MAPEH 7

Arts and Crafts of Central Luzon Famous

Architectural Landmarks
MODULE 6

Ferdie C. Juan
WRITER

Most Essential Learning Competency (MELC):

shows the relationship of Luzon (highlands and lowlands) arts and crafts to Philippine
culture, traditions, and history (Islamic influences, Spanish heritage, and American legacies
in education, business, modernization, and entertainment, as well as in indigenous practices,
fiestas, and religious and social practices)(Code: A7PR-Ih4)
 Expectation

In this module you will be studying about the connections of the artworks from different parts of
Luzon. The student has to show the relationship of the highland and lowland arts and crafts to the
Philippine culture and traditions and history like Islamic influences, Spanish heritage and American
legacies in education, business, modernization and entertainment, as well as in indigenous practices,
fiestas and social practices.

PRE-TEST

Write your answers in the space provided.

___________1. Why did the Spaniards wish to create permanent and long-lasting churches in the
Philippines?
___________2. What was the other use of the Spanish gate aside from being an entrance and exit to the
naval station?
___________3. How can you distinguish The San Andres Apostol church from other churches?
___________4. What western architectural characteristics do the Parish of Three Kings have?
___________5. Why Abucay Church is an example of a Spanish influence art?

LOOKING
BACK
Answer the crossword below based on the lesson you have learned about The Arts and
Crafts of Central Luzon in Pampanga and Bulacan.
2
P
3 F     E C       K   R
  1. A local term for the bamboo arches
T designed with kayas or wood shavings
4
G   L       I T     N G 2. Designs and pattens intricately placed in
5   Pastillas
  L 3. These are triangular shape folk art in
1 S I     K   B A   Bocaue, Bulacan
    4. Local art in making and designing jewelry
    in Meycauayan, Bulacan
  W 5. It has dancing lights in several shapes and
    colors with intricate geometric shapes
L A
   
N P
   
E R
 
N
BRIEF
INTRODUCTION
Famous Architectural Landmarks in
Olongapo, Zambales and Nueva Ecija and
Bataan.
1. The Spanish gate is one of the historic landmarks located in
Olongapo City, Zambales. It was built in 1885. It faced the Spanish era
settlement of Olongapo and used to serve as the west gate of the armory
of the town.

It has tall walls made from locally quarried stone connected to the south
gate that faced the waterfront.

Aside from as being used as an entrance and exit to the naval station, it was also used as jail during the
Spanish and American occupations. Spanish Gate by Cristina Montes - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=37058063

2. The San Andres Apostol Parish Church of

Masinloc, Zambales is known for the use of coral
stones instead of adobe. It was founded by the
Augustian Recollects in 1607.

The front of the church is divided into triangular

pediment, two horizontal sections and three vertical
cones. The left portion is extended to form the bell
tower.

The lowest level contains niches for saints. The second

level has a rectangular window and curve niches Masinloc Church by Ramon FVelasquez - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,
of the patron saints. Carving of a medallion and https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30053745

other geometric shapes can be found in the

pediment.
The belfry is composed of circular columns topped by a lantern and a cross.
Andrew the Apostle, was an apostle of Jesus . He is the brother of Saint Peter. He is referred to
as the First-Called. In the Gospel of Matthew (Matt 4:18–22) and in the Gospel of Mark (Mark 1:16–20)
Simon Peter and Andrew were both called together to become disciples of Jesus and "fishers of men".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_the_Apostle

3. The Parish of the Three Kings in Gapan City is

one of the biggest and the oldest churches in Nueva Ecija.
This Roman Catholic Church was built in 1800’s. it has
huge side doorways, two standing portraits of their patron
saints on both side of the doorways, and a mural of the
Holy Trinity on the ceiling, all of which are characteristics
of a western architecture. The patron saints are Divina
Pastora (Divine Shepherdess) is a figure of the Virgin
Mary holding the child Jesus, with a sheep at her side and
the Three Kings - who visited Jesus after his birth,
By Ronald Ocampo Bunag - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,
giving gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33170317
4. Abucay Church or the Saint Dominic De
Guzman Parish Church, established in 1587 by the
Dominicans, is an example of Renaissance architecture because
of its vertically single or double –divided columns, and triangular
pediments. It has five-layer bell tower ornamented with
semicircular arched windows. Saint Dominic was a Castilian
priest and founded the Dominican Order. Saint Dominic is
the patron saint of astronomers.
Siobal, Lourdes R., et al., 2017, Music and Arts - Grade 7 Learners’ Materials, Philippines, FEP Printing
Corporation

Abucay Church by JJ Carpio - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39616761
What is the main reason in building the churches in the Philippines?
There was a conglomeration of factors that led to the presence of Baroque elements in the
architecture of the Philippines, specifically in church architecture. During the Spanish Colonial
Period (1521–1898), Spanish missionaries arrived, sharing not only their religion but also their
architecture, inspired from their native land. The Spaniards wished to create permanent, long-lasting
churches as a testament to the power of God and did not consider the current church structures in the
Philippines as proper places to worship. As most Spanish missionaries were not trained in architecture or
engineering, the local townspeople including Filipinos and Chinese migrants, alongside the Spanish friars
would take part in the building and design of local churches. The combination of ideas from the
missionaries and locals effectively fused native Spanish designs with a uniquely Oriental style. The
church's aesthetic was also shaped by limited access to certain materials, and the need to rebuild and
adapt to natural disasters including fires and earthquakes, creating a style sometimes referred to
as Earthquake Baroque.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baroque_Churches_of_the_Philippines

The churches display certain characteristics that express a fortress structure such as thick walls
and high facades that offer protection from marauders and natural disasters like earthquakes and alike.

During the American government executed the partition of the church and state. It removed the
critical control applied by the church, which gave away the foundation of other religions especially
Protestantism inside the nation. In 1900, Jorge Barlin was primary Filipino minister of the Catholic
Church, for the Archdiocese of Nueva Caceres.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_in_the_Philippines#Difficulties

One of the prominent features of the churches is the presence of pediments. It is the triangular
peace within the front of the classic structures. This is first used in Greek temples. It harmonizes the
geometric shapes of the building and it is also an important structural element of the roof as well. The
entire rood of Greek temples is like tents that has 2 pediments one at the front and back.
https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-a-pediment-in-architecture.html

The arrival of the Spaniards in 1571 brought in European colonial architecture to the Philippines.
Though not specifically suited for the hot tropics, European architecture was transposed
via Acapulco, Mexico into a uniquely Filipino style.
During World War II, many heritage districts and towns outside Metro Manila were heavily
destroyed and damaged by American and Japanese bombs. Reports of deliberate burning of colonial
structures by Japanese soldiers were also rampant. Most destroyed or damaged heritage structures have
never been restored and now lay in ruins or have been replaced with shanty houses or concrete structures
with no significant architectural aesthetics. Many scholars have championed for Japan and America's
accountability for the destruction of many Filipino architectural landscapes and towns.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture_of_the_Philippines#Churches

ACTIVITIES

What to do: Based on the pictures of the Churches from Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, and Zambales.
Complete the chart below.

Churches Year built Medium/Materials Distinct feature Design

And Architectures
Spanish Gate in (1) Quarried stone (2) (3)
Zambales
San Andres Apostol (4) Coral stone (5) Circular patterns
Church in Zambales and geometric
 shape
Parish of the Three (6) Bricks (7) Byzantine
Kings in Nueva
Ecija
Abucay Church in (8) (9) (10) European
Bataan Architecture
ornamentation

What do you think?

1. If the church builders used egg white as a binder for mortars to build churches during the Spanish
colonial period, do you think we can still use egg white as one of the materials in building structures at
the present? Why?

2. Research and find out what happened to the building structures that used egg whites.

Complete the paragraph: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=371392

Structures
The Spaniards introduced leche flan, pastillas
de leche and yemas in the Philippines. E________ is
the main ingredient of these desserts and separated
from the egg whites. According to historians,
e__________ were used as ingredient of mortars. These
are used to bind materials for the c____________ of
c__________ and other architectural structures during
the S____________ colonial period in the Philippines.
The egg yolks and egg whites were separated. The egg
whites were mixed with lime, sand, and water and some
special ingredients to make the mortar. The egg yolks,
instead of being discarded, were used to make leche
flans and other delicacies.

REMEMBER
 Famous Architectural Landmarks in Olongapo, Zambales and Nueva Ecija and Bataan.

1. The Spanish gate is one of the historic landmarks located in Olongapo City, Zambales. It was built in
1885. It faced the Spanish era settlement of Olongapo and used to serve as the west gate of the armory
of the town. It was also used as jail during the Spanish and American occupations.

2. The San Andres Apostol Parish Church of Masinloc, Zambales is known for the use of coral stones
instead of adobe. It was founded by the Augustian Recollects in 1607. The front of the church is
divided into triangular pediment, two horizontal sections and three vertical cones. The left portion is
extended to form the bell tower.

3. The Parish of the Three Kings in Gapan City is one of the biggest and the oldest churches in Nueva
Ecija. This Roman Catholic Church was built in 1800’s. it has huge side doorways, two standing
images of their patron saints on both side of the doorways, and a mural of the Holy Trinity on the
ceiling, all of which are characteristics of a western architecture.

4. Abucay Church or the Saint Dominic De Guzman Parish Church, established in 1587 by the
Dominicans, is an example of Renaissance architecture because of its vertically single or double –
divided columns, and triangular pediments.

CHECK YOUR
UNDERSTANDING
Answer the following question based on your understanding of the lesson in Famous Architectural
Landmarks in Central Luzon.

1. In your opinion, why are the most of our artistic expressions functional rather than for display and
enjoyment only?
__________________________________________________________________________________

2. Have you noticed that are numerous big churches in the Philippines? Why Spaniards did build so many
extravagant churches around the Philippines?
__________________________________________________________________________________

3. How did religious Spaniards manage to build various churches when most of them are not equipped
with engineering skills in constructing churches?
______________________________________________________________________________

4. What are the reasons why churches in the Philippines have triangular structure and has a bell tower
aside from informing of on-going mass?

POST-TEST
Multiple Choice: Encircle the letter of the correct answer in the following questions.
1. How is Spanish gate in Olongapo connected to the Spanish and American occupations?
A. It served as a jail.
 B. It served as houses for guerillas.
C. It served as rest houses for rich Americans and Spanish Generals.
2. How would you identify The San Andres Apostol Parish Church of Masinloc from other churches?
A. Made of coral stones
B. Horizontally divided column church
C. Has rectangular windows and niches for saints
3. What other way would you choose to describe the Parish of the Three Kings in Gapan City?
A. Served as a west gate in Olongapo
B. Administered by Dominicans in Gapan City
C. One of the biggest and oldest churches in Nueva Ecija
4. How would you differentiate between San Andres Apostol Church and Parish of Three Kings?
A. San Andres Apostol Church - Coral stones and Parish of Three Kings - Bricks
B. San Andres Apostol Church - Antipolo and Parish of Three Kings – Bicol
C. San Andres Apostol Church – Circular pediment and Parish of Three Kings –
Circular doors
5. Why did Spaniard build big churches all over the Philippines?
A. They wanted to build big churches for aesthetic purposes.
B. They built churches to show their power of the Philippines
C. They did not consider Philippine churches as proper place for worship