I’m a UNESCO World Heritage Site hunter. Whenever I travel, I put UNESCO site on top of my list. So when I came to The Philippines a few months ago, I found this remarkable church aged about 300 years. The Saint Augustine Church or local people called it “Paoay Church”. Is the Roman Catholic church of the municipality of Paoay. To get here, I need to take a bus from Manila the capital of The Philippines about eight hours journey to LAOG city. Then take the local jeepney to Paoay Church for one hour. The government declared this church as a National Cultural Treasure in 1973.
The Philippines has been colonialized by Spanish for a long time. European architecture influencing this church. Earthquake Baroque architecture style they called it. With enormous buttresses on the sides and back of the building. Even the building old, but the church still stand strong.
The walls are dull and dried mossy create a dramatic image to this church. The walls are made of bricks at the upper levels. And coral stones on the lower part. Sand mixed with sugarcane boiled juice, lime, mango leaves, leather, rice straw, used as the mortar of the walls.
I’m walking inside the church and mesmerize by the vintage look. The detail of the floor still stands out. And yes, this church is still functioning by the worshiper.
