ANTIPOLO

Antipolo Church - Jan. 14, 1954 Was declared as a National Shrine.

MANILA

Quiapo Church - "Basilika ng Nazareno" One of the country's most venerable institutions, which is commemorating the fourth centenary of the Black Nazarene. A fire in 1929 devastated the church, leaving only its walls and belfry. Architect Juan Nakpil (who was later named a National Artist) drafted the plans for the reconstructed church. The basilica recently underwent a facelift, and is now bigger and roomier. It still warms with humality at any given moment of the day, and the herbal vendors are till there.

San Agustin Church - Known as one of the most popular wedding venues, with the June and December weekends booked about a year in advance. This church is the oldest stone church in the Philippines. It is in this World Heritage Site, touted to be a major landmark of baroque architecture, where the remains of conquistadors Legaspi and Salcedo are kept. Also houses the family burial place of the foremost names of Spanish origin in the Philippines, such as Soriano, Roxas and Zobel.

     1586 - Construction of the baroque masterpiece started under the Augustinian order and finished in 1604.

     1898 - Used as a parish, office for the preparation of the terms of the American occupation of Manila.

     1941 - Concentration Camp.

     1945 - Shelter during the bloody Battle of Manila.

Manila Cathedral - Formally known as the Minor Baisilica of the Immaculate Conception. The massive edifice that dominates the Intramuros skyline is actually the sixth cathedral to stand on the same site. The first structure were destroyed by natural calamities, with the fifth heavily damaged during the Battle of Manila. The present structure was reconstructed from 1954-1958 under the late Manila Archbishop Rufino Santos. It has hosted the most important events in the country's religious history, including the installation of Cardinal Rufino Santos, the first Filipino Cardinal, and the visits of Popes Paul VI and John Paul II.

Malate Church - It was put up 414 years ago by the Augustinians in 1588 and dedicated to Our Lady of Remedies. The church's façade has been described as a "good blending of Muslim and baroque architecture. The solid compact stone structure is enhanced by the cylindrical end buttresses, the few openings and the overall ornateness of the design." The Malate church was administered by the Augustinians, seculars, Redemptorists and the Columban fathers. The National Historical Institute plaque in front of the church pays tribute to three of these Columban fathers_Patrick Kelly, John Henaghan and Joseph Managhan who were among the tens of thousands of Malate parishioners who died in the hands of the Japanese and Americans during the Battle of Manila from Feb. 3-17, 1945.

     1624 - The statue of the church's patroness was brought from Spain.

     1762 - It is an imposing stone structure, which the British used as protection of the rear guard during the capture of Manila.

     1863 - the church was greatly damaged by the earthquake, which also damaged

Binondo Church - In Chinatown was put up by the Dominican order in 1587 to serve the Chinese Catholic. It was, however, destroyed during the English invasion of 1762. Another structure was put in its place but was again damaged during the World War II. The church is famous as it was here where St. Lorenzo Ruiz served as an altar boy. The seeds of his religious zeal were planted here and it led to Ruiz's elevation as the country's first saint. He was canonized by the late Pope John Paul II. Binondo church, which has been renamed Basilica Minore de San Lorenzo Ruiz is also home to the image of Nuestra Senora de Pronto Socorro, thought to be the oldest painting in the Philippines.

Church of the Sta. Cruz - This small church with a simple altar was built by the Jesuits in 1768, and adjoining it was what used to be the Jesuit College of San Ildefonso. It became a stone church by the 18th century. The titular patroness is the Nuestra Senora del Pilar, and the Confraternity of del Pilar was founded in this church in 1743. Surrounding the church is the plaza where the British returned Manila to Simon de Anda in 1764.

San Sebastian Church - Designed by Genaro Palacios, the church with its twin towers, was built using structural metal brought in piece by piece from Belgium, and erected by Belgian engineers. It was blessed in 1891, and the Minor Basilica's patroness in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. The imposing all-steel structure is run by the Recollect fathers. Earlier churches put up by Recollect friars in the 1600s were destroyed by earthquakes. The 110- year-old San Sebastian Church, reputedly the world's only existing all-steel church, has pre-fabricated steel parts_the two spires, façade and stretches of the churche's central nave_were all done in Belgium and believed to have been designed by Gustave Eiffel. The church was blessed in 1891 and declared a National Historical Landmark in 1973. Became a basilica in 1991.

San Beda Abbey Church - Is relatively new, having been constructed in 1925. It is distinguished by its paintings done in the 1930s by Fr. Lesmes Lopes, assisted by a lay brothers, Salvador Alberich. Laid down in 1720. The church is dedicated to the Our Lady of the Abandoned

Santa Ana Church - Was established by the Franciscan missionaries outside the Walled City of Manila in 1578. The cornerstone of the present church was ("Inang Mapag-ampon"), and was the site of archaeological diggings some years back.

The Filipinas Hotel - Was a landmark of Dewey Boulevard. Its façade got its inspiration from the Jai Alai building.

The National Press Club Building - The NPC building is a masterpiece by celebrated architect Angel Nakpil. Nakpil's mentor and inspiration while studying in the United States was Walter Gropius. The influence of modern architecture and the Bauhaus School on Nakpil is evident in this structure whose most distinctive feature is the glass-encased stair tower. Although the structure went up in the mid-'50s it influenced many Filipino architects up until the '60s. It still stands, though much obscured, on its site by the Pasig River.

Picache Building, Plaza Miranda - This was Manila's first real skyscraper. It is another iconic buiulding bt architect Angel Nakpil. It was one first touse sunshades made from aluminum. The structure proved that buildings in Manila could go past 10 storeys and many structures broke that barrier after the building was built. The building still towers over Plaza Miranda.

The Rizal Theater - Designed by Juan Nakpil, the theater was based on an un-built structure that was supposed to rise in the Luneta for Rizal's birth centenary in 1961. That did not push through and instead Makati's new commercial district benefited from the facility, which also was designed for music, theater and ballet. It was demolished to make way for the Shangri-La Hotel. On its ground floor was the famous Leila's Café, which served the best arroz ala cubana in the world.

The Lacson Underpass - Mayor Lacson was the colorful character who resurrected Manila from post-war abyss. Plaza Miranda was a sordid mess of a place but the center of business, political and religious activity in '50s and '60s Manila. Traffic was a mess so the mayor thought of a radical idea of creating an underground plaza. He solved the problem of traffic, created retail spaces and an escape from the heat above. Inaugurated by his successor, the underpass sank into a decrepit state in the '70s and 80s. Mayor Atienza has since brought the facility back to its old glory making it a landmark of contemporary conservation. By the way, Singapore only created its first underground passageway and retail place 30 years after Manila.

The Quirino Grandstand - The last two landmarks in this list are from the early '60s. They both did not survive the decade having had parts removed. The first is the Ilustre-designed grandstand from the early '50s. The original structure had a large collonaded portal behind the main middle section. This was a controversial element because many believed the mass obstructed the view of the bay. As Luneta was being refurbished as the city's central park in the '60s, that part of the structure was torn down, changing its look forever.

Central Bank of the Philippines - Can visit the Money Museum or the Metropolitan Museum (which displays a good collection of gold).

Luneta or Rizal Park - Might be the perfect substitute for some cheaper and more nature-friendly.

Example:

PRIDE Beth Macaraeg PANGASINAN Mangatarem Hot Spring in the mountain.

Or you can also send in your contributions direct to our email at fap_pride@yahoo.com.