masses, some wonderful details can often be missed. Take for example at the crossing of the transept and nave where a faux dome is painted, two doves (left) can be seen between two pillars. In the other parts, its a riot of rosettes, emblems of the four evangelists, angels, and symbols.
However, unlike the facistol, choirstalls …

The 9th San Agustin International Music Festival, the premiere musical and cultural event in Intramuros, unreels on November 28 to 30 at the San Agustin Church with a powerhouse assemblage of the finest musicians both from here and abroad. This year’s festival has a special musical relevance since we commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the restoration of the 18th Century Pipe Organ of San Agustin Church, a National Cultural Landmark. Featured artists are Spanish organist Miquel González, Filipino bassoonist Adolfo Mendoza, the world-renowned Philippine Madrigal Singers, the Hail Mary …