Masinloc Church
.jpg){kind=link}
A Baroque church built from coral instead of adobe, which is unusual among the Spanish-era churches of Central Luzon. It dates from the 18th century, stands in barangay South Poblacion and is dedicated to Saint Andrew the Apostle. The facade carries niches of saints on the lower level, rectangular windows above, and a carved niche of the patron saint on the pediment. The bell tower is the extended left end of the front, and its belfry is circular, topped with a lantern and a cross.
The parish began as an Augustinian Recollect mission in 1607, the first Christian church in the province, and it became a diocesan shrine in 2021. A traditional war dance called the binabayani, Sambal for bravery, re-enacts the fighting between the Aetas and the Christians. The National Museum of the Philippines declared the church a National Cultural Treasure in 2001, along with 25 other Spanish-era churches. The parish is under the Diocese of Iba.
- Where
- Masinloc
- Town
- Zambales
Written by an editor · 23 Sep 2026 · source: Wikipedia, Masinloc Church