San Agustin Church of Intramuros Revisited

San Agustin Church (1607), is the oldest baroque church in the Philippines built using thick rough adobe. It is located inside the wall city of Intramuros (the original Old Manila), was a exclusive place only for “Peninsulares” who are pure blooded Spanish - born in Spain. Intramuros was the only province of Spain outside the Iberian Peninsula and the capital city of Spanish colony Philippines. San Agustin Church was the site where Franciscans, Dominicans and Augustinians clergy came out from the church’s door shouting “Long Live the Church! Long Live King Felipe V!” they were joined by people of all classes met and proceeded to the palace of Governor-Marshal Fernando Manuel de Bustamante, assassinated him for exposing their involvement in the corrupt Manila/Acapulco Galleon Trade. It was also the site of the last Spanish Governor-General Fermin Jaudenes surrendered the City of Manila to the Americans in the infamous “Trece de Agosto, 1898 - the mock battle of Manila” that ended the Spanish/American War and confirm the U.S. takeover of the whole Philippines their colony. The church was heavily damage during WW-2 and the monastery was completely destroyed but in the 70s the monastery was rebuilt as a museum for religious artwork, relics and ecclesiastical props used throughout the church's history, the oldest pieces dating back to the founding of Intramuros itself.

The Spanish conquistador “El Adelantado” Miguel Lopez de Legaspi is buried in this church. He is considered in history as “the founder of Manila” though Manila already existed even before him and even the explorer Ferdinand Magellan who claimed he discovered the Philippines. Intramuros is the site of the Kingdom of Maynilad ruled by Rajah Sulayman. Conquistador Legaspi took over Rajah Sulayman’s kingdom because of its perfect military defensive location by the Pasig River and on the mouth of the bay that opens, facing the China Sea. Other Spanish conquistadors buried in San Agustin Church are Juan de Salcedo and Martin de Goiti. Later during the American colonial rule famous Filipino painter Juan Luna, statesmen Pedro A. Paterno and ilustrado Trinidad Pardo de Tavera are also buried in the church. In 1993, the San Agustin Church was named by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
- ka tony
3rd of September '19