Monday, December 01, 2008

Historic Barasoain Church

If there is one church that played a major part in Philippine political history, that has gotta be the Barasoain Church in Malolos Bulacan. Built in 1630 during the Spanish era, Barasoain Church has been around for decades and it has been one of the Philippines's pride and joy.

The Barasoain Church has recorded some of the important events that have occurred in the country. Three major events in Philippine History happened in this church: the convening of the First Philippine Congress (September 15, 1898), the drafting of the Malolos Constitution (September 29, 1898 to January 21, 1899), and the inauguration of the First Philippine Republic (January 23, 1899).[3] By Presidential Decree No. 260 , the church was proclaimed as a National Shrine by President Ferdinand Marcos on August 1, 1973.[4] Unusual for newly elected presidents in the Philippines, the church has been a venue in an inaugural affairs. General Emilio Aguinaldo and former president Joseph Estrada were the only two who has been inaugurated in the place. (source:Wikipedia)

Unfortunately, the Church was not open when we went there, but still, here are some photos I have taken of the Church:

A Peek at the Church's Interior


Mama Mary fronting the Old Corner Window


A Statue of a Priest shows the way to the Garden


A Park with the Statue of Jesus at the back of the Church


Facade of the Church Museum


A Woman and Her Son Waiting in a Dungeon-like Window


Just a little trivia. The term "Barasoain" was derived from the Filipino word "baras ng suwail", which means "dungeon of the defiant". The term was coined because the place was once the rendezvous of Filipinos who were in opposition to the laws imposed during the reign of the conquerors of the country.

Also, this Church is featured at the back of the old ten peso bill. Nowadays, the bill was replaced by a coin.

Barasoain Church is located at the heart of Malolos City, the capital of Bulacan. It is barely one and a half hour (42 kilometers) from Manila thru various buses and jeepneys plying the Cubao-Malolos route.

More of Bulacan Churches in my coming posts.

55 took the journey:

Ms. Hays said...

Very nice photographs!

Denise said...

Your photos are impressive, the church is magnificent and I enjoyed learning the history. First class post! Thank you.

Borneo Falcon said...

Very nice church especially the surrounding and the park

alicesg said...

Very huge church and nice architectural designs.

Everlito (ever) Villacruz said...

ayos parteng bulacan kana...dyan ang lupang aking kinalakihan.he he he..

bulacan ngalan mo ay tanyag sa larangan pang kabuhayan,liwanag mo ang tangin ilaw,sa gawang madangal.:)

Sidney said...

That is indeed a very nice church... the best moment to visit Malolos is during the Santo Nino...

the donG said...

ayos tong series kasi isa pa lng ang napuntahan kong simbahan sa bulacan at yon ay itong barasoain church. Very historical nga to. Alam ko may significant event din ang nangyari dyan nung time ni Erap. Hndi ko nga lng maalala.

beero said...

ang ganda pala talaga ng simbahan na to kuya oman. medyo marami akong nalaman sa post na to. historic pala talaga ang barasoain church.

fishing guy said...

LS: What a neat place and it has some great history. The church building is truly impressive.

Photo Cache said...

REally lovely photos. Can't wait for more church shots.

Share my point of view... said...

Wow! They're really old. I hope the municipal will do some maintenance or slight restoration to previous the historical church. :P

george said...

Hombre veo que no solo tienes playas paradisiaca que tambien teneis edificaciones jeje.
Un abrazo

awi said...

owesome church!
the beauty of old architectural
thanks for the pic

luna miranda said...

i thought churches are always open. why this one was closed? it would be interesting to see the interiors of the church.

bertN said...

Your photos of Barasoian Church reminded me of a girl who lived in Malolos that I got acquainted with through a single everlasting flower that I threw on the roadside with my name and college address. We were then a group of college students returning from a week's field trip up north and we were throwing out everlasting flowers from our chartered bus with our names attached. Whoever got the most letters wins a prize. I did not win the prize but I got one letter from a girl in Malolos I corresponded with for 10 years!

atticus said...

dami kong natutunan diyan sa yard ng barasoain church.

may pictures ka na nung mga simbahan sa bulacan? lalo na iyong nakikita sa nlex? i've always wondered how they look.

iriz said...

kapag ganito ung napupuntahan kong lugar parang gusto kong mabuhay sa nakaraan ung panahon ni maria clara. lol.

nice shot lawstude!

always take care! ;)

Mys Lyke Meeh said...

