Visiting Paoay Church in Ilocos
Last when we had a tour of Vigan we decided to visit San Augustin Church, more popularly known as Paoay Church, as one of our off-the-beaten path. And it was such an amazing experience to visit the UNESCO World Heritage site for it has a lot of stories to tell.
Paoay Church is one of the four Baroque Churches in the country that has been listed as part of the UNESCO World Heritage site. It is located in Paoay, Ilocos Norte and it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region.
The Church was constructed by the Augustinian friars led by Fr. Antonio Estavillo in 1694 and it was completed by year 1710.
The Church is a unique combination of Gothic, Baroque and Oriental Designs. Paoay Church was built of baked bricks, coral stones, salbot(tree sap) and lumber. It is also known as the “Earthquake Baroque church in the Philippines. It has 24 carved buttresses for support on its sides to prevent it from falling down during earthquakes. Not only that, this support walls give also roof access during fire and typhoon.
A three-storey belfry that is made of coral stones, stand a few meters away from the church. This bell tower served as an observation post by the katipuneros during the Philippine Revolution in WWII.
1moira
wrote on 17 March 2009 at 16:46
thank you for sharing this wonderful information. its nice to know that this is a unesco heritage site. and its really great of you to show us the beauty of the Philippines. hope you’ll not get tired of doing it.
2Philippines Travel Blog
wrote on 18 March 2009 at 21:00
Another Philippine wonders.. thanks for posting!
3Abbie
wrote on 18 March 2009 at 23:59
aba! ngayon lang nagpost ang lola nyo. buti naman. great pics!
4AudreyRose
wrote on 19 March 2009 at 14:57
Philippines Travel Blog: Your welcome!!!
Abbie: hehehe… oo nga eh… nong isang araw ko lang to nablog muntik pa ako na late sa flight ko pero buti na lang delayed ang cebu pacific ng 1hour and 40 mins lolz.. mamaya try ko blog yong sta. Maria Church
5mee-i
wrote on 20 March 2009 at 18:57
i think i should make a travel blog too LOLZ..
btw. i wonder. just now *nyorks*
6AudreyRose
wrote on 20 March 2009 at 22:32
hahaha… meei ok lang yan kahit sa mekinudols na lang keri na yan
pero if you really really want a travel blog aside from mekinudols, why not?? coconut hehehe… cya na lng next week dyan na ako sa wednesday 
7gladita
wrote on 21 March 2009 at 15:12
another must see heritage site. hope i’ll have the chance to visit laoag soon.
8Meei_ph
wrote on 25 March 2009 at 11:55
yef. sige. mama em and i talked last night and she wonders alot when are we going to meet SOONER?! errr.. sabi ko let’s go tambay at your place and swim afterwards *woot* i need some AIR… to breathe in.. *pfft* i’m exhausted HARHAR