San Agustin Church

Location: General Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines. 
Opening hours: It is open daily from 8:00 AM to 12:00 NN and from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM. 
Admission fee: 200 PHP for adults, 100 PHP for students, and 50 PHP for children. The church and the museum are both wheelchair accessible.
Reason to visit: San Agustin Church is a must-see attraction in Manila. It is not only a place of worship, but also a place of art, beauty, and heritage.

San Agustin Church is the oldest stone church in the Philippines, and one of the four Baroque Churches of the Philippines designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Built in the 16th century by the Augustinian friars, the church has survived several natural disasters, wars, and invasions, and remains a testament to the rich history and culture of Manila. In this article, we will explore the features and attractions of San Agustin Church, and provide some useful information for visitors who want to experience this remarkable place.

History of San Agustin Church

San Agustin Church was founded in 1571, shortly after the Spanish conquest of Manila. It was originally made of bamboo and nipa, and named Iglesia y Convento de San Pablo. However, it was burned down by the pirate Limahong in 1574, and rebuilt with wood in 1575. Unfortunately, it was destroyed again by fire in 1583, and the Augustinian friars decided to construct a more durable church with adobe stones. They consulted Juan Macias, a Spanish architect, who designed the church in a Spanish-Mexican baroque style, with influences from Chinese and Filipino art. The construction began in 1586 and was completed in 1607. The church was consecrated to Saint Paul the Apostle, and later dedicated to Our Lady of Consolation and Cincture, the patroness of the Augustinian Order.

The church witnessed many historical events, such as the British occupation of Manila in 1762, the Philippine Revolution in 1896, the Philippine-American War in 1898, and the Japanese occupation of Manila in 1942. It also served as a refuge for many people during the earthquakes of 1645, 1863, and 1880, and the bombings of World War II. Despite the damages and repairs, the church has retained its original structure and features, and is considered the best-preserved example of baroque architecture in the Philippines.

Church Interior and Building

The church has a massive facade that conceals an ornate and elegant interior. The main entrance is decorated with carvings of religious symbols, such as the Augustinian seal, the papal tiara, and the keys of Saint Peter. The wooden door leads to a spacious nave with a high vaulted ceiling, supported by 12 pairs of columns. The ceiling and walls are adorned with trompe-l'oeil paintings, which create an illusion of depth and perspective. These paintings were done by Italian artists Giovanni Dibella and Cesare Alberoni in the 19th century, and depict scenes from the life of Saint Augustine and the history of the church.

The church has a single bell tower on the left side, which houses eight bells of different sizes and tones. The tower also serves as a watchtower and a fire alarm, and has a clock that was installed in 1863. The church has a transept with a dome, which marks the location of the main altar. The altar is made of silver and gold, and features a retablo with statues of saints and angels. Behind the altar is a small chapel that contains the tomb of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, the first Spanish governor-general of the Philippines, and other prominent figures of the colonial era.

The church also has a choir loft, which can be accessed by a staircase on the right side of the nave. The choir loft has 68 hand-carved molave seats, dating back to the 17th century. The seats have intricate designs of flowers, animals, and geometric patterns, and are arranged in a semicircular formation. The choir loft also has a pipe organ, which was built in 1819 by Pedro Serrano, a Spanish organ maker. The organ has 68 pipes and 22 stops, and is considered one of the oldest and largest organs in Asia.

What You Can Do Here and Around

Visit Museum: Adjacent to the church is the San Agustin Museum, which showcases a large collection of religious and cultural artifacts from the Spanish colonial period. The museum is housed in the former convent of the Augustinian friars, which was built in 1587 and expanded in 1768. 

The first hall on the first floor records the history of church missionaries from Mexico to the Philippines by ship, and the second floor introduces many important church histories, including medicine, plants, music and so on. The museum's staircase is ideal for photography, and there are passageways that lead up and down the second floor overlooking the church. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Take a stroll through Intramuros: Built during the Spanish colonial period and known as "the wall city", the entire ancient city has a strong Spanish architectural character, with the castle surrounded by trenches and medieval walls.

Enjoy a relaxing time at famous local restaurant: Just down the road from the church, there is a popular and stylish Barbara's heritage Restaurant, the Spanish style restaurant is said to be converted from a mansion, and there is a small courtyard in the restaurant, you can take photos, retro and romantic.

There are many large and small churches around the church, and the church can be outsourced as a wedding ceremony venue, and you can often meet new people to hold their wedding in the church. There are a lot of wild horses around, if you are interested in horseback riding car experience, the price is about PHP1000/1 hour.

How to get there

To get to San Agustin Church, you can take a jeepney, taxi, tricycle, or pedicab from any point in Manila. The church is also easily reachable by the Light Rail Transit System (LRT) and the Metro Rail Transit System (MRT). The nearest LRT station is Central Terminal Station, and the nearest MRT station is United Nations Avenue Station. From there, you can walk or take a pedicab to the church. Alternatively, you can also join a guided tour of Intramuros, which usually includes a visit to San Agustin Church and other historical sites in the area.