| Bulakan Church | |
|---|---|
| Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion | |
Santuario Diocesano y Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion (Spanish) | |
 Churchfacade in 2014 | |
| 14°47′43″N120°52′47″E / 14.795278°N 120.879667°E /14.795278; 120.879667 | |
| Location | San Jose,Bulakan, Bulacan |
| Country | Philippines |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Diocesan Shrine |
| Founded | 1578 |
| Dedication | Our Lady of the Assumption |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architectural type | Church building |
| Style | Baroque, Neo-Romanesque |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Manila |
| Diocese | Malolos |
| Clergy | |
| Archbishop | His EminenceJosé F. Advincula Jr.,D.D. |
| Bishop(s) | Most Rev.Dennis C. Villarojo,D.D.,Ph.D. |
| Priest(s) | Rev. Fr. Javer M. Joaquin |
| Assistant priest(s) | Rev. Fr. John Michael G. Dela Cruz |
TheDiocesan Shrine and Parish of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion, commonly known asBulakan Church, is a 19th-centuryNeo-Byzantine-Romanesque stone church located at Brgy. San Jose, in theMunicipality ofBulakan (formerly spelled asBulacan),Bulacan province, Philippines. It is one of the parishes of theRoman Catholic Diocese of Malolos under the Vicariate of the Immaculate Conception. The church was declaredMarked Historical Structure of the Philippines in 2007 by the National Historical Institute, the precursor of theNational Historical Commission of the Philippines. A historical marker bearing a brief history of the church was installed by the commission.
The parish and the first church was established by the Augustinian Fathers in 1575 as a sub-parish of Tondo. In 1578, the town of Bulakan was proclaimed a separate parish from Tondo. According to the historical marker, during theBritish invasion in 1762 the Bulakan Church was razed by fire. The construction of the present church and convent was started in 1812 by Father Gaspar Folgar,OSA. The church had sustained damages due to various natural calamities: earthquakes on June 3, 1863; October 1, 1869; and theLuzon earthquakes of 1880, which heavily damaged structures not only Bulakan town but most ofLuzon Island.
The church was subsequently repaired after experiencing damages: major repairs on the earthquake-damaged bell tower in 1877 by Father Marcos Hernandez, OSA (through the planning and construction of Don Ramon Hermosa and Don Jose Fuentes – a plaque commemorating the builders of the tower can be seen at the first level of the bell tower façade); and in 1884 when Father Francisco Valdes, OSA rebuilt the church after the 1880 earthquake. The present style of the church can be attributed to his repairs. Finally, Father Patricio Martin, OSA finished the restoration of the church in 1885, with Father Domingo de la Prieta finishing the bell tower’s restoration in 1889.[1][2]
The church is the site where Filipino generalGregorio del Pilar secretly distributed the pamphlets made by his uncle,Marcelo H. del Pilar, a prominent member of thePropaganda Movement during the late 1800s.[3]
The following list summarizes the priests who managed the parish and made significant changes to the church structure during the Spanish occupation of thePhilippines:
The whole facade stands on a base block, or aplinth. Although it has been in accordance to Neo-Classical Style during the late 1800s, the church has incorporated a mixture of architectural styles including:
After several interventions from the preceding parish priests, Bulakan Church was restored from 1955 up to 1975. During the recent years, relevant changes had been made to the church structure including the replacement of theMudejar-style main door with one depicting the history of the town and its patron saints done by local artist A. Magtoto. A newretablo oraltarpiece replaced the 1950s altarpiece that resembles the recessed arch on the church's facade. Major repairs were also done on the bell tower.
The marker installed by theNational Historical Commission of the Philippines in 2007 declaringBulacan Church as aMarked Historical Structure of the Philippines.[3]
| "Ang Simbahan ng Bulacan." (In Filipino) |
|---|
| Itinatag ng mga paring Agustino bilang visita ng Tondo, 1575. Ipinatayo ang simbahang parokyal at kumbento sa patronato ng Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion, 1578.. Sinakop at sinunog ng mga Ingles, 1762. Muling ipinatayo, 1812. Ipinagawa and kampanaryo, 1877. Nasira ng lindol, 1863, 1869, at 1880. Ipinaayos sa disenyong Neo-Byzaltine, 1884-1885. Natapos ang kampanaryo, 1889. Dito lihim na ipinamahagi ni Gregorio H. del Pilar ang mga polyeto sa panulat ng kanyang amaing Marcelo H. del Pilar noong panahon ng propaganda laban sa mga Kastila. Ipinanumbalik at ipinaayos ang simbahan, 1955-1975.[3] |
| "The Church of Bulacan." (English translation) |
|---|
| Established by the Augustinians as a sub-parish of Tondo, 1575. The parish church and convent was built under the patronage or Our Lady of the Assumption, 1578. Conquered and burnt by the British, 1762. Built again in 1812. Bell tower constructed, 1877. Damaged by earthquakes, 1863, 1869, AT 1880. Renovated in the Neo-Byzantine style, 1884-1885. Bell tower was completed, 1889. In here, Gregorio H. del Pilar secretly distributed the pamphlets written by his uncle Marcelo H. del Pilar during the propaganda period against the Spaniards. The church was restored and renovated, 1955-1975.[3] |
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