Oi..talaga? Philippine's Pride and Joy pala yan? Nakzz...mukhang old nga but really nice!

Ganda ng snapshots!

Take care!

mirage2g said...

I was supposed to say I remember this church from the 10 peso bill, but you wrote it na (so redundant na ito lol). Thanks for the info, I never knew the ethymology until now. Have a nice day!

aajao said...

hay naku. "sinira" nung dating governor dyan sa Bulacan yung pagiging "classic" nyang Barasoain. pina-modern yung bandang harapan. hindi na sya mukhang sinauna :(

Allan said...

wow, ang ganda naman, can u teach me, im a newcomer palang in taken photo eh.

Lawstude said...

@ ms hays - thanks for likng them.

Lawstude said...

@ denise - thanks for the warm comments.

Lawstude said...

@ borneo falcon - although we were not able to see the church's exterior, the park and the surrounding is really a consolation.

Lawstude said...

@ alicesg - actually, it looks huge in pictures but the church is not that huge really.

Lawstude said...

@ everlito - ayos ah, isang makatang tula, kilala talaga kayo sa pagiging makata eh. galing.

Lawstude said...

@ sidney - i agree. the church was close so i think it is a sign that i need to go back.

Lawstude said...

@ the dong - bro, jan nag-oath of office si Erap noong maging presidente sya.

Lawstude said...

@ beero - yup full of history yang church na yan bro.

Lawstude said...

@ fishing guy - one of my country's best churches in terms of historical significance.

Lawstude said...

@ photo cache - i have at least a couple more churches to be featured in the province of bulacan to be posted soon.

Lawstude said...

@ share my point of view - too bad the government is not allowed to spend for the maintenance of this churc (its a legal thing:separation of church and state) but there is a parish there that maintains the place.

Lawstude said...

@ george - gracias senyor.

Lawstude said...

@ awi - you are very much welcome.

Lawstude said...

@ luna miranda - it was staurday when i got there. and there is no priest where i could get permission to enter. too bad really. but i could always go back.

Lawstude said...

@ bertn - medyo bitin and istorya. what happened next bro?

Lawstude said...

@ atticus - talaga? educational para to. ang alam ko yung barasoain ang nasa billboard ng nlex eh. pero check ko din.

Lawstude said...

@ iriz - oo nga. parang sarap mag barong tapos sepia and mode ng shots.

Lawstude said...

@ mys lyke meeh - oo naman. rich in history and church na to.

Lawstude said...

@ mirage2g - you are welcome. nakuha ko lang yung trivia sa wikipedia lol. have a nice day too.

Lawstude said...

@ aajao - ah ganun ba bro? sayanag naman pala. pero kamukha pa naman nya yung nasa 10 peso bill eh. thanks sa info.

Lawstude said...

@ allan - basta bro shoot lang ng shoot tapos paglaruan mo lahat ng features ng cam mo matututo ka na nyan. enjoy shooting.

PUSANG-gala said...

hmmmm....makadalaw nga uli minsan dito. love to see it's longevity....

Marites said...

one of my must-see places. Parang gusto ko nang sumama sa iyo ah..dami mong napuntahan! kainggit!

dyosa said...

Nice photographs! By the way, anong oras nagbubukas ang church?

bw said...

great pics and glimpse on history. Wasn't this church featured in one of the old peso currencies with Mabini on it? I couldn't recall if it was the 10 or the 20 denomination.

gnometree said...

wonderful church with an amazing history. Thanks for sharing

Lawstude said...

@ pusang-gala - it was my first time there and enjoyed the place pero babalik ako kasi di ko nakita yung interiors.

Lawstude said...

@ marites - yeah. it is a must see place if for the purpose of revisiting history.

sure, sama ka minsan sa lakad namin nila dom. basta nga lang cowboy, errr cowgirl??? ka.

Lawstude said...

@ dyosa - every sunday bukas yun. saturday kasi that time eh.

Lawstude said...

@ bw - yup. it is the old P10 bill.

Lawstude said...

@ gnometree - you are very much welcome. thanks for the visit.

Alan said...

Very nice. I never grow tired of the old Spanish architecture.

Lawstude said...

@ alan - me different. different great churches in almost every place.

kalyo galera said...

ang ganda dito. pero yun nga mjo nging modern na ang drama