The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has recently recognized three historic churches in Rizal province as National Cultural Treasures (NCTs). The churches, all from the Spanish colonial period, include Sta. Ursula Parish in Binangonan, the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of San Jose in Baras, and St. Jerome Parish Church in Morong. These announcements were made through social media posts on Wednesday.
Celebratory events are planned for the churches in Binangonan and Baras early this month, while Morong’s church has yet to announce its celebration schedule. The formal declaration for Sta. Ursula Parish will occur on March 2, with a Holy Mass led by Antipolo Bishop Ruperto Santos.
The Binangonan Church, originally constructed in the 18th century, underwent renovations in 1853. It was established as a parish by the Franciscans in 1621, later managed by the Jesuits in 1679, and then by the Augustinians in 1697, before returning to Franciscan care in 1737.
The Diocesan Shrine and Parish of San Jose in Baras, set to be declared an NCT on March 9, is celebrated as a testament to the rich history, culture, and faith of the Filipino people, particularly the Barasenio community. This church, the oldest Josephian parish on the southern Tagalog mainland, was first built in 1595 by Franciscan missionaries. The town and church were moved to Ibayo in 1636 but returned to their current location in 1682, with the current structure completed in 1686.
St. Jerome Parish Church in Morong, constructed in 1615 after a fire destroyed the original wooden church, was completed in 1620. Significant renovations occurred in the early 1850s under Franciscan Fr. Maximo Rico, who commissioned local craftsman Bartolome Palatino from Paete to redesign the facade and construct a bell tower. The church was also declared a Pilgrim Church during the Jubilee Year of Hope, with the official NCT declaration and marker unveiling to be announced soon.
With these new designations, the Diocese of Antipolo now boasts four churches recognized as National Cultural Treasures, including the previously honored San Ildefonso de Toledo Church in Tanay from 2001. NCTs are recognized for their exceptional historical, cultural, and artistic significance, representing the highest honor for a site or structure in the Philippines.