Paoay ChurchPaoay Church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; National Cultural Treasure, National Museum; National Historical Landmark, NHCP; Local Cultural Property - Cultural and Historical Heritage of the Province of Ilocos Norte (per Provincial Ordinance Nos. 049-2006 and 039-2009); located at Paoay, Ilocos Norte, Region I.
Marker Text:
Church of Paoay
Parish founded by Augustinian missionaries, 1593. Cornerstone of church laid, 1704; of convent, 1707; of tower, 1793. Used before completion and kept in repair by the people under the joint auspices of the Church and the town officials. Inauguration ceremonies, 28 February 1896. Church damaged by earthquake, 1706 and 1927. Tower used as observation post by Katipuneros during the Revolution, by Guerrilleros during the Japanese Occupation.
Date Unveiled: May 2, 1980
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The Parish Church of San Agustin is an outstanding example of baroque church in the Philippines. Built in the 17th -18th centuries using Philippine and Chinese craftsmanship and with its excellent designs and unique massive buttresses, the church has outlived heavy storms and earthquakes for three hundred years. Archeological excavations undertaken inside and outside the church revealed that the ground where the San Agustin church was founded could have been a pre-Hlspanlc cemetery provide the first archeologlcal information about Paoay.
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MALACAÑANG
M a n i l a
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 260 August 1, 1973
DECLARING THE STA. ANA SITE MUSEUM IN MANILA, THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES OF PAOAY AND BACARRA IN ILOCOS NORTE, THE SAN AGUSTIN CHURCH AND LITURGICAL OBJECTS THEREIN IN INTRAMUROS, MANILA, FORT PILAR IN ZAMBOANGA CITY, THE PETROGLYPHS OF THE ROCK-SHELTER IN ANGONO, RIZAL, THE PETROGLYPHS OF ALAB, BONTOC, THE STONE AGRICULTURAL CALENDARS OF DAP-AY GUIDAY IN BESAO, BONTOC, THE MUMMY CAVES OF KABAYAN, BENGUET AND OF SAGADA AND ALAB, BONTOC, THE IFUGAO RICE TERRACES OF BANAUE AS NATIONAL CULTURAL TREASURES; AND THE BARASOAIN CHURCH IN MALOLOS, BULACAN, TIRAD PASS IN CERVANTES, ILOCOS SUR, THE MIAGAO CHURCH IN MIAGAO, ILOILO, THE SITE OF THE BATTLE OF MACTAN ON MACTAN ISLAND, CEBU, THE SAN SEBASTIAN CHURCH IN QUIAPO, MANILA, AND THE CHURCH AND CONVENT OF SANTO NIÑO IN CEBU CITY AS NATIONAL SHRINES, MONUMENTS, AND/ OR LANDMARKS, DEFINING THE IMPLEMENTING AGENCIES AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR.
WHEREAS, Pursuant to Article XV, Section 9, paragraph 2 of the Constitution of the Philippines "Filipino culture shall be preserved and developed for national identity";
WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 4846 declares that it is the policy of the state to preserve and protect the cultural properties of the nation;
WHEREAS, There is a necessity of preserving and utilizing the cultural properties of the nation for the furtherance of the people's culture;
WHEREAS, The government recognizes the fact that the cultural properties of the country are necessary that indispensable for the correct understanding of its history and culture;
WHEREAS, There are cultural properties which are especially of high value from the viewpoint of world culture and are considered as irreplaceable treasures of the country;
WHEREAS, The development and preservation of cultural properties are also necessary in the promotion of tourism;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution as Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and pursuant to Proclamation No. 1081 dated September 21, 1972 and General Order No. 1 dated September 22, 1972, do hereby decree, order and make as part of the law of the land, the following;
Section 1. The Sta. Ana Site Museum in Manila, the Roman Catholic Churches of Paoay and Bacarra in Ilocos Norte, the San Agustin Church and Liturgical objects therein in Intramuros, Manila, Fort Pilar in Zamboanga City, the Petroglyphs of the Rockshelter in Angono, Rizal, the Petroglyphs of Alab, Bontoc, the Stone Agricultural Calendars of Dap-ay Guiday in Besao, Bontoc, the Mummy Caves of Kabayan, Benguet and of Segada and Alab, Bontoc, the Ifugao Rice Terraces of Banaue are hereby declared as National Cultural Treasures along the lines of Sections 3 and 7 of R.A. 4846 defining cultural properties and treasures, and their preservation, restoration and/or reconstruction shall be under the supervision and control of the National Museum in collaboration with the Department of Tourism;
Section 2. The Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan, Tirad Pass in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur, the Miagao Church in Miagao, Iloilo, the Site of the Battle of Mactan on Mactan Island in Cebu, the San Sebastian Church in Quiapo, Manila, and the Church and Convent of Sto. Niño in Cebu City are hereby declared as National Shrines, Monuments and/or Landmarks in accordance with the provisions of R.A. 4368 and their preservation, restoration and/or reconstruction shall be under the supervision and control of the National Historical Commission in collaboration with the Department of Tourism;
Section 3. To carry out the intents of this decree the sum of P500,000.00 for the National Museum and P500,000.00 for the National Historical Commission are hereby authorized to be appropriated out of the funds of the National Treasury, not otherwise appropriated. Subsequent funds therefor shall be incorporated in the Annual Budget.
Section 4. The National Museum and the National Historical Commission are hereby vested with the right to declare other such historical and cultural sites as National Shrines, Monuments, and/or Landmarks, in accordance with the guidelines set forth in R.A. 4846 and the spirit of this Decree.
Section 5. The provisions of R.A. 4846 and R.A. 4368 and other laws which are inconsistent with this Decree are accordingly modified or repealed.
Section 6. This Decree shall take effect immediately.
Approved: August 1, 1973
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The Parish Church of San Agustin located in Paoay, Ilocos Norte is an outstanding example of Filipino Baroque Architecture in the Philippines. Built between the 17th to 18th century, the San Agustin Parish is a tribute to the excellence and ingenuity of the Filipino and Chinese craftsmen. The elaborate and expert craftsmanship, evidenced in the unique and intricately detailed buttresses, is even more impressive because of its massive scale. After 300 years since its construction, the structure continues to survive heavy storms and earthquakes. In addition, systematic archaeological excavations inside the church have revealed the presence of a pre-Hispanic cemetery below the church. Valuable archaeological data on the early inhabitants of Paoay which further affirms its historical and cultural significance may be provided by this finding